Understanding Teen Online Behaviors to Set Safe, Smart Boundaries

With the explosion of Internet-connected and handheld devices in the last decade (the first iPhone debuted in 2007), children today have access to laptops, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, and more. With these devices come a new set of parenting challenges and responsibilities to keep kids safe not only from online peers and cyberbullying but also sexual predators and people seeking to do them harm online. At the same time, it’s increasingly difficult for parents and caregivers to monitor everything their kids see and do on their screens. With one in three caregivers admitting concerns about their child’s technology use in the last year, we explore some strategies for smart, safe screen use for teens.[1]

Kids and Safe Social Media Use

Adolescents were among the earliest social media users and continue to be active on these sites at high levels. According to the Pew Research Center’s study of Teens, Social Media and Technology 2018, social media use has increased dramatically in the last three years. Roughly half of teens (51%) aged 13-17 in the US are on Facebook.[2] 85% of teens use YouTube, 72% are on Instagram, and 69% are active on Snapchat.[3] In addition, 95% of teens now have a smartphone or access to one, and 45% of teens now say they are online almost constantly.[4]

Understanding reputation management early is an important lesson for adolescents. Both Facebook and Instagram prohibit anyone under the age of 13 from having profiles on the platforms mainly for privacy reasons, but maturity also plays a role.

Social platforms aren’t inherently bad. Many teens feel they benefit from being active on the sites. Social media can be a wonderful tool for building connections and keeping in touch. However, when sharing family news, photos, and more, kids can open themselves up to risks they need to understand. Some teens have learned the hard way that things put on social media can live forever as others download shared photos or potential employers stumble across old social accounts. Keeping posts private and only accepting friend requests from people they know in real life can help make it more difficult for someone to access their information or exploit them.

Kids and Safe Gaming

When it comes to safe online gaming for kids, some companies use filters that proactively block cyberbullying, sexual dialogue, hate speech and more – all in real time – on internal chats. This preemptive approach is a great start, but it’s also important to let kids know they should tell their parents or report a player making unwelcome comments if they ever feel uncomfortable while gaming. Some games offer a mute, ignore or blocking option for chats and comments. Teens need to know that parents will be monitoring their play and watching their online sessions – and will pull the plug if things get out of hand. This awareness can be reassuring for both adults and children. Consider gaming with your kids as a way of connecting with them and monitoring how they operate on “always online” games.

Screen Time for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents and caregivers create a plan for how kids interact with screens and media.[5] Make bedrooms a digital media-free zone or plan for meal times to be screen (including phones) free.[6] The AAP also suggests having regular and ongoing conversations with kids about “online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offline.”[7]

Maturity also plays an important role in determining appropriate screen time, smart usage, and how to best monitor both. Consider setting a screen curfew where all devices must be stowed to focus on homework, play time, or family time. Many internet service providers now offer the option to turn off Wi-Fi after a certain hour or during meals.

Allowing your child to play a role in the decision-making can make this an easier process. Instead of restricting access or taking their devices away as punishment, set some clear rules for use to empower them to regulate their own screen time. Ensure that your child understands what will happen if rules are not followed and follow through if commitments are not kept.

Online Safety for Kids and Predators

We’ve written before about cyberbullying and online safety. Predators are something we often hear about in the news, but how common are these incidents? According to PureSight, an online safety resource for parents, one in five U.S. teenagers says they received an unwanted sexual solicitation on the web. These communications were defined as requests to “engage in sexual activities or sexual talk, or to give out personal sexual information.”[8] Only 25% of kids involved in these solicitations told a parent. While most targets of these predators are girls (70%) between 11 and 15, most Internet sexual predators tend to fall between the ages of 18 and 55 and may be lying about their age online.[9] PureSight also offers a resource for parents to help begin conversations with their kids about this difficult topic.

Parent Resources: Online Safety for Kids

Several resources can help parents and caregivers determine the best way to protect children as they explore social media, digital media, and the web. The site Connect Safely shares several tips for teens to be safe and have fun online here. The Family Online Safety Institute offers 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting here. PureSight provides multiple resources for parents here.

