Survey Tools

Ask the Right Questions

The University of Alberta has an institutional license for Qualtrics, which is a top-tier survey software that is easy to use for conducting online surveys. This license provides free access to Qualtrics for researchers, faculty, students, staff, and external collaborators who are working on research, academic, or administrative projects related to the University of Alberta.

Qualtrics Features

Our survey tools allow users to build, distribute, analyze, and report, these online surveys enable collaboration and reporting in real-time, as well as exporting data in multiple formats.

• Create new projects and determine the question display and behavior.
• Over 20 question types ranging from multiple choice (single and multiple responses), to text entry, drill down, group and rank, and interaction with images.
• Add question-based logic and survey flow elements.
• Manage quotas and authenticators to control who can complete your survey.
• Incorporate scoring, math operations, and custom validation to automatically evaluate your collected responses.
• Survey experience can be delivered in several languages.
• Upload, edit, and sample recipient information to manage who receives survey invitations, and what additional information can be used and captured in a survey response.
• Distribution can be done by using QR codes, SMS invitations, and the Qualtrics Offline App to reach your respondents on the go.
• Data & Analysis tab, apply weighting to your dataset, and edit previously collected responses with ease.
• Analyzing open-ended responses.
• Advance visualizations and reporting.

Back to top ↑

Self-service (Qualtrics)

In support of UAlberta’s students, faculty, and administration TSS manages access to Qualtrics , a subscription software used for data collection and analysis.

Some advantages of using Qualtrics include:

• Allows for project collaboration among universities and/or institutions.
• User friendly, easy branching and customization.
• Extensive reporting and analytics.

Getting an account

Accounts are given to collect data for a specific project. To create an account, email TSQS at web.surveys@ualberta.ca and include the following information:

1. Project name (to determine the user name).
2. Survey project description.
3. First name, last name and email address of the person setting the study.
4. Name of principal investigator (UofA researcher) or project stakeholder.

Important: All data and project information should be backed up before the end date of the project.

Qualtrics access

Instructor Account

The instructor’s accounts are created with the following features:

• Total Allowed Survey Creation: unlimited
• Allowed Active Surveys: unlimited
• Allowed Responses: 20,000
• Allowed Outgoing Emails: unlimited
• Collaboration outside organization: enable

Student Account

Instructors, research supervisors can require accounts for their students. The student accounts, by defaults, will allow:

• Total Allowed Survey Creation: 20
• Allowed Active Surveys: unlimited
• Allowed Responses: 5,000
• Allowed Outgoing Emails: unlimited
• Collaboration outside organization: disabled

Staff Account

Staff account will grant by default the following features:

• Total Allowed Survey Creation: 20
• Allowed Active Surveys: unlimited
• Allowed Responses: 10,000
• Allowed Outgoing Emails: unlimited
• Collaboration outside organization: disabled

Support

Qualtrics provides direct support to help users construct, deploy, and report on surveys

• Phone: 1-800-340-9194
• Email: support@qualtrics.com 
• Chat: visit the Qualtrics support page
• XM Basecamp - On-demand training videos
• Support Pages - Step-by-step instructions on how to perform certain actions in the platform
• 24/7 Phone, Email & Chat Support - Support team can address technical/product-related questions/concerns

Training

Qualtrics provides free online tutorials to help you learn the program at your own pace.

• Qualtrics Quick Start
• Step 1: Planning and Designing a Survey
• Step 2: Building a Survey Project
• Step 3: Distributing a Survey Project
• Step 4: Understanding Survey Data
• Step 5: Reporting Survey Results

TSS will gladly provide introductory training to users and answer specific questions. One-on-one training is subject to available resources. To book a training section please contact TSQS ( web.surveys@ualberta.ca).

Back to top ↑

Comprehensive Service

To have a survey created and administered by TSQS, please contact web.surveys@ualberta.ca.

Comprehensive Service features

• Initial consultation requirements gathering.
• TSQS develops a project plan, including scheduling activities, defining communication plans and recommendations.
• Implementation of instrument (online and/or paper)
• Pilot testing
• Instrument distribution
• Response rate monitoring
• Data download
• Data management and processing
• Reporting and analytics

For general surveys, the following information is normally required to create a survey:

• A Word or PDF file that illustrates the design of the survey, including administrative text, questions, and branching.
• Logos and images (format .jpg).
• Project timeline (including start and end date of the project).
• An indication of whether the response file should be returned in Excel or in SPSS format. This should be indicated before we set up the survey.
• Confirmation of Research Ethics Approval.
• Name of principal investigator (UofA researcher) or project stakeholder.
• A speedcode that we can use to recover our charges.

TSS will keep a backup of the survey instrument (to re-use in longitudinal studies) and data for 5 years. All contact information (names and emails) will be destroyed when the project is concluded.

TSS currently holds two survey tools, Qualtrics and Lime Surveys. In agreement with the researcher/stakeholder of the project, the survey tool deemed most appropriate will be used. Both survey tools comply with the University of Alberta’s research and data management policies.

Back to top ↑