Summary of Changes since the last (2008) GSS OMB Clearance

Attachment 7

Summary of Changes since the last (2008)
GSS OMB Clearance

SUMMARY OF CHANGES SINCE THE LAST (2008) GSS OMB CLEARANCE

1. 2008 GSS Changes

New Worksheet and Web Format

• Changed the GSS worksheet from “landscape” to “portrait” layout.

• Separated ethnicity, race and citizenship of graduate students into two questions: one for part-time and one for full-time.

• Switched the rows and columns in all tables – the columns are now rows and the rows are now columns.

• Added additional categories for males – previously some questions just asked about females.

Wording Changes/Clarifications

• First-time students. This definition was revised slightly: Those students enrolled for credit in a graduate-degree program in this organizational unit for the first time in fall 2008. This may include graduate students previously enrolled in another graduate degree program at your institution or at another institution. It may also include students that already hold another graduate or professional degree.

• Non-U.S. citizens. A clarification was made for online students: Exclude non-U.S. citizens who reside outside the U.S. are enrolled in an online degree program at your U.S. institution.

• Students doing thesis or dissertation research. Students doing thesis or dissertation research away from a U.S. campus, previously excluded, are now included: Count all students enrolled in a U.S. institution for credit in a graduate degree program doing thesis or dissertation research work regardless of their location.

• Hispanic/Latino. Count any student who is Hispanic/Latino or Hispanic/Latino and any other race in Row B. In the past, there were separate rows for students who were “Hispanic/Latino, one race only” and students who were “Hispanic/Latino, more than one race.”

• NIH teaching assistantships. Question 4, Row B, Column 4, is blacked out because NIH does not offer teaching assistantships.

• Teaching assistantships funded by a non-U.S. source. Data may now be entered in Question 4, row K, column 4.

Web Instrument Changes

• New Menu Bar. A new menu bar is located in the upper left hand corner of every screen, and contains the following options:

• Help: Use this link to view detailed survey instructions, the glossary, best practices, frequently asked questions and other survey resources.

• Survey Changes: Use this link to review the changes made to the GSS Survey for 2008.

• Print GSS Codes: View or print the updated GSS Code Lists. You can choose to view a list sorted by survey field or by CIP code.

• Print Worksheet: Print a copy of the survey containing table shells, instructions and a glossary to use as a worksheet when completing the survey.

• *New* Email Units: Email unit respondents through the GSS website. First choose the type of email you want to send and then choose which respondents to send it to.

• Print Data: View your data in a printer-friendly table format. Print this year’s or last year’s survey data for all units and all questions or for individual units/questions.

• Download Data: Download an electronic version of your entire completed survey data in .csv format. A .csv file can be easily converted to Excel or other programs.

• Upload Data: Upload the data for all units electronically.

• Download unit respondent contact list. On the 'Update Unit Respondents' page, you can now download a copy of your contact list to Excel.

• Sending ID/password to unit respondents. You now have the option NOT to have NSF send IDs and Passwords to unit respondents if you do not want them to complete the survey online. If you do not send IDs and Passwords, you will be responsible for entering data for all units.

Survey Universe Change – New institutions added

• AAMC. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) medical schools were added to the data collection.

Other Changes

• Conducted methodological studies of coverage and new institutions

2. 2009 GSS Changes

Web Instrument Changes

• None.

Changes to Survey Procedures

• None.

Other Changes

• Some improvements were made to the data review and retrieval procedures.

• Two major methodological studies were conducted with subsamples of GSS schools, including a postdoc pilot and recordkeeping study.

3. 2010 GSS Changes

Web Instrument Changes

• Additional information collected for postdocs, as approved by OMB:

• Two items asking about postdoc definitions

• Citizenship, race and ethnicity of postdocs

• Expanded information on sources and mechanisms of support

• Information on origin of doctoral degrees (from U.S. or foreign countries)

• Type of doctoral degree by citizenship

Changes to Survey Procedures

• Contacted presidents of GSS schools and asked them to nominate postdoc coordinators; added postdoc coordinators when nominated by institution.

Other Changes

• Methodological study related to frame expansion is being conducted.