3.0
Methodology
3.1
The submission includes evidence from a number of different sources (please see table below).
| Title of data source | Year | Target Population | Response Rate | Method of survey | Appendix |
| National Student Survey | 2006 / 2007 | 2976 / 3135 | 1801 / 1968 | Quantitative: mean scores for response on a sliding scale where 1= definitely disagree, 5= definitely agree and qualitative comments | Appendix 2Appendix 3 |
Postgraduate Taught Student Survey Bruss |
2005 |
1302 1625 1505 |
114 151 182 |
Quantitative: mean scores for response on a sliding scale where 1= definitely disagree, 5= definitely agree | |
| Postgraduate Research Student Survey | 2006 2007 |
778 809 |
112 186 |
Quantitative: mean scores for response on a sliding scale where 1= definitely disagree, 5= definitely agree | See survey results |
Kent Union Satisfaction survey |
2005 |
All students who are members of Kent Union | 185 459 851 663 |
Quantitative and Qualitative | See survey results Appendix 13 |
| Kent Union Course Rep Survey | 2007 2008 |
215 265 |
134 84 |
Quantitative and Qualitative | Appendix 4 Appendix 5 |
| Access to Learning Fund Satisfaction Survey | 2007 | 396 | 92 | Quantitative and Qualitative | Appendix 6 |
| Kent Union Focus Groups 1. Learning and Teaching at Kent 2. Postgraduate Research Students experiences 3. Student Support |
March 2008 |
11 students present 4 students present 6 students present |
Qualitative | Appendix 7 |
There is a great deal of value in using the sources listed above, especially the large scale surveys such as the NSS, which were devised by market research experts and have a high response rate. When analysing the information provided by final year students, comparisons to the sector average have been made where appropriate to get a sense of perspective on how the University is rated compared with other institutions. Similarly, the University has staff resources for carrying out research and it is useful for Kent Union to have access to this data. Several of the surveys had small response rates e.g. Kent Union’s November 2007 Satisfaction survey only had a 5% response rate, however the results still help provide an insight into students’ views and opinions. Whilst the Course Rep survey received a 62% response rate in 2007 and a 30% response rate in 2008, the data represents the views of a small minority of students; albeit those elected or appointed to represent the student population. This should be taken into consideration when the results from this survey are used in the report.