The behavior of tweens and teens is complex, and it’s important to help prepare them for the future while keeping them away from serious risk. So, if you believe risky behaviors are impacting your students and learning in your school, what can you do? Ask the tough questions.

The benefit of working with a survey company is that we can anonymously and effectively ask the difficult questions through multiple student survey tools. Survey results can offer insights into the intersection of risk and academic success including the learning environment and school climate, cyberbullying and more.

Please browse through the different types of scalable student surveys we offer and find out why more than 13.9 million students, parents, and faculty members have responded to Pride Surveys. Questions? Please call us today at 800-279-6361 or fill out our quick online contact form.

[1] “Concerns about children, social media and technology use.” Retrieved 27 November 2018 at http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/07/16/concerns-about-children-social-media-and-technology-use/

[2] “Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018.” Retrieved 27 November 2018 at http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “Media Use in School-Age Children and Adolescents.” Retrieved November 27 2018 at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162592

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] “The Prevalence of Unwanted Sexual Exposure and Solicitation Among Youth: A Meta-Analysis.” Retrieved 27 November 2018 at https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(18)30134-4/fulltext

[9] Ibid.

Should Students Have a Reasonable Right to Online Privacy?

Because they grew up in a digital age, it would seem like kids today would be so-called digital natives: able to navigate the challenges of cyber living with ease but it’s not quite that simple. Young people are immature and can be impulsive. Caught in a digital paradox of wanting to share their private lives publicly while keeping themselves safe and secure is tricky. Parents need to embrace their use of technology while also schooling children in balancing privacy and discretion.

While the right to privacy itself is not spelled out in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has agreed that several amendments protect our privacy. We have rights that protect our privacy when it comes to being suspected of a crime, making decisions about our bodies and living our lives without interference from the government. This includes the public schools. Students do have fewer privacy rights inside school than outside[1]. This includes the right of the school to search students without a warrant if they have “reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated… either the law or rules of the school.”[2] Logically, this ability also includes a student’s online presence, so the same rule applies: if you don’t want someone else to see it, don’t put it in your locker or on the Internet.

The Selfie Generation is Savvier than You Think

Most parents worry that their kids are not managing their online reputation successfully through social media or other outlets, but most teens are well-aware of the need to keep things private. 56% find it easy to set privacy controls, according to a joint study by Pew Research Center and the Berkman Center for Internet Society. Using privacy settings in social media is the primary tool that teens use to hide their personal information. 60% of teen Facebook users keep their profiles private, and girls are more likely to have a private profile than boys (70% vs. 50%).[3]

Personal Data Privacy

Schools collect a huge amount of data about their students, and they are required to share that information more often than you might expect. The Buckley Amendment also called the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is the most visible federal protection for student data privacy in that it protects the confidentiality of student files while giving students the right to see their records.[4] FERPA was amended in 2002 through the US Patriot Act to require schools to turn over information about immigrant students to the INS.[5] One provision of No Child Left Behind obligates high schools to turn student contact information over to military recruiters unless parents or students explicitly opt out of the release.[6] So schools do share student information, but the goal is to do so with keeping privacy protected when possible.

What Schools Can Do

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), signed into law by President Clinton in 2000, requires that school districts develop an Internet safety plan “incorporating the use of filtering or blocking technology on computers with Internet access.”[7] This means the schools and libraries must make a good faith effort to block images that are obscene, pornographic or are harmful to minors. FERPA also requires that personally identifiable student information cannot be disclosed without written consent except studies, audits and programs related to federal legal requirements and health and safety emergencies. So if there is a natural disaster, FERPA might allow for the disclosure of student information to find and ensure the safety of students in that town.

Ask and Get Answers

When it comes to online safety, some degree of privacy must go out the window. Arming your child with information and asking them questions is the best way to keep up with their online presence. Ask them what games apps and social platforms they use. Are these geared toward kids or can adults and children interact? If so, have a candid conversation about dealing with strangers online. Would they send pictures and share their last name or address with a stranger offline? Then they shouldn’t do that online either. Friend or follow them to keep up with what they post. Setting rules about how and when devices can be used will also help keep you aware of how they are spending their time online.

