Workflow of Quantitative Data Collection

The survey of graduates is carried out at the University of Göttingen in the period from June to August each year. In this period, graduates are invited to take part in the survey up to six times by e-mail or by post. The survey is conducted using an online questionnaire. In their invitation graduates receive an individual access code for the online portal, which they can use to log in anonymously to the survey. The access code primarily prevents illicitly completing the questionnaire repeatedly, it also allows them to pause whilst completing the survey and resume it later without loss of data or having to re-enter data already provided.

After the survey phase a data set is generated, which is then examined for the significance and representative nature of the data. Finally, data sets are compiled for the faculties and provided to them for their own analyses. Using the data, staff at Student and Academic Services create a methodology report, a general report on the results of the year group surveyed, and also develop a faculty report on the relevant survey results for each of the faculties.

Each year before the start of the survey, the faculties have the opportunity to integrate their own questions into the questionnaires, or to replace, amend or remove existing questions.