Survey Design and Analysis

Weight 30% of final grade
Components 4 survey stages
Work Format 1–3 students
Submission Canvas

Students may work individually or in a group of two or three to design an original survey on a public policy topic, collect primary data from at least 30 respondents, analyze the results, and communicate their findings through a survey report or infographic and an oral presentation. The assignment provides hands-on experience with questionnaire design, data collection, descriptive analysis, data visualization, and communicating evidence to policy and community audiences. It includes four components: survey design, survey completion, a survey report, and a presentation.

Component Weights

Component Percent of Final Grade
Survey Design 5%
Survey Completion 5%
Survey Report 10%
Presentation 10%
Component 1

Survey Design

Due: Tuesday, October 13 at 11:59 pm

Students will submit the link to their survey two weeks before the scheduled survey result presentation. The survey itself will be reviewed and graded based on its quality, so it is essential to ensure that it is well-designed and adheres to the guidelines provided during class lectures.

All surveys must be created using Qualtrics. Each survey should incorporate at least five different question types, such as multiple choice, Likert scale, slider, ranking, and matrix questions, to demonstrate a range of survey design techniques. Students may include only one open-ended question, which may be designated as optional for respondents.

The target population for your survey should be defined such that your classmates would be able to respond meaningfully to the questions. For example, your survey might explore topics that local governments, state governments, or universities would be interested in understanding, ensuring that the subject matter is relevant and accessible to your peers.

Evaluation

How Survey Design is evaluated

These criteria total 100% of the Survey Design component.

20%

Research Purpose & Policy Relevance

Clarity of the research objective, importance of the policy topic, and fit between the question and target population.

35%

Question & Measurement Quality

Clarity, neutrality, appropriateness, and measurement quality of the questions and response options.

25%

Structure & Respondent Experience

Logical flow, useful instructions, manageable respondent burden, and an accessible overall experience.

20%

Requirements & Technical Readiness

Correct Qualtrics setup, required question variety, functioning survey logic, and readiness for distribution.

View the Survey Design rubric Expand to compare performance descriptions for all four criteria.

The performance band indicates the percentage of points earned within a criterion; the Weight column determines that criterion’s contribution to the component grade.

Criterion Exemplary
95–100%		 Proficient
80–94.9%		 Developing
40–79.9%		 Needs Improvement
Below 40%		 Weight
Research Purpose & Policy Relevance The research objective is precise, meaningful, and clearly connected to a public policy issue. The target population is well defined, and classmates can respond knowledgeably. The survey is positioned to produce useful evidence. The objective, policy relevance, and target population are clear overall. Minor refinement would improve the scope, significance, or connection between the research purpose and intended respondents. The topic is identifiable, but the objective is broad or only partly connected to a policy issue. The target population or usefulness of the resulting evidence needs further explanation. The research purpose is unclear, lacks meaningful policy relevance, or asks respondents to address a topic outside their knowledge or experience. 20%
Question & Measurement Quality Questions are concise, neutral, and directly aligned with the research objective. Response options are appropriate, balanced, and sufficiently complete. Wording avoids ambiguity, double-barreled questions, and leading assumptions. Questions and response options measure the intended concepts effectively overall, with only minor wording, scale, or response-category issues. Several questions are vague, leading, double-barreled, or poorly matched to their response options. Measurement choices only partly support the research objective. Major wording or measurement problems make responses difficult to interpret or prevent the survey from addressing its research objective. 35%
Structure & Respondent Experience The survey follows a logical sequence with clear instructions and smooth transitions. The layout is accessible and easy to navigate, and the instrument can be completed comfortably within ten minutes. Flow and instructions are clear overall, with minor issues in ordering, transitions, layout, or respondent burden that do not substantially affect completion. The survey can be completed, but noticeable problems with ordering, instructions, repetition, or length create confusion or unnecessary burden. Disorganized flow, missing instructions, inaccessible formatting, or excessive length makes the survey difficult to complete accurately. 25%
Requirements & Technical Readiness The Qualtrics survey functions correctly and is ready for distribution. It uses at least five question types purposefully, includes no more than one open-ended question, and applies relevant survey-methodology principles throughout. The survey meets the core technical and format requirements and functions as intended, with only minor setup or consistency issues. Most requirements are attempted, but question variety, open-ended limits, survey logic, formatting, or link functionality needs correction before distribution. The survey is incomplete, inaccessible, built outside Qualtrics, or missing multiple required elements and is not ready to distribute. 20%
Component 2

Survey Completion

Due: Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 pm

Survey links will be made available on Canvas two weeks before the presentation. Within three days of this release, you will need to complete your classmates' surveys. This is a participation grade. The number of surveys you did not complete will be prorated from your final grade.