Curious about how your student understands his or her digital citizenship and online privacy rights? Want to help them be more mindful about their digital footprint? Pride Surveys takes the guesswork out of the surveying process to ask these and other questions. First, we provide your school with the scientifically reliable and valid surveys of your choice. Once the surveys are complete, we handle the input and preliminary analysis of the raw data and then provide decision-makers with an innovative electronic dashboard. Here, they have a comprehensive and easy-to-understand view of the school’s data, which enables them to begin the process of interpretation and action planning.

Browse the different types of student surveys we offer and find out why Pride is the best choice to help you survey your school. Questions? Give us a call at 800-279-6361 or fill out our quick online contact form.

[1] “Excerpts from the Supreme Court Opinions on Student Searches.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at http://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/16/us/excerpts-from-supreme-court-opinions-on-student-searches.html?pagewanted=all&mcubz=1

[2] “Your Fourth Amendment Rights.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at http://judiciallearningcenter.org/your-4th-amendment-rights/

[3] “Teens Care About Online Privacy Just Not the Same Way You Do.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at https://psmag.com/social-justice/teens-care-about-online-privacy-just-not-the-same-way-you-do-58289#.5tsvvf560

[4] “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

[5] “Recent Amendments to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Relating to Anti-Terrorism Activities.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/htterrorism.pdf

[6] “Policy Guidance – Access to High School Students and Information on Students by Military Recruiters.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/hottopics/ht-10-09-02a.html

[7] “Child’s Internet Protection Act.” Retrieved 11 September, 2017 at https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act

How to Talk to Your Students About Cyber Security and Cyber Bullying

According to one recent study, an incredible 25% of teenagers say that they have been a victim of repeated bullying on their cell phone, on the Internet or both.^[1] When you open that number up to all young people from adolescence to their early 20s, it jumps to an unfortunate 52%.^[2]

To make matters worse, more than half of the young people who responded to one survey said that they never talk to their parents when they become the victims of these types of incidents. This is a large part of why talking to your students about cyber bullying and cyber security in general is so important – oftentimes schools are the first line of defense when these types of events start to unfold.^[3]

Knowledge is Power

When discussing cyber bullying with your students, it’s important to make them aware of a few problems that they may not even realize are going on. Cyber bullying isn’t merely limited to negative interactions or hurtful messages on social media and instant messengers.^[4] It can also involve things like impersonation, where one student posts comments under the guise of another’s identity in an attempt to make them look bad.

Cyber stalking is also a very serious issue, where social media is often employed to continually follow or harass victims. Sharing secrets with large groups of people and trolling (firing immature or mean comments at a victim repeatedly) are also very common on the web.

Part of making sure that your discussion with students is as valuable as possible involves making them aware of just what types of aggression they may face. Knowing as much as you can about cyber bullying in all its forms will also help school leadership keep a more watchful eye over their student body.

Establishing a Plan for Prevention

From day one, it is essential that teachers and school administrators create a safe and supportive environment for their students.^[5] This involves not only establishing a no-tolerance policy for bullying in the classroom, but also implementing a rewards system for students who show kindness and respect to their peers. Calling attention to positive behavior early on can have a profound impact on students who may not respond well to threats and other forms of punishment.

The Pride Surveys Approach

In an educational setting, cyber bullying and cyber security in general are complicated topics that will require a lot of discussion moving forward. Rest assured that this is an issue that most organizations will face at some point – learning more about it today puts you in a better position to help prevent it from happening at your school tomorrow.

To find out more about these important topics, or to purchase a school-level student survey in order to gain superior visibility into your own organization, please contact Pride Surveys today.

