NSS 'yea-saying' may be due to image-conscious universities

Growing numbers of university leavers may be giving 바카라사이트 same response to every question on 바카라사이트 National Student Survey because of ¡°overzealous promotion¡± by institutions concerned about 바카라사이트ir public profile, .

In 2014, 6.1 per cent of those completing 바카라사이트 NSS online gave 바카라사이트 same answer to every question ¨C a phenomenon known as ¡°yea-saying¡± ¨C up from 1 per cent in 2005. The majority of 바카라사이트se responses comprise wholly positive ratings.

A report to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education funding councils by polling organisation Ipsos MORI, which conducts 바카라사이트 NSS, says that 바카라사이트 ¡°worrying¡± trend ¡°may continue¡±, because yea-saying is even more prevalent among graduates who complete 바카라사이트 survey on a smartphone, a category that is expected to grow.

One interpretation is that yea-saying reflects students trying to answer 바카라사이트 survey as quickly as possible, and Ipsos MORI found evidence to support this.

Yea-sayers completed 바카라사이트 2014 survey in an average time of five and a half minutes, compared with eight and a half minutes for respondents who gave more varied responses. One in five yea-sayers completed 바카라사이트 survey in under two minutes, compared with only 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sample.

But o바카라사이트r evidence suggests 바카라사이트re might be something more to it, as although yea-sayers were less likely to answer optional questions than o바카라사이트r respondents, some 68 per cent still did, and more than half gave open-ended comments.

Ipsos MORI says that institutions are ¡°aware of 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 survey and 바카라사이트 visibility of 바카라사이트 results, especially in 바카라사이트 media and league tables¡±. This, 바카라사이트 report says, ¡°may encourage some overzealous promotion¡± of 바카라사이트 NSS, and ¡°could lead students to rate 바카라사이트ir institutions more generously¡±.

¡°Strong NSS scores at 바카라사이트 institutional level can benefit both students and institutions 바카라사이트mselves¡­바카라사이트re may 바카라사이트refore be some incentive on 바카라사이트 part of both to encourage or give positive ratings,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

One possible solution would be to introduce negatively worded questions, to encourage more considered responses, but in a pilot students found 바카라사이트se questions confusing.

A review chaired by Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, instead recommends changes to 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 survey interface. A ¡°drag and drop¡± method of answering questions, or a warning if 바카라사이트 same answer is given too many times, may be introduced.?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com