Pilot Follow-up Survey for the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS)

ATTACHMENT 1: GSS Pilot Follow-up Survey Questions

[INTRO TEXT]

Thank you for your participation in the 2016 Pilot data collection of the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS). The changes implemented in the GSS Pilot Survey were designed to improve the utility of the GSS data, and to increase the efficiency of institutional data collection while balancing institution’s reporting burden.

We would like to ask for a few more minutes of your time to answer a short follow-up survey consisting of just five questions about your experiences with the GSS Pilot Survey data collection. Your detailed and specific feedback will help us in implementing the changes in the 2017 GSS.

[Bottom of the screen will display the OMB notices]

Your participation in this survey is voluntary and it should only take about 10 minutes to complete. This survey is authorized by law (42 U.S.C. 1862 Section 3.a.6.). The OMB control number for this survey is 3145-0174.

[Separate screen]

1. Compared to last year’s GSS, how much effort did it take to complete this year’s GSS Pilot Survey?

⃝	Much more effort
⃝	Somewhat more effort
⃝	About the same effort
⃝	Somewhat less effort
⃝	Much less effort
⃝	Did not complete GSS before

[Separate screen]

2. [IF Q1 = Much/Somewhat More Effort or About the same effort]

What specific aspects of the GSS Pilot Survey caused more effort to complete the survey than the previous year? Please also provide any suggestions that may be helpful to reduce the required effort.

[IF Q1 = Much/Somewhat Less Effort]

What specific aspects of the GSS Pilot Survey led to less effort to complete the survey than the previous year? Please also provide any suggestions that may be helpful to further reduce the required effort.

[IF Q1 = Did not complete GSS before]

What specific aspects of the GSS Pilot Survey required the most effort from you? Please also provide any suggestions for improving the survey to reduce the required effort.

[OPEN-ENDED TEXT BOX – LOTS OF ROOM]

[Separate screen]

3. Given your experience with uploading data for the GSS Pilot Survey, how likely are you to upload your data in the next GSS data collection compared to the method used in the past?

⃝	Very likely
⃝	Somewhat likely
⃝	Somewhat unlikely
⃝	Very unlikely

[Separate screen]

4. Please tell us your opinion on the technical support that were provided to you in the GSS Pilot Survey data collection (e.g. instructions, training materials, GSS Help Desk), including suggestions for future improvement.

[OPEN-ENDED TEXT BOX – LOTS OF ROOM]

[Separate screen]

5. Please tell us about your experiences with the GSS Pilot Survey data collection process (e.g., uploading data, reviewing organizational units for your institution, editing data in the GSS web instrument), including whether this is an improvement over the past data collection process.

[OPEN-ENDED TEXT BOX – LOTS OF ROOM]

[Separate screen]

Thank you very much for participating in the 2016 GSS Pilot Follow-up Survey!