NSSE to offer small reward incentive to gain student participation

A decrease in student participation has led to a refocus on incentives this year for the National Survey of Student Engagement’s annual survey of IU.

The survey, which has been sent via email to thousands of IU freshmen and seniors each year since 2000, is administered by NSSE, a self-supporting auxiliary unit within the Center for Postsecondary Research in the School of Education, according to its website.

Each year, the survey measures students’ thoughts about their experiences in and out of class, including their thoughts about what they think they are learning, the quality of their interactions with faculty and their interactions with other students. It also includes questions about career plans.

“We want to show students that we’re using their data and looking at what they say when they fill out the survey,” said Judith Ouimet, assistant vice provost for undergraduate education.

Survey information is compiled into a yearly report, most of which was released in November 2011. The report is then used as a resource by those looking for insight into the minds of college students.

A reward  strategy was first employed in 2009, when free fountain drinks and a limited number of iPod touches and T-shirts were given out. That year, freshmen and senior responses were up from 11 percent to 35 percent.

Assuming the incentives drew in more responses, Ouimet increased the number of prizes to more than 1,200 for the 2010 survey. Students had the chance of possibly receiving an iPad, iPod touch, a Tudor Room lunch, a variety of gift cards and clothing items.

To her surprise, the student response rate actually fell to 32 percent, and only 57 percent of students claimed their prizes.

Now, survey response rewards will go toward a system in which everyone gets something small, with a drawing April 9 for a few larger prizes, Ouimet said.

Ouimet is looking to raise response rates to 40 percent this year, she said. She also noted that in recent years, the response rate of seniors has slightly increased.

“Freshmen don’t know any better that they don’t have to do this and for the seniors there is freshman fatigue,” she said. “But I think that’s changed. By the time they’re seniors, they’re willing to take the time to share their experiences.”

Surveys will first be emailed Feb. 13, with reminder emails to follow.

“We can share what the students are saying and what they’re doing and share that with administrators who aren’t necessarily in the classroom and with legislators and show how important the work is in the classroom,” she said. “Often, it’s the legislators who control the purse strings. If administrators, the legislators and the populace of Indiana, don’t know what’s going on, why would they want to fund the University?”

— Matthew Glowicki