[1]“School Bullying Statistics Show the Severity of the Problem.” Retrieved 18 August, 2017 at https://nobullying.com/school-bullying-statistics-show-the-severity-of-the-problem/

[2]“Cyber Bullying Statistics 2014.” Retrieved 18 August, 2017 at https://nobullying.com/cyber-bullying-statistics-2014/

[3]“Students are Smarter than Their School Cybersecurity.” Retrieved 18 August, 2017 at http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/students-are-smarter-than-their-schools-cybersecurity/93278

[4]“The 8 Types of Cyberbullying.” Retrieved 18 August, 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/jointheupstanders/the-8-types-of-cyberbullying

[5]“Create a Safe and Supportive Environment.” Retrieved 30 May, 2017 at https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/build-safe-environment/index.html#Create a Safe and Supportive Environment

Online Student Surveys vs. Paper Surveys

Online Student Surveys vs. Paper Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages

If your school has decided to conduct a student survey, you’re likely facing a number of critical decisions regarding the surveying process. One of these questions may be whether to use web-based, online surveys or paper and pencil surveys. Paper questionnaires are more traditional and have been successfully utilized for many years, while online surveys are relatively new.
Both paper and online survey measures have advantages and disadvantages to them, and the type you choose will largely be dependent on your school’s individual goals and needs.

The Differences Between Online and Paper Surveys

Paper surveys are questionnaires in which students are given a paper form to fill out, usually with bubbles and a #2 pencil, which are machine-scored. Other paper surveys have SCANTRON® forms that are separate from the questionnaires, which are slightly more prone to errors and mistakes.
Online or web-based surveys are questionnaires in which students complete and submit the entire surveying process on a computer or other online device, such as a tablet. Alternately, a computer-based survey is one where students take the survey on the computer, but they may not require internet access to do so (i.e. software-based surveys).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Paper Surveys for Students

Because they have been successfully utilized for so long and by so many different schools and organizations, paper questionnaires are often a preferred method of surveying students. One of the primary advantages of these types of surveys is that they typically garner much higher response rates than their digital counterparts.^[1]
Additionally, students and teachers often believe that paper surveys are much more anonymous than online surveys, which lends itself to the belief that respondents may be more honest on paper questionnaires.^[2] Furthermore, printed surveys have formatting that looks the same for all participants, and the environment in which the survey is taken is relatively uniform. This helps ensure that all students receive the same questionnaire in the same format and the same setting.
The primary disadvantage cited in regards to paper surveys is that they can be resource-intensive in terms of both labor and financial investment. This can certainly be true if your organization is fully managing the survey process in-house. However, partnering with a reputable survey company can help you avoid this downside in several ways. For example, at Pride, there is no pricing difference between our online and our paper surveys. Plus, we handle the majority of the labor involved, from printing the materials (if you choose the paper option) to scanning the results and creating easy-to-understand and easy-to-disseminate reports. As a result, the major objections raised against paper surveys can be easily managed and avoided.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Surveys

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the popularity of online surveys has skyrocketed in recent years due to increased access to the internet and the advantages afforded by this type of questionnaire. Researchers have noted that “using web-based evaluation questionnaires can bypass many of the bottlenecks in the evaluation system (e.g. data entry and administration) and move to a more ‘just in time’ evaluation model.”^[3]
Just as with paper surveys, online surveys have a number of disadvantages. For example, research has shown that many students have concerns regarding the confidentiality and ease of use of online measures,^[4] while staff members have concerns about the adequacy of response rates.^[5] These faculty fears are not unfounded, as studies have found that, in general, online surveys are much less likely to achieve response rates as high as surveys administered on paper.^[6]
In fact, “the data clearly show that face-to-face administration results in higher response rates. What is unknown is whether response rates to online surveys would rise to the same level if they were also conducted in a face-to-face way.”^[7] Therefore, one relatively easy way to avoid this pitfall is by having students take online surveys in-classroom, just as you would with paper-and-pencil surveys.
Another challenge to online surveys is inherent to the technology itself. “Differences in how the survey is displayed across devices, screen-sizes and operating-systems, can, in more or less subtle ways, influence how participants interpret questions. But technology can have other negative effects on survey participation and outcomes. A slow internet-connection can discourage people from taking a survey, or missing plugins (such as a Flash® plugin) may even make a survey inaccessible to large portions of the sample.”^[8]^[9] Similarly, availability of devices can be an issue that schools encounter as well. If there are not enough computers for students to take the survey all at once, there must be a plan for how students will be rotated through to give them all an opportunity to participate.

