Online administration
The HMS is administered online, with data-collection services provided by Survey Sciences Group, LLC (SSG). SSG is an independent research organization with expertise in multi-campus studies. All data are collected using empirically proven standards for web-based survey research.
HMS’s online administration affords students the luxury of taking the survey at any time or place that is convenient to them. This enables them to respond to the survey when they feel comfortable, secure, and unhurried. Respondents further enjoy the option of leaving the survey and resuming it from their last completed answer.
Recruitment
Students receive personalized e-mails inviting them to participate in HMS. Each e-mail describes the study, addresses issues of confidentiality and consent, and supplies a link to the survey instrument. Students may receive up to four total e-mail contacts.
In order maximize response rates, HMS hosts a sweepstakes of prizes for which winners are drawn from the pool of respondents.
Data-collection period
The data-collection period extends from January through the end of April, and each institution will select a three-week window that best fits their unique academic calendar. SSG will monitor the survey completion rates and work with you to encourage participation if the response is insufficient.
As the survey is administered, SSG personnel provide comprehensive respondent support via e-mail to minimize the inconvenience to students. This service also allows students to opt out of the survey by replying to any HMS correspondence and requesting to be removed from the dataset.