Online Survey Tools. University of Ballarat Students. Contact Details. For information regarding any of our other products contact Helen Thompson

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1 Online Survey Tools University of Ballarat Students Contact Details For information regarding any of our other products contact Helen Thompson Centre for ecommerce and Communications (CeCC) Suite 8 Greenhill Enterprise Centre University of Ballarat Technology Park PO Box 691 Ballarat Vic 3353 Australia Web: Tel: h.thompson@ballarat.edu.au Last updated: 23 October 2007

2 222 Table of Contents Overview...3 Key Delivery Areas...3 Online Survey Tools...3 phpesp...3 LimeSurvey (formerly phpsurveyor)...4 Set Up Procedures...4 Account Request...4 Survey Construction...4 Testing...4 Survey Activation...4 Hosting and Support...5 Budget...5

3 333 Overview Key Delivery Areas The Centre for ecommerce and Communications (CeCC) operates as a business unit of the School of Business at the University of Ballarat. Through applied research, commercial activities and community engagement CeCC promotes innovation through the application of new technologies. Areas of specific focus include: Knowledge management Single source publishing Web-based geographic information systems (GIS) Portal development Content management Customised web solutions Further information is accessible at Online Survey Tools CeCC can custom build survey applications for situations such as skills mapping, accreditation or learning systems. Where fast and cost-effective survey creation is required CeCC can facilitate access to open source survey generator programs which support non-technical users in creating and administering online surveys and forms, gathering results, and viewing statistics. University of Ballarat students can currently choose between phpesp and LimeSurvey. phpesp The php-based Easy Survey Package (phpesp) is an open source product managed through the SourceForge software development website ( The phpesp survey generator: Supports the construction and publishing of online surveys. Includes notification services to inform relevant parties when surveys are submitted. Can provide real-time analysis of the information collected via charts, tables and graphs. Includes option to view individual survey responses using the standard reporting features. Facilitates export of survey data to other formats to support further statistical analysis. Other major features of phpesp include: Highly customisable, the survey can be seamlessly integrated into your website. Easy to manage, non-technical users can add, edit and remove questions. Totally web-based, easy access to manage, use and analyse your survey. Scaleable, able to handle many simultaneous requests and store thousands of responses. Powerful reporting capabilities including Graphed results, Access to individual responses, Cross tabulation, Results can be exported to a text file or spreadsheet for further processing in a statistical program like SPSS

4 444 LimeSurvey (formerly phpsurveyor) LimeSurvey is an Open Source PHP web application which can be utilised to develop, publish and collect responses to online and offline surveys ( It has most of the features of phpesp as well as a number of more advanced features including: Ability to set conditions for questions depending on earlier answers (branching the survey) User-Management Creation of a printable survey version Multi-Lingual Surveys Optional public registration for surveys Option for participants to buffer answers to continue survey at a later time Back-office data entry possibility Survey expiry dates for automation While the LimeSurvey does not have online charts, it does produce automatic SPSS files, so the transition from collection to analysis is much simpler than with phpesp Enhanced import and export functions to text, CSV and MS Excel format Set Up Procedures Account Request Once you determine which type of survey is most appropriate for your particular needs you will need to complete the online registration form which is accessible at The details you will need to provide will include: Survey title and brief description Your name and contact details Details of your supervisor if relevant Your choice of either phpesp or LimeSurvey Upload copy of survey instrument Acceptance of associated costs Instructions for billing Date survey account required Proposed date for activating survey Proposed date for closing off survey Survey Construction Once your account has been set up by CeCC you will be provided with login instructions via . You will then be able to proceed with the development of your online survey. CeCC can be engaged to assists you in set up your online survey for a charge of $80 per hour. Testing It will be your responsibility to test the survey and to ensure that it is free from error. Once this step has been completed you will need to contact CeCC via to confirm that survey is ready to be activated. Survey Activation Within seven days of receiving notification that a survey is ready for activation, CeCC will activate the survