OPIR has been conducting survey research as early as 1994, with the administration of surveys to undergraduate students and graduating seniors. OPIR surveys are designed to support decision making for planning, assessment, accreditation, service satisfaction and program improvement. Over the years the number of surveys has increased substantially, with more than 35 survey projects completed annually.
Systematic Survey Cycle (University-wide Reports)
Key constituent groups, which include First Year Students; Graduating Seniors; Graduate Students, Alumni/ae, Parents, Faculty and Staff, are surveyed on a routine basis to provide data for university-wide planning and assessment activities.
Completing surveys takes time and resources for both the respondent and those administering the survey. OPIR has established a Systematic Survey Cycle that rotates a version of a survey that is used over a 3 to 4 year period of time. This allows us to ask different questions over time which keeps the length of each annual survey as short as possible. At the same time it enables participation in national surveys to compare Villanova University with national norms and selected peer institutions.
Summary reports of all survey respondents are available to administrators and program directors within the University. Surveys with high response rates (such as the Senior Survey) enable analysis and reporting of data not just at the University level, but also by college or academic department. These reports are shared with the respective academic leadership only.
Commissioned Surveys (Reports by College, Academic Departments and Administrative Offices/Departments)
OPIR administers surveys for various offices and departments throughout the University. Surveys can be administered via paper or on-line to select groups or specific populations. OPIR works with the requestor to assist in formulating the key questions, the study design, appropriate measurements, administration protocols, and instrumentation. OPIR administers the survey, creates and maintains the data base, performs statistical analyses and reports the results. OPIR also provides consultation with any or all steps in this process for organizations who are participating in a national or consortium survey process.
What will it Cost to use OPIR for Surveys or Focus Groups?
Please note that OPIR charges for reimbursement of all OPIR out-of-pocket expenses, that is direct costs of materials, postage and special services such as data entry and consultant services. OPIR staff and manager time on any project is not charged back to the requestor. For requests that are not University-wide projects (i.e., projects requested by colleges and departments), OPIR typically provides cost-free project oversight/review but is reimbursed for consultants who perform the work for the project which may include such tasks as instrument construction, data collection and analysis and report writing.
