AAIR Newsletter Feedback Survey 2013 Summary Resultsaair.org.au/app/webroot/media/pdf/Surveys/AAIRNewsletterFeedback... · In late 2013, AAIR conducted an online survey of members

AAIR Newsletter Feedback Survey 2013

Summary Results

In late 2013, AAIR conducted an online survey of members seeking their views on the AAIR

Newsletter. The summary results and brief commentary, based on 106 responses, are presented

below.

Respondents

The respondents were split almost equally between females and males (see Q14 later in report),

with a modal age group of 51-55 (Q15). Almost all respondents s were located in Australia (Q16) and

a majority of respondents (87.1%) were employed by a university (Q17).

Describing their current position, respondents were employed in a wide variety of roles, with analyst

(39.8%) most often cited (Q18). Almost a quarter nominated a management role with one-fifth in

business intelligence or institutional planning roles.

Over two-thirds had a post-graduate qualification (see Q19).

Most respondents cited higher education as an area of interest (92.9%, see Q20), with almost two-

thirds also citing research and statistics and half listing information and business intelligence

systems. One quarter cited an interest in VET.

Overall results

Generally speaking, respondents reviewed the Newsletter in a very positive light, with

all sections of the report read sometimes or often

a majority preferring a monthly publication cycle

most sections of the Newsletter rated somewhat important to important to their current

position

overall Newsletter content quality rated as almost extremely high

1. Sections of the Newsletter read

Members were asked how often they read various sections of the Newsletter, using response

categories ‘Never’, ‘Rarely’, ‘Sometimes’, ‘Often’, and ‘Always’.

All named sections of the report fell between being read sometimes and often, with only five

respondents never reading some of the newsletter (see Q1, next page). This latter figure might be

higher, as Newsletter recipients who do not read any of the publication might be less likely to

respond to a survey on its content.

TelluswhatyouthinkoftheAAIRNewsletter?

1/25

Q1Pleaseindicatehowoftenyouread:Answered:105 Skipped:1

6.80%7

20.39%21

36.89%38

22.33%23

13.59%14

103

3.16

5.05%5

4.04%4

23.23%23

29.29%29

38.38%38

99

3.92

4.04%4

16.16%16

31.31%31

27.27%27

21.21%21

99

3.45

8.16%8

18.37%18

37.76%37

17.35%17

18.37%18

98

3.19

Allofthenewsletter

Someofthenewsletter

President’supdate–

newsfromAAIR...IRprofile–profileofanInstitutio...

HigherEducation@Home(gene...

HigherEducationAbroad...

HigherEducation

Events

InstitutionalResearch

Events

HigherEducation

Publicatio...


Publicatio...

Newsletterthemes–funding,...

HigherEducation

jobs


jobs

0 1 2 3 4

Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always Total AverageRating

Allofthenewsletter

Someofthenewsletter

President’supdate–newsfromAAIRexecutive

IRprofi le–profi leofanInstitutionalResearcher


2/25

4.90%5

10.78%11

28.43%29

34.31%35

21.57%22

102

3.57

4.95%5

17.82%18

28.71%29

31.68%32

16.83%17

101

3.38

6%6

15%15

23%23

36%36

20%20

100

3.49

5%5

13%13

30%30

36%36

16%16

100

3.45

4.04%4

10.10%10

30.30%30

37.37%37

18.18%18

99

3.56

5.10%5

11.22%11

32.65%32

36.73%36

14.29%14

98

3.44

4.04%4

9.09%9

32.32%32

31.31%31

23.23%23

99

3.61

6.06%6

13.13%13

36.36%36

23.23%23

21.21%21

99

3.40

7.14%7

16.33%16

35.71%35

21.43%21

19.39%19

98

3.30

HigherEducation@Home(generalHigherEducationnews)

HigherEducationAbroad(globalHigherEducationnews)

HigherEducationEvents

InstitutionalResearchEvents

HigherEducationPublicationsandReports

InstitutionalResearchPublicationsandReports

Newsletterthemes–funding,qualityassurance,rankings

HigherEducationjobs

InstitutionalResearchjobs

2. Preferred frequency of publication

Asked how often they’d like to get the Newsletter, almost 60% of responding members said

monthly, with just under a quarter saying bi-monthly, (see Q2, next page).


3/25

6.80% 7

4.85% 5

59.22% 61

23.30% 24

5.83% 6

Q2Pleaseindicatehowoftenyou’dliketoreceivetheNewsletter

Answered:103 Skipped:3

Total 103

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Bi-Monthly

Quarterly

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

AnswerChoices Responses

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Bi-Monthly

Quarterly

3. Preferred format of Newsletter

Asked about their preferred format for receiving the Newsletter, almost 40% said they don’t mind

(see Q3, next page). Of those giving more specific answers, one-third wanted the Newsletter as a

PDF, while 23% wanted it as an online document, and 22% would prefer to get it embedded in an

email.