Component 3

Survey Report

Due: Monday, November 2 at 5:59 pm

Produce a survey report or infographic presenting the survey findings for policymakers, community stakeholders, and other audiences with varied technical backgrounds. The document should emphasize clarity, relevance, and actionable insights.

FormatPDF report or infographic
Length600–1,500 words
Visuals3–9 charts or tables
AudiencePolicy and community audiences

The report must include a minimum of three and a maximum of nine data visualizations (either charts or tables). Visualizations should be clearly labeled, appropriately formatted, and directly tied to a key finding or analytical question discussed in the text. Visualizations should be selected to communicate insights effectively rather than to exhaustively display all results.

Example survey reports and infographics are available here: Google Drive folder. You are also welcome to draw on any strong examples you find online — reports and infographics published by research organizations, government agencies, and advocacy groups are all fair game as models.

Required content

  • Issue and objectives: State the policy issue, research question, and research objectives.
  • Survey and sample: Briefly describe the survey design, sampling approach, and response rate.
  • Analysis: Present appropriate descriptive statistics and three to nine purposeful data visualizations.
  • Findings and implications: Interpret the evidence and explain its relevance for policy decisions or recommendations.
  • Limitations: Acknowledge relevant sampling, response-rate, and methodological limitations.

Submission package: Include the report or infographic PDF, the survey instrument as a PDF export from Qualtrics, the raw dataset as an Excel file exported from Qualtrics, and an AI use statement.

Evaluation

How the Survey Report is evaluated

These criteria total 100% of the Survey Report component.

30%

Data Quality & Analytical Accuracy

Response documentation, appropriate descriptive analysis, accurate calculations, and acknowledgment of data limitations.

30%

Visualization & Accessible Communication

Effectiveness of the three to nine tables or charts, document design, organization, and accessibility for policy and community audiences.

25%

Findings & Policy Implications

Strength of the interpretation, connection to the research objective, and evidence-based implications or recommendations.

15%

Completeness & Professionalism

Clear writing, required length and materials, consistent formatting, and inclusion of the AI use statement.

View the Survey Report rubric Expand to compare performance descriptions for all four criteria.

The performance band indicates the percentage of points earned within a criterion; the Weight column determines that criterion’s contribution to the component grade.

Criterion Exemplary
95–100%		 Proficient
80–94.9%		 Developing
40–79.9%		 Needs Improvement
Below 40%		 Weight
Data Quality & Analytical Accuracy The report documents the sample and response rate clearly, uses appropriate descriptive statistics, and presents accurate calculations and interpretations. Sampling, response-rate, and methodological limitations are addressed thoughtfully. The data and analytical approach are appropriate and accurate overall. Sample information and limitations are included, with only minor omissions or interpretation issues. Required analysis is present but contains gaps, weak justification, or noticeable errors. Sample documentation, response rate, or limitations receive limited attention. Analysis is missing, inappropriate, or substantially inaccurate. The sample and response rate are undocumented, or conclusions cannot be supported by the data. 30%
Visualization & Accessible Communication Three to nine purposeful tables or charts communicate the most important findings. Visuals are accurate, clearly labeled, well formatted, and integrated with a polished narrative designed for policy and community audiences with varied technical backgrounds. The required visualizations are clear and support the narrative overall, with minor issues in labeling, formatting, selection, accessibility, or integration with the text. Visuals communicate some results, but default styling, weak labels, unnecessary displays, or a disconnect from the narrative reduces their effectiveness. Document organization or readability needs improvement. The visualization requirement is not met, or tables and charts are misleading, difficult to interpret, poorly formatted, or disconnected from the report's message. 30%
Findings & Policy Implications Findings directly address the research objectives and are interpreted accurately. Implications or recommendations are specific, meaningful, and supported by the survey evidence without overstating what the data can establish. Findings and policy implications are clear and supported overall, though parts of the interpretation, specificity, or connection to the research objective could be strengthened. The report describes results but offers limited interpretation. Policy implications are generic, weakly connected to the evidence, or insufficiently attentive to study limitations. Findings are unclear or inaccurately interpreted, and implications or recommendations are missing, unsupported, or contradicted by the survey evidence. 25%
Completeness & Professionalism The PDF is polished, concise, and within the 600–1,500 word range. Writing and formatting are consistent and error-free. The Qualtrics instrument, raw Excel dataset, and AI use statement are all included in the correct formats. The report is complete and professional overall, with minor writing, formatting, length, or submission-material issues that do not impede use. The report is understandable but needs editing or is missing one required element. Problems with length, formatting, file preparation, or the AI statement reduce professionalism. The report is incomplete, difficult to read, substantially outside the required length, or missing multiple required submission materials. 15%
Component 4

Presentation

Presentation: Monday, November 2 · slides due 5:59 pm

Each student or team will deliver a presentation with slides that clearly communicates the survey purpose, methods, key findings, and policy implications to the intended audience.

Duration8–14 minutes
FormatSlides and Q&A
AudiencePolicy and community audiences
SubmissionSlides due beforehand

Suggested flow

  1. Introduction1–2 minutes: Frame the policy issue, research purpose, and target population.
  2. MethodsAbout 1 minute: Describe the survey design and data collection approach.
  3. Findings3–4 minutes: Present the key results with purposeful data visualizations.
  4. Implications1–2 minutes: Discuss policy implications, recommendations, and limitations.
  5. Q&A2–3 minutes: Respond clearly and thoughtfully to audience questions.

Rehearse for timing and clear delivery. Submit the slides before presenting. Reading speaking notes or a script verbatim will result in a very low grade. Include an AI use statement.

Evaluation

How the Presentation is evaluated

These criteria total 100% of the Presentation component.

30%

Content & Organization

Clear explanation of the purpose, methods, findings, implications, limitations, and a coherent overall structure.

25%

Visual Communication

Purposeful slides and data visualizations that make the survey evidence accessible to the intended audience.

25%

Delivery & Time Management

Preparation, pacing, clarity, professional delivery, and adherence to the 8–14 minute limit.

20%

Knowledge & Q&A

Command of the survey design and analysis and the ability to respond accurately and thoughtfully to questions.

View the Presentation rubric Expand to compare performance descriptions for all four criteria.

The performance band indicates the percentage of points earned within a criterion; the Weight column determines that criterion’s contribution to the component grade.

Criterion Exemplary
95–100%		 Proficient
80–94.9%		 Developing
40–79.9%		 Needs Improvement
Below 40%		 Weight
Content & Organization The presentation follows a clear, engaging progression from the policy issue and research purpose through methods, findings, implications, and limitations. Emphasis is placed on the most important evidence and takeaways. All major content is included and logically organized, with minor gaps in emphasis, transitions, explanation, or balance among sections. The essential topics are mentioned, but organization is uneven or important methods, findings, implications, or limitations are underdeveloped. The presentation lacks a coherent structure or omits essential content, making the survey purpose, analysis, or conclusions difficult to follow. 30%
Visual Communication Slides are polished, readable, and tailored to policy and community audiences with varied technical backgrounds. Data visualizations are accurate, well labeled, and integrated smoothly into the explanation of key findings. Slides and visualizations communicate the evidence effectively overall, with only minor issues in density, labeling, design consistency, accessibility, or integration. Visuals support parts of the presentation but rely on dense text, small elements, default formatting, weak labels, or displays that are not clearly explained. Slides are missing, difficult to read, misleading, or disconnected from the spoken presentation and do not help the audience understand the findings. 25%
Delivery & Time Management Delivery is confident, clear, professional, and well rehearsed. Pacing supports comprehension, transitions are smooth, and the full presentation including Q&A fits within the 8–14 minute limit without reading from a script. Delivery is prepared and appropriately timed overall, with minor issues in pacing, transitions, vocal clarity, reliance on notes, or audience engagement. Uneven pacing, limited rehearsal, frequent reliance on notes, or timing problems distract from otherwise understandable content. The presentation is unprepared, read largely from a script, difficult to hear or follow, or substantially outside the required time limit. 25%
Knowledge & Q&A Responses to questions are accurate, concise, and thoughtful and demonstrate strong command of the survey design, data, analysis, limitations, and policy implications. Responses demonstrate solid understanding overall, with only minor uncertainty or incomplete elaboration on complex questions. Responses show partial understanding but are vague, incomplete, or uncertain about important design, analysis, or interpretation choices. The presenter cannot answer basic questions or explain essential decisions, results, or limitations of the survey project. 20%