Online Surveys vs. Paper Surveys: Which is Right for Your School?

It’s important to remember that, although there are pros and cons to different questionnaire options, surveys are a critical measure that community coalitions and educational institutions use to evaluate their schools. They are often mandatory for securing and retaining much-needed funding and they are helpful for accurately assessing environments.
When trying to decide which type of student survey to use, decision-makers should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both types and, ultimately, use their school’s individual goals to choose. However, even with a wealth of helpful information, knowing how to survey your students —and how to conduct the process scientifically and successfully—can be labor-intensive and overwhelming.
That’s why partnering with a reliable, proven surveying company like Pride Surveys can make the process so much easier. We work directly with you to identify your organization’s needs and to help you choose the right survey, and we provide assistance and resources every step of the way, from administration to data processing, reporting, and more. Additionally, we can provide guidance and resources to help your organization avoid some of the potential difficulties associated with different types of surveys.
Find out why Pride is the right survey partner for your school or browse our range of products. Ready to get started? Give us a call at 800-279-6361 or fill out our quick online contact form!

[1]Nulty, Duncan D. “The adequacy of response rates to online and paper surveys: what can be done?” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education: Vol. 33, No. 3, June 2008, 301-314. Retrieved from https://www.uaf.edu/files/uafgov/fsadmin-nulty5-19-10.pdf on November 28, 2016.

[2]Dommeyer, C.J., P., Baum, K. Chapman, and R.W. Hanna, 2002. Attitudes of business faculty towards two methods of collecting teaching evaluations: paper vs. online. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 27, no. 5: 455–462

[3]Watt, S., C. Simpson, C. McKillop, and V. Nunn. 2002. Electronic course surveys: does automating feedback and reporting give better results? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 27, no. 4: 325–337.

[4]Dommeyer, C.J., P. Baum, and R.W. Hanna. 2002. College students’ attitudes toward methods of collecting teaching evaluation: in-class versus online. Journal of Education for Business 78, no. 2: 11–15.

[5]Dommeyer, C.J., P., Baum, K. Chapman, and R.W. Hanna, 2002. Attitudes of business faculty towards two methods of collecting teaching evaluations: paper vs. online. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 27, no. 5: 455–462.

[6]Nulty, Duncan D. “The adequacy of response rates to online and paper surveys: what can be done?” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education: Vol. 33, No. 3, June 2008, 301-314. Retrieved from https://www.uaf.edu/files/uafgov/fsadmin-nulty5-19-10.pdf on November 28, 2016.

[7]Ibid.

[8]10. Dillman, D. A, Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. (2007).

[9]4. Best, S. J., ‘Internet Survey Design.’, The SAGE handbook of online research methods 217 (2008).

All About School Bullying Surveys for Students: Purpose, Importance, and More

The topic of bullying is not a new development in the school environment; bullying in various forms has been a significant problem affecting students of all ages for decades. According to an article in the School Psychology Review, 70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools.^[1] Similarly, a large-scale study found that about 49% of children in grades 4-12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month.^[2]
The clear prevalence of bullying as a pervasive issue in schools across the country necessitates that educators take action to stop and prevent bullying within their educational spheres. The first step to ending bullying is identifying the presence of it in an environment and students’ attitudes towards it. One popular method by which decision-makers can evaluate rates of and perceptions about bullying is through school bullying surveys for students.

The Purpose & Goals of Student Bullying Surveys

The primary purpose of a student bullying survey is to identify and quantify a number of factors–rates of bullying, student and staff attitudes towards bullying, different types of bullying occurring, and more—in order to address them. They “help schools determine the frequency and locations of bullying behavior. They can also gauge the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention efforts, which can help school staff select appropriate prevention and response strategies.”^[3] By collecting this valuable information, schools can then create an accurate picture of bullying in their specific environments. Bullying surveys help administrators and decision-makers:

• “Know what’s going on. Adults underestimate the rates of bullying because kids rarely report it and it often happens when adults aren’t around. Assessing bullying through anonymous surveys can provide a clear picture of what is going on.
• Target efforts. Understanding trends and types of bullying in your school can help you plan bullying prevention and intervention efforts.
• Measure results. The only way to know if your prevention and intervention efforts are working is to measure them over time.”^[4]

What Student Bullying Questionnaires Measure

While different types of bullying surveys may cover a variety of specific and non-specific topics, examples of bullying-related topics that these questionnaires can explore include:

• Frequency and types of bullying
• Adult and peer responses to bullying
• Locations, including “hot spots” for bullying activity
• Staff perceptions and attitudes about bullying
• Aspects of the school or community that may support or help stop bullying activities
• Student perception of safety in the school
• Overall school climate^5]

Similarly, the types of questions asked in a student survey about bullying have the potential to vary dramatically. Sample questions that might be posed include:

• How many times in the last 30 days has another student shoved or hit you?
• How many times in the last 30 days have other students used the Internet or cell phones to tell lies about you, embarrass you, or threaten you?
• Do you feel that your school has a problem with students spreading rumors or lies about students they are mad at or don’t like?
• How true is this statement for you: I can go to a teacher to get help solving problems at home or school.
• In your school, how safe do you feel in the halls?^[6]

As mentioned above, each school environment is unique, and there are many different types of bullying surveys that can be used. Some are fairly general, covering everything from rates of many different forms of bullying to overall school climate, while others are highly specific, such as one measuring the effectiveness of an in-place cyberbullying prevention program for specific grade levels.

The Importance of Bullying Surveys

School bullying surveys for students are important because bullying in all forms can have a seriously detrimental, long-term impact on not only the victim, but also on other students exposed to the activities.^[7]

• Students who are bullied can experience a range of effects lasting long past grade-school days, including depression, low self-esteem, health problems, poor grades, and suicidal thoughts.^[8]
• Students who bully others are more likely than their peers to feel disconnected from and dislike school, get into fights, steal and vandalize property, exhibit violent behavior, drink alcohol, and smoke.^[9]
• Students who observe bullying in the school environment experience negative effects such as reluctance to attend school, feelings of fearfulness, increased mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.^[10]

Bullying can have a far-reaching impact on the overall climate of the school and community as well.^[11] Schools where bullying is allowed to occur unchecked often face:

• An educational environment filled with fear and disrespect.
• Students who experience significant learning difficulties.
• Students who feel insecure and/or who dislike school.
• A widespread student perception that administrators and teachers have little control over bullying and the environment at large and/or that authority figures do not care about them.^[12]

Because studies report that only an estimated 36% of bullying is reported to a teacher or parent^[13], schools may have a bullying problem that the adults in the environment are not even aware of.
That’s a primary reason why student bullying surveys are so critical—they offer invaluable, actionable information to help decision-makers identify any problems present and take steps to address them.

Choosing a Student Bullying Survey for Your School

When it’s time to choose a bullying survey for your students, it’s important to know what your goals are and what you hope to achieve with your results. It’s equally important to find a survey that is valid, reliable, and real-world tested.
Partnering with an experienced school survey company can make the entire surveying process easier and more affordable from start to finish. At Pride Surveys, we have been helping schools survey their students on bullying, substance abuse, school climate, mental health, and more for over thirty years.
Ready to learn more? Find out about the many benefits of choosing Pride for your surveying needs and how to choose the best school survey for your students. Questions? Give us a call at 800-279-6361 or contact us online.

[1] Bradshaw, C.P., Sawyer, A.L., & O’Brennan, L.M. (2007). Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff. School Psychology Review, 36(3), 361-382.

[2]Ibid.

[3]“Assess Bullying: What an Assessment Can Do.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/assess-bullying/ on November 2, 2016.

[4]Ibid.

[5]Ibid.

[6]Social, Emotional and Bullying Behavior Study: Grades 6-9.” Pride Surveys. Retrieved from http://www.sebbsurvey.com/assets/Bully-130822final_watermark.pdf on November 2, 2016.