4/25

2.88% 3

33.65% 35

22.12% 23

7.69% 8

23.08% 24

38.46% 40

Q3InwhatformatwouldyouliketoreceivetheNewsletter?


TotalRespondents:104

Word

PDF

Embeddedinemail

HTML

Online

Don’tmind

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Word

PDF

Embeddedinemail

HTML

Online

Don’tmind

4. Importance of the Newsletter to the member

Members were asked to indicate the level of importance that Newsletter content has for their

current position, as well as for their future career and development. The response categories used

were ‘Unsure’, ‘Not at all important’, ‘Somewhat important’, ‘Important’, and ‘Very important’.

While the President’s Update and IR Profile content was rated just under somewhat important, all

other sections were rated between somewhat important and important (see Q4, next page).

Overall, 50.5% said that the Newsletter was important or very important and if the somewhat

important responses are included, this figures grows to over 88%.


5/25

Q4Pleaseindicatethelevelofimportancethenewslettercontenthasforyourcurrentposition,aswellasyourfuturecareerand

development.Answered:102 Skipped:4

5.94%6

5.94%6

37.62%38

38.61%39

11.88%12

101

3.45

6%6

30%30

41%41

21%21

2%2

100

2.83

4%4

35%35

46%46

13%13

2%2

100

2.74

Overall



HigherEducation@

Home–...

HigherEducation

Abroad

HigherEducation

Events


Events

HigherEducation

Publicatio...


Publicatio...


HigherEducation

jobs


jobs

0 1 2 3 4

Unsure NotatallImportant

SomewhatImportant

Important VeryImportant

Total AverageRating

Overall




6/25

3.96%4

4.95%5

43.56%44

32.67%33

14.85%15

101

3.50

4.90%5

12.75%13

44.12%45

34.31%35

3.92%4

102

3.20

5.94%6

6.93%7

49.50%50

30.69%31

6.93%7

101

3.26

4%4

7.00%7

54%54

26%26

9%9

100

3.29

3.96%4

4.95%5

33.66%34

40.59%41

16.83%17

101

3.61

4.95%5

6.93%7

39.60%40

37.62%38

10.89%11

101

3.43

3.06%3

10.20%10

36.73%36

37.76%37

12.24%12

98

3.46

3.96%4

23.76%24

36.63%37

27.72%28

7.92%8

101

3.12

4.95%5

28.71%29

33.66%34

23.76%24

8.91%9

101

3.03

HigherEducation@Home–generalHigherEducationnews

HigherEducationAbroad






HigherEducationjobs


5. Quality of Newsletter content

Asked to rate the quality of the various sections of the Newsletter, the responses were very positive.

Using response categories ‘Extremely low’, ‘Low’, ‘Average’, ‘High’, and ‘Extremely high’, overall

Newsletter content was rated as almost extremely high, with over 80% rating it high or extremely

high (see Q5, next page).


7/25

Q5Pleaseindicatewhatyouthinkthequalityofthenewslettercontentcurrently

is:Answered:98 Skipped:8

0%0

1.03%1

18.56%18

63.92%62

16.49%16

97

3.96

0%0

2.15%2

23.66%22

64.52%60

9.68%9

93

3.82

0%0

1.09%1

27.17%25

63.04%58

8.70%8

92

3.79

0%0

0%0

29.03%27

56.99%53

13.98%13

93

3.85

Overall



HigherEducation@

Home–...

HigherEducation

Abroad

HigherEducation

Events


Events

HigherEducation

Publicatio...


Publicatio...


HigherEducation

jobs


jobs

0 1 2 3 4

Extremelylow

Low Average High Extremelyhigh

Total AverageRating

Overall



HigherEducation@Home–generalHigherEducationnews


8/25

0%0

2.17%2

30.43%28

54.35%50

13.04%12

92

3.78

0%0

0%0

29.03%27

61.29%57

9.68%9

93

3.81

0%0

1.08%1

24.73%23

64.52%60

9.68%9

93

3.83

0%0

1.08%1

27.96%26

56.99%53

13.98%13

93

3.84

0%0

0%0

26.88%25

59.14%55

13.98%13

93

3.87

0%0

2.15%2

23.66%22

63.44%59

10.75%10

93

3.83

0%0

2.20%2

31.87%29

59.34%54

6.59%6

91

3.70

0%0

2.20%2

30.77%28

60.44%55

6.59%6

91

3.71

HigherEducationAbroad






HigherEducationjobs


6. Preferred Newsletter content

Asked about the content they would like to read in the AAIR Newsletter in future, respondents

nominated a variety of topics on a scale that ran from ‘Never’, ‘Rarely’, ‘Sometimes’, ‘Often’ to

‘Always’.

