The National Student Survey: development, findings and implications

Abstract

A pilot study investigated the feasibility of a survey of students completing undergraduate programmes in the UK regarding their experiences of learning and teaching. A questionnaire containing 45 items in six scales was distributed to 44,209 students from 22 institutions. It was returned by 17,173 students, and analysis of their responses broadly confirmed the integrity of the scales. A second pilot study investigated the feasibility of a survey of final‐year undergraduate students. A questionnaire containing 35 items in nine scales was distributed to 25,838 students at 10 institutions. It was returned by 9723 students, and again analysis of their responses broadly confirmed the integrity of the scales. The findings informed the National Student Surveys administered to final‐year students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from HEFCE to the Open University. The project was guided by a steering committee appointed by HEFCE, chaired by Gillian Slater. Among the members of the committee, Noel Entwistle and Keith Trigwell were especially helpful in suggesting items to be included in the survey instruments. The distribution and the electronic scanning of the printed questionnaires were carried out by Nick Haycox and his colleagues in the Open University's Survey Office, and the online versions were designed by Kelvin Lack.