|
Hi all--I'm sure there are several explanations for the poor rate of student response to their Course Experience Surveys. I recall a number of years ago taking a Statistics class and the Stats chair sending an email begging the students to respond to the
online surveys. The chair's argument, as I recall, appealed to our statistical best selves saying that the response rate would impact the reliability of the survey. I appreciated that, I have to say, even though my statistical best self is surely in the bottom
quintile of statistical selves, but I will not tell you if I filled out the survey.
But:
I'd like to know what the response rate might be on things like the various "user experience surveys" and "What's Next Surveys" and "Uniforum Perforance Evaluation and Service Delivery" surveys and the next survey that will surely come to our inboxes:
the "Survey on Survey Experience and Survery Vendor Performance" to help an upper level committee decide on whether or not Doodle, Let's Meet, Square-Space Scheduler, or Survey Monkey is the better service to arrange your next committee meeting or assess the
effectivity of your commnity outreach strategy.
I'm guessing the rates are not much higher than our students' responses to Course Experience Surveys.
Students, I am sure, get this stuff all the time, both from SFU, from us, and from their banks, TikTok, Google, Aritizia Customer Relations, and so on.
It's all just the same no matter who sends it--an endless stream of requests for feedback which generates no apparent effects or impact. Why bother?
Best,
Chris
On Dec 5, 2023, at 9:13 AM, Derek Bingham <dbingham@sfu.ca> wrote:
Hi everyone,
My theory, based on absolutely no evidence, is that many students simply have not engaged with their education since the pandemic and view the entire enterprise as a transaction. As a result, many students are not attending classes and certainly not filling
out optional evals.
Derek Bingham
Professor
Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science
Simon Fraser University
From: Eugene McCann <emccann@sfu.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 7:29:43 AM
To: James Fleming
Cc: Faculty Forum Mail List
Subject: Re: Is it just me?!
They’ve never been mandatory even on paper though, right?
On Dec 4, 2023, at 10:25 PM, James Fleming <james_fleming@sfu.ca> wrote:
In my opinion and experience, the change to online and optional evaluations has gutted the instrument, by radically reducing response rates, yes. I am also very uncomfortable that we, faculty and institution, simultaneously and quietly, and as far as I know
without even telling our students, just stopped taking any notice of evals for TPC/merit purposes! JDF
From: Eugene McCann <emccann@sfu.ca>
Sent: December 4, 2023 9:05:04 PM
To: Faculty Forum Mail List
Subject: Is it just me?!
Dear colleagues,
Thought I’d use this forum to try to help me understand something going on in my classes and maybe yours too:
As of earlier today, only about 15% of students in one of my classes and 20% in another had filled in their Course Evaluations online. That means something like 12 responses have flooded in for two classes with a total of ~75 students. The rate is much
lower than when I used to do these on paper, in person.
I have announced the online evals on Canvas, in class, (even with a very clever Bernie Sanders-themed slide, if I do say so myself), and I’ve encouraged the students to do them in class during break.
So, is this a common experience? Has the shift to online evaluations reduced response rates significantly?
Does there need to be a rethink?
Or is it just me?
Best,
Eugene
<PastedGraphic-1.png>
_______________________________________________________
Eugene McCann (he/him/his)
Professor, Geography
Associate Faculty, Sociology & Anthropology
Simon Fraser University
Managing Editor, EPC: Politics & Space
https://journals.sagepub.com/home/epc
Minor Revisions podcast
https://journals.sagepub.com/page/epc/collections/podcasts
Personal website: https://emccanngeog.wordpress.com
Contact information:
Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University,
8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
Unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Email: emccann@sfu.ca; Phone: 778-782-3321
_______________________________________________________
Eugene McCann (he/him/his)
Professor, Geography
Associate Faculty, Sociology & Anthropology
Simon Fraser University
Managing Editor, EPC: Politics & Space
https://journals.sagepub.com/home/epc
Minor Revisions podcast
https://journals.sagepub.com/page/epc/collections/podcasts
Personal website: https://emccanngeog.wordpress.com
Contact information:
Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University,
8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
Unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Email: emccann@sfu.ca; Phone: 778-782-3321
|