All proposed content would be read sometimes (see Q6 next page), but most popular were articles

focussing on planning and performance reporting, strategic management and federal policy and

quality (rated near or above often).


9/25

Q6Iwouldreadthefollowingcontent:Answered:102 Skipped:4

3.09%3

12.37%12

37.11%36

36.08%35

11.34%11

97

3.40

7.07% 17.17% 30.30% 32.32% 13.13%

Technologynews–BI&

IT...

Tips&Tricksoncareer...

Tips&Trickson

developing...

InstitutionalPolicy&Quality

Surveys

Federalpolicy&quality

Teaching&Learning

Research

Equity

Bigdata

MOOCs&online

learning...

Planning&Performance

reporting

Financialmanagement

Strategicmanagement

Other

0 1 2 3 4 5

Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always Total AverageRating

Technologynews–BI&ITdevelopments

Tips&Tricksoncareerprogression


10/25

7.07%7

17.17%17

30.30%30

32.32%32

13.13%13

99

3.27

3.06%3

10.20%10

34.69%34

40.82%40

11.22%11

98

3.47

2.02%2

7.07%7

25.25%25

50.51%50

15.15%15

99

3.70

3%3

15%15

32%32

41%41

9%9

100

3.38

2%2

6%6

19%19

46%46

27%27

100

3.90

1.01%1

13.13%13

33.33%33

40.40%40

12.12%12

99

3.49

1.01%1

13.13%13

34.34%34

39.39%39

12.12%12

99

3.48

1.03%1

19.59%19

36.08%35

37.11%36

6.19%6

97

3.28

0%0

10.20%10

36.73%36

39.80%39

13.27%13

98

3.56

1.03%1

15.46%15

39.18%38

35.05%34

9.28%9

97

3.36

0%0

3%3

16%16

46%46

35%35

100

4.13

1.01%1

14.14%14

44.44%44

31.31%31

9.09%9

99

3.33

0%0

6.06%6

23.23%23

36.36%36

34.34%34

99

3.99

13.51%5

16.22%6

35.14%13

18.92%7

16.22%6

37

3.08

Tips&Tricksoncareerprogression

Tips&Tricksondevelopingdifferentskil l sets

InstitutionalPolicy&Quality

Surveys

Federalpolicy&quality

Teaching&Learning

Research

Equity

Bigdata

MOOCs&onlinelearninginnovations

Planning&Performancereporting

Financialmanagement

Strategicmanagement

Other


11/25

62.50% 15

54.17% 13

Q7Wouldyounominateanyoneasanexpert,includingyourself,andforwhich

topics?Answered:24 Skipped:82

TotalRespondents:24

Iwouldnominate

myselfas...

Iwouldnominatea

colleague...

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Iwouldnominatemyselfasanexpertonparticulartopics

Iwouldnominateacolleagueasausefulexpertonparticulartopics

7. Other media and affiliations

Respondents were asked questions regarding additional media sources they used or consumed.

Non-response was relatively high, and summary results below are based on the actual responses to

the questions.

Newspapers

Almost three-quarters read the Australian’s Higher Education Supplement (see Q8, next page), with

half also reading Campus Review and The Australian. Almost a quarter read the Australian Financial

Review.

Social media

Facebook and LinkedIn were equally popular with responding members, with almost three-quarters

using both (see Q9, on following pages). Almost a quarter used Twitter.

Any other memberships or affiliations

This was only answered by 30 members. Twenty also belonged to ATEM, with 11 also belonging to

AIR (see Q10, on following pages). Based on response numbers, some respondents belonged to

more that one additional organisation.

International news sites

Answered by 36 of 106 respondents, 23 (63.9%) subscribed to University World News, with 17

(47.2%) subscribing to the Chronicle of Higher Education and 15 (41.7%) subscribing to the AIR site

(see Q11 on following pages).

Australian news sites

Answered by 58 of 106 respondents, almost two-thirds subscribed to the Campus Review website,

with over half (55.2%) accessing the LH Martin site and half subscribing to The Conversation (see

Q12 on following pages).


12/25

48.19% 40

72.29% 60

50.60% 42

25.30% 21

7.23% 6

24.10% 20

Q8Doyoureadnewspapers,andifso,whichones?


TotalRespondents:83

TheAustralian

TheAustralianHigher...

