NASA Office of Education Undergraduate Internship Impact Surveys - Baseline Instruments No. 1

#7 Research Focus Pre‐internship Survey 
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Confidentiality Statement: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C.
552a), you are hereby notified that this study is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) Office of Education (Education), under authority of the
Government Performance and Results Modernization Act (GPRMA) of 2010 that requires
quarterly performance assessment of Government programs for purposes of assessing agency
performance and improvement. NASA Education may use the information provided for statistical
purposes related to data collection instrument development and will hold the information in
confidence to the full extent permitted by law. Although efforts will be taken to ensure
confidentiality, there remains a remote risk of personal data becoming identifiable. A nonidentifying code number will be assigned to participants’ data records, which will be stored in
accordance with federal regulatory procedures and accessible only to the investigator. While
qualitative data is usually analyzed in aggregate, any use of individual data to illustrate specific
assessment results will be labeled in a manner to preserve the participants’ anonymity.
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Introduction: This research seeks to support the mission of the NASA Office of Education by
asking you to take part in pre-internship surveys pertaining to our interest in the ways in which
NASA project activities impact outcomes for participants. The information we collect will help us
to improve the nature of the project activity and the accuracy with which NASA Education can
report to its community about the project activities it offers.
Purpose of the Study: Determine the degree to which instruments accurately capture the ways
participant outcomes are measured by data collection instruments.
Description of Study Procedures: You are asked to complete a short collection of related
surveys accessed by separate Surveymonkey links presented to you in the introductory email
from the NIFS Director or your NASA internship point of contact.
Study Consent: There are no foreseeable risks to participants electing to participate in this
study. Your participation is completely voluntary. In no way does refusing participation in preinternship survey development preclude you from eligibility for NASA education project activities
now or in the future. If you agree to participate, please answer the following questions to the
best of your ability.
Estimation of Time Required: To be determined through the testing procedure. Please note
your start time at the beginning of each survey. At the end of each, you will be asked to
approximate the time it to you to complete that particular survey.
Contact Person: If you have any additional questions concerning the research, this passive
consent, or confidentiality of responses, please contact Dr. Lisa E. Wills, Senior Research
Associate, at lisa.e.wills@nasa.gov or call (202)258-6021.
Wills 

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#7 Research Focus Pre‐internship Survey 

I. About you
Please note your start time. At the end of this survey, you will be asked to
approximate the time required to complete this survey.
By answering the following, you help us understand the nature of your past
experience(s) with research and/or your current research experience just prior
to arrival at NASA:
1. Regarding prior/current research experience:
o Yes, continue to questions relevant to my prior/current research
experience.
o No, skip me ahead because I do not have prior/current experience with
research.
2. My prior/current research group has approximately ______ members (count
undergraduate and graduate students, technicians, post-doctoral staff, and
primary investigators.)
o
o
o
o

Less than 5
6-10
11-20
More than 20

3. My prior/current research group includes members from multiple
disciplines or Colleges (e.g., College of Engineering, Department of
Mathematics, Department of Biology, College of Education.)
o I don’t know my lab mates well enough to answer this question
o No
o Yes
o If "Yes," please list all departments or colleges below (100 characters and
spaces limit):____
4. I was assigned a research project _____ after joining my prior/current
research group.
o Established before I arrived at the Center
o Within the first week
o Within the second week
o I don’t have a project yet
F

or

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#7 Research Focus Pre‐internship Survey 

5. I had/ have individual meetings with my prior/current research
advisor____.
o I will not have individual meetings with my research advisor
o Weekly
o Three times a month
o Twice a month
o Once a month
o We will meet only before my research project is due
o Never
o Other
If "other," please explain (50 characters and spaces limit):____
6. How often did you/do you have research group meetings (the majority of
the group is present)?
o We do not hold research group meetings
o Once a week
o Once a month
o Twice a month
o At random/ as needed
o Never
o Other
If "other," please explain (100 characters and spaces limit):____
7. How was/is the workspace for students in your prior/current research
group organized?
o We have a common lab/work room
o We each have individual offices
o We each have our own desk in a group office
o We are not allocated office/desk space
o Space is allocated by the department or program, not the research group
o Other
If "other," please describe (100 characters and spaces limit):____
8. As compared to other students on my same academic level, my level of
participation in my prior/current research group is:
o
o
o
o

Less than average
Average
More than average
There are no other students on my same academic level in the lab.

9. My prior/current research was/is primarily conducted:
o Using a computer in an office
o In a laboratory
o Outside doing field work
o Other
o If other, please describe__________________________________

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#7 Research Focus Pre‐internship Survey 

10. My prior/current research group was/is primarily associated with:
o An engineering department
o A larger research center
o Other
If "other," please describe (50 characters and spaces limit):____
Adapted from: Crede, E., & Borrego, M. (2013). From ethnography to items: A mixed methods approach
to developing a survey to examine graduate engineering student retention. Journal of Mixed Methods
Research, 7(1), 62-80.

11. Please use this space to provide any additional feedback about your internship
experience you’d like to share with us (500 characters with spaces):______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

II. Feedback on the overall survey experience:
Please provide the following feedback on your experience completing this survey:
12. How many minutes did you take to complete this survey? (whole number
only)___
Please indicate the level to which you agree or disagree with each statement, using the
drop down menu:
13. The survey instructions were clear. (Drop down menu options are as follows):

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#7 Research Focus Pre‐internship Survey 

14. The questions were easy to understand. (Drop down menu options are as
follows):

15. Do you have any additional comments or feedback on the instructions,
questions, or survey navigation? (500 characters with spaces):_________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Thank you for participating!

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information collection meets the requirements of
44 U.S.C. § 3507, as amended by section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do
not need to answer these questions unless we display a valid Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 2700-0159 and
expires 04/30/2018. We estimate that it will take 3 minutes to read the instructions and answer
the questions. Send only comments relating to this time estimate to: lisa.e.wills@nasa.gov

Wills 

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