SIN 874-3 Survey Services
 

Altarum provides survey research capabilities that complement our other MOBIS offerings by assisting our clients in preparing for and managing organizational changes and making strategic business decisions. We use surveys, in tandem with other sources of information, to help clients:

assess strategic choices;
evaluate the effectiveness or efficiency of organizational leadership, culture, programs, initiatives, or processes;
gather measures of organizational structure, such as size, formalization, centralization, or levels of job-related tension within an organization; and
evaluate people issues; i.e., employee attitudes, job knowledge, or job satisfaction.
Survey activities include:

Planning and Survey Design

Altarum's survey research specialists work closely with our clients to define and refine the survey data collection agenda, assuring the proper data are collected. We assess how the data and survey assessment serves the overall analysis effort, when it is needed, and the best administration media. Alternative data sources are identified and verified to ensure data not available from primary sources are collected. Alternate data sources may also be used to help validate collected survey data, identify data already available in sufficient detail to preclude surveying, or reduce the size of the survey effort. We review topical literature to utilize existing scales or indices for the analysis. If needed, survey development may include structured interviews, focus groups, or pretests. Altarum works in concert with our clients to identify cost-effective ways to enhance the survey response rate. Successful strategies include e-mail cover letters describing the survey, identifying reasons why respondents would complete it, and estimating what benefits may entail. Other strategies, including pre-survey mailings, respondent incentives, or post-survey thank you notes with survey results, may round out the survey planning agenda.

Altarum's thorough survey planning and design support MOBIS by setting the stage for successful survey administration, analysis, and results reporting.

Survey Administration

Altarum's preferred approach to survey administration is our Web-based survey instrument. It allows our clients to reach widely distributed populations to gain the desired data, provides in-progress analysis of trends and issues, and makes the survey results available in the shortest time. Our understanding of Web technology allows us to ensure that survey responses are kept private and data accuracy and integrity is maintained. Where Web-based surveys are not suitable for a client’s needs, Altarum supports more traditional survey techniques internally or works closely with recognized survey data collection firms to efficiently conduct the data collection effort. Survey data usually require substantial data cleaning. Altarum analysts are careful to conduct extensive data consistency checks both within and across survey data items. Univariate and bivariate distributions of various survey data items are checked against information from other data sources if it is available.

Altarum strives to develop and maintain the timeliest and most complete survey database possible, supporting MOBIS clients by increasing the availability of reliable data for survey analysis and results reporting.

Survey Data Analysis and Results Reporting

Analysis of survey data includes accounting for a number of issues not normally encountered in data collection, including sampling weights and response rates. We carefully consider the effect of the response rates on the analysis in conjunction with the sample weights. We thus ensure a proper estimate, and reduce the possibility of errors in statistical tests of differences between estimates generated from the data. Altarum analysts employ qualitative, as well as quantitative, data analysis strategies to analyze a survey data set depending on the additional data available from other data sources. Altarum offers a full range of report generation techniques to further support survey needs. Our reporting capabilities range from online chart, graphical, and tabular displays of real-time data, to formal reports covering all aspects of the survey methodology, analysis, results, recommendations, and potential follow-up activities. We've found the best way to deliver formal survey results to our clients is by briefing the results and recommendations at a time convenient to the client.