CampusRev iew

TheAge

HeraldSun

TheFinancialRev iew

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


TheAustralian

TheAustralianHigherEducationSupplement

CampusReview

TheAge

HeraldSun

TheFinancialReview


13/25

72.73% 56

23.38% 18

72.73% 56

11.69% 9

1.30% 1

16.88% 13

3.90% 3

Q9Doyouusesocialmedia,andifso,whichones?


TotalRespondents:77

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Learnist

Google+

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Learnist

Google+

Other


14/25

36.67% 11

66.67% 20

10% 3

13.33% 4

Q10Ifyouhaveanymembershipstootherassociationsand/oraffiliations,withwhom

aretheywith?Answered:30 Skipped:76

TotalRespondents:30

AIR

ATEM

EAIR

AIM

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


AIR

ATEM

EAIR

AIM


15/25

41.67% 15

63.89% 23

47.22% 17

16.67% 6

Q11Ifyousubscribetointernationalnewssites,whichones?


TotalRespondents:36

AIR(Association

for...

UniversityWorldNews

ChronicleofHigher

Education

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


AIR(AssociationforInstitutionalResearch)

UniversityWorldNews

Chronic leofHigherEducation

Other


16/25

63.79% 37

55.17% 32

6.90% 4

29.31% 17

50% 29

15.52% 9

Q12IfyousubscribetoAustralasiannewssites,whichones?


TotalRespondents:58

CampusRev iew

LHMartinInstitute

ACARA

ACER

TheConversation

TheScan

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


CampusReview

LHMartinInstitute

ACARA

ACER

TheConversation

TheScan


17/25

Q13Isthereanywhereelseyousourceinformationfromthathasnotalreadybeen

mentionedinthissection?Answered:18 Skipped:88


18/25

51% 51

49% 49

0% 0

Q14Whatgenderdoyouidentifyas?Answered:100 Skipped:6

Total 100

Female

Male

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Female

Male

Other


19/25

0% 0

1.01% 1

7.07% 7

11.11% 11

11.11% 11

14.14% 14

13.13% 13

19.19% 19

14.14% 14

Q15Age:Answered:99 Skipped:7

16–20

21–25

26–30

31–35

36–40

41–45

46–50

51–55

56–60

61–65

66+

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


16–20

21–25

26–30

31–35

36–40

41–45

46–50

51–55

56–60


20/25

6.06% 6

3.03% 3

Total 99

61–65

66+


21/25

96% 96

3% 3

1% 1

Q16Location:Answered:100 Skipped:6

Total 100

Australia

NewZealand

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Australia

NewZealand

Other


22/25

87.13% 88

1.98% 2

0.99% 1

5.94% 6

1.98% 2

1.98% 2

1.98% 2

3.96% 4

Q17Employer(s):Answered:101 Skipped:5

TotalRespondents:101

University

PrivateHigher

Education...

VETProv ider

DualSectorProv ider

TAFE

PeakBody

Government

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


University

PrivateHigherEducationProvider

VETProvider

DualSectorProvider

TAFE

PeakBody

Government

Other


23/25

20.41% 20

10.20% 10

14.29% 14

39.80% 39

10.20% 10

17.35% 17

13.27% 13

20.41% 20

24.49% 24

13.27% 13

Q18Currentjobrole:Answered:98 Skipped:8

TotalRespondents:98

BusinessIntelligence

DataWarehouse/Sys

tems...

SurveyManagement

Analyst

Statistician

Policy

Quality&Regulation

InstitutionalPlanning

Management

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


BusinessIntell igence

DataWarehouse/Systemsspecialist

SurveyManagement

Analyst

Statistic ian

Policy

Quality&Regulation

InstitutionalPlanning

Management

Other


24/25

0% 0

1% 1

1% 1

29.00% 29

69% 69

Q19Education:Answered:100 Skipped:6

Total 100

Higherschool

certificate

Post-secondar

yqualificat...

Diploma

Bachelor’sdegree

Postgraduatequalification

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Higherschoolcertificate

Post-secondaryqualification(certificateI,II,IIIorIV)

Diploma

Bachelor’sdegree

Postgraduatequalification


25/25

92.86% 91

26.53% 26

65.31% 64

51.02% 50

23.47% 23

5.10% 5

Q20Areasofinterest:Answered:98 Skipped:8

TotalRespondents:98

HigherEducation

VocationalEducation

andTraining

ResearchandStatistics

InformationandBusiness

Intelligen...

InformationCommunication

and...

Other

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


HigherEducation

VocationalEducationandTraining

ResearchandStatistics

InformationandBusinessIntell igenceSystems

InformationCommunicationandTechnology

Other

Documents

AAIR Newsletter Feedback Survey 2013 Summary Resultsaair.org.au/app/webroot/media/pdf/Surveys/AAIRNewsletterFeedback... · In late 2013, AAIR conducted an online survey of members