Online surveys are a great way to quickly collect data from large groups of people. However, the results of any survey are only as good as the items that are used, and unfortunately poorly designed surveys are commonplace.

As a class, we will work with you to design and pilot a survey that measures your outcomes of interest. Students will construct the items, conduct pilot testing, engage in scale validation, and provide you with a report that includes a description of the intended purpose of the survey, a copy of all survey items, a brief justification or explanation for the included items/scales, and instructions for analysis. Students will work to ensure that you are able to accurately answer the most pressing questions you have about your population of interest (e.g., donors, customers, employees). These may include questions about attitudes, feelings, behaviours, characteristics, and so on. For example, you may wish to determine how loyal your current customers are, how committed volunteers are to your organization, or how personality variables correlate with different roles and behaviours within your company.