Woodberry Study Survey Methodology
A national study of graduate students was commissioned by Grad Resources through Dr. Robert Woodberry at the University of Texas, Sociology Department with full IRB approval.
Universities were selected using a stratified random sample with probability proportional to size. Universities were stratified according to rank and region. At each selected university, we then selected graduate students using a simple random sample from lists provided to us by the university dean's offices. If for some reason a selected campus declined to participate, another similar campus was randomly selected with probability proportional to size from within the same strata (university rank & region) as a replacement. There were 26 campuses that participated in the study.
The data was collected over a 15 month period and analyzed by Dr Woodberry and an associate and compiled into graphs and charts for the use of Grad Resources in determining how to better serve the graduate students in America. The selected data tables and brief summary of the interpretation of the data can be viewed at the site www.GradResources.org. More details can be obtained upon request from the office of Grad Resources by email request to Nick@GradResources.org.
INVITATION LETTERS FOR GRAD RESOURCES ONLINE SURVEY
INITIAL INVITATION NOTE:
Dear Grad Student:
We are conducting a national public opinion survey among full-time graduate students from across the nation. Your email address was randomly chosen so we are inviting you to participate in this important research. It is a follow-up study to the groundbreaking research we carried out 20 years ago concerning the challenges that graduate students face. Your partnership with us in this process is very significant and can affect the quality of life of grad students nationwide.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. We estimate that it will take about 15 minutes of your time to complete the questionnaire. You may decline to answer any question and you have the right to withdraw from participation at any time without penalty. If you wish to withdraw from the study or have any questions, contact the investigator listed below.
Because we are inviting a very limited number of students to help us understand grad life better, your involvement is critical toward maintaining the statistical validity of the data we collect. All of your answers will remain anonymous and confidential. This is not part of a sales gimmick or marketing effort; your email address will not be given to the school or any other organizations or individuals for any further contact.
For your answers to be of the greatest value to us, we would appreciate you completing the survey by _______________.
To complete the survey, please click on this link (www.surveying-america.com). On the home page, you will be asked for the study name (grad) and a password (please use G708). If you prefer to complete the survey by telephone, please send me an email including your telephone number and your preferred day and time for such an interview.
If you do not want to receive any more reminders, you may email us at [EMAIL ADDRESS] or follow this link to opt out of future emails [HTTP://LINK TO REMOVAL URL].
Thank you for helping us to help grad students around the nation. I am grateful for your time and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Woodberry
Sociology Department
University of Texas at Austin
This study has been reviewed and approved by The University of Texas at Austin Institutional Review Board. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, or are dissatisfied at any time with any aspect of this study, you may contact - anonymously, if you wish - the Institutional Review Board by phone at (512) 471-8871 or email at orsc@uts.cc.utexas.edu. IRB Approval Number: [2008-07-0103]
FOLLOW-UP - SEND AFTER THREE DAYS:
Dear Grad Student:
Earlier this week I sent an email inviting you to participate in a national public opinion survey among full-time graduate students. Because this is a random, confidential survey, I do not know if you have completed the survey.
If you have already completed the survey, thank you for your help and please forgive me for bugging you with this reminder letter.
If you have not yet responded to the survey, please take a few minutes right now to do so. I know it is an imposition, but we are inviting a very limited number of students to help us understand grad life better, so your participation is critical to the survey's statistical validity.
To complete the survey, please click on this link (www.surveying-america.com). On the home page, you will be asked for the study name (grad) and a password (please use G708).
Again, all of your answers will remain anonymous and confidential. There will not be any sales or marketing follow-ups. Your involvement will help us to complete our follow-up to the groundbreaking research we carried out 20 years ago concerning the challenges that graduate students face. The results will be provided to organizations involved in serving graduate students nationwide.
Thank you for your consideration. I am grateful for your assistance as we attempt to help grad students maximize their experience.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Woodberry
Sociology Department
University of Texas at Austin