[7] 1 C. Salmivalli, K. Lagerspetz, K. Björkqvist, K. Osterman, and A. Kaukiainen, “Bullying as a Group Process: Participant Roles and Their Relations to Social Status within the Group,” Aggressive Behavior 22 (1996): 1-15.

[8]“How Bullying Affects Children.” Violence Prevention Works! Retrieved from http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_effects.page on November 2, 2016.

[9]“The Impact of Bullying.” Bully Stoppers. Victoria State Government. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/impact.aspx on November 3, 2016.

[10]Ibid.

[11]“How Bullying Affects Children.” Violence Prevention Works! Retrieved from http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_effects.page on November 2, 2016.

[12]Ibid.

[13]Petrosino, A., Guckenburg, S., DeVoe, J., & Hanson, T. Institute of Education Sciences, (2010). What characteristics of bullying, bullying victims, and schools are associated with increased reporting of bullying to school officials? Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Retrieved from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2010092_sum.pdf

Analyzing & Interpreting Student Survey Results Data in Schools

Many schools and educational organizations today are using student surveys to evaluate student perceptions, behaviors, and activities across a wide variety of topics such as bullying, substance abuse, school climate, and more.

However, successfully conducting a student survey doesn’t end once the responses have been collected. In fact, that’s when one of the most important parts of the process begins—the analysis and interpretation of results. In fact, accurately and effectively analyzing and interpreting the data and results from your student surveys is critical to achieving your school’s surveying goals.

As researchers at the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance noted: “[g]enerally, schools collect enormous amounts of data on students’ attendance, behavior, and performance, as well as administrative data and perceptual data from surveys and focus groups. But when it comes to improving instruction and learning, it’s not the quantity of the data that counts, but how the information is used.”^[1]

Conducting Manual Student Survey Data Analysis

If you are manually managing and analyzing your student survey data, the first step is inputting the raw data into a data file that allows for information analysis, such as an Excel spreadsheet or Access database.^[2]

In order to accurately input the data, the questions on your survey must be split into distinct, quantifiable categories. The four primary question-and-answer-style survey questions are interval, ordinal, ratio, and categorical questions; each style of question requires a separate type of analysis.

• Interval questions involve a range of values with meaningful distances between them.^[3] An example question might be: “How many times in the past month have you have seen a classmate being bullied?” with answer responses of “0 times, 1-5 times, 6-10, times, 11-15 times, 15 times or more.” Interval data is usually well-represented by a contingency table.
• Ordinal questions are posed on a Likert scale that asks “how much” or a similar qualitative data point.^[4] An example question might be: “How much do you agree with the following statement: My teachers care about my success in the classroom,” with answer responses of “Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Agree, Strongly Agree.” Ordinal data is best represented in a relative frequency or contingency table or graph.
• Ratio questions ask about precise measurements^[5], which make them best for queries where a student can only have one definite response. An example question might be: “What grade are you currently in at school?” with response options of “6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade.” Depending on the question, ratio data can be represented in a relative frequency table or a table including averages.
• Categorical questions, also sometimes called nominal questions, refer to different, non-quantifiable categories.^[6] An example question might be: “What is your ethnicity/race?” with response options such as “Caucasian/White, Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Native American/American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Other.” Categorical data is best represented using a relative frequency table or graph.

Conducting Technology or Program-Assisted Data Analysis

If you are using a specialized data analysis or surveying program, this program will likely handle these initial analysis steps for you. Once you input the raw data and indicate how you want it analyzed, the software can do the heavy lifting and provide you with the results.

Similarly, partnering with a proven surveying company that provides built-in analysis software can expedite this process even further. Once you have collected your raw student survey data, whether on paper or digitally, your school submits the data and the survey company handles all of the next steps, from data input to statistical analysis and creating a graphical representation of results. Some companies even offer electronic dashboards where educators can easily view, share, and analyze results.

Interpretation: Making Student Survey Data Work for Your School

Once you have completed an initial analysis of the raw data and it is in a more easily understandable form, such as a series of charts or graphs, the next step in the process is to interpret what the data is indicating.

“Interpreting results is a process of moving from data to insights (what do these numbers mean?) to judgments of fact (have we understood the data correctly?) then value (is this important to us?) and from there to action (what should we do?).”^[7] These indications and interpretations are where large-scale conclusions can be drawn and trends can be recognized, ultimately leading to purposeful and impactful decision-making.

Establishing Benchmarks for Improvement

A primary goal of most student surveys is improvement, whether that refers to improvement of the school’s anti-bullying initiatives, improvement of the overall school climate, or something else entirely. But in order to show improvement, there must be a point from which the school can improve. This is referred to as a benchmark.

The data gathered from school surveys can indicate the presence of a problem (or the problem’s degree of magnitude) and establish a point-of-reference against which the results of future surveys can be measured once the problem is addressed.

Recognizing Trends and Implications through Longitudinal Analysis

Another way that survey data interpretations can benefit schools is by helping them recognize trends and the possible implications of those trends through longitudinal analyses.

For example, consider a situation in which a middle school surveys every eighth grade class for a period of five years and notices a distinct downward trend in positive perceptions of school climate. They could then dive deeper into the available data to see if there is a specific area of the school that consistently receives lower ratings, such as availability of adequate classroom supplies or teacher attitudes towards discipline. As a result of this data, the school could recognize a need for more textbooks or improved disciplinary resources and institute an action plan to address these needs.

Avoiding “Analysis Paralysis”

“Analysis paralysis” refers to a state in which data is collected, but not acted upon.^[8] It is easy for schools and educators to “become tangled up in the endless work of collecting information” without moving to the next step of formulating a plan of action.^[9] It is critical that decision-makers take steps to avoid becoming stagnant after investing time and effort to collect the raw data.

Getting Expert Help with Your School’s Survey Data

Clearly, when survey data is analyzed and interpreted accurately and effectively, it can be incredibly helpful to schools seeking to improve the educational environment for their students. “With appropriate analysis and interpretation of data, educators can make informed decisions that positively affect student outcomes.”^[10]

However, it’s also arguable that analysis and interpretation are the most difficult parts of the surveying process. That’s where partnering with a proven and experienced school surveying company can help.

Pride Surveys takes the guesswork out of the surveying process. First, we provide your school with the scientifically reliable and valid surveys of your choice. Once the surveys are complete, we handle the input and preliminary analysis of the raw data and then provide decision-makers with an innovative electronic dashboard. Here, they have a comprehensive and easy-to-understand view of the school’s data, which enables them to begin the process of interpretation and action planning.

[1]THamilton, L., Halverson, R., Jackson, S., Mandinach, E., Supovitz, J., & Wayman, J. (2009). Using student achievement data to support instructional decision making (NCEE 2009-4067). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.

[2]“Analyzing Survey Data.” Faculty Innovate: University of Texas. Retrieved from https://facultyinnovate.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/survey_-_analyze_data_detailed.pdf on November 10, 2016.

[3]Harrison, Chase. “Managing and Manipulating Survey Data: A Beginners Guide.” Harvard University: Department of Government. Program on Survey Research. Retrieved from http://psr.iq.harvard.edu/files/psr/files/ManagingSurveyData_0.pdf on November 10, 2016.

[4]Ibid.

[5]Ibid.

[6]Collie, Sarah L. & Rine, P. Jesse. “Survey Design: Getting the Results You Need.” Office of Process Simplification. University of Virginia. May 26, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.virginia.edu/processsimplification/resources/survey_design.pdf on November 10, 2016.

[7]“Understanding What Students Say: Interpreting My Voice Survey Results.” Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations. Retrieved from http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/MBI/Voice/InterpretingSurveyResults.pdf on November 11, 2016.

[8]Ibid.

[9]Danielson, Charlotte. Teacher Leadership that Strengthens Professional Practice. Page 142. 2006. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Alexandria, VA.

[10]Lewis, Dale, Madison-Harris, Robyn, Muoneke, Ada, and Times, Chris. “Using Data to Guide Instruction and Improve Student Learning.” SEDL Letter Volume XXII, Number 2, Linking Research and Practice. SEDL: American Institutes for Research. Retrieved from http://www.sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v22n02/using-data.html on November 11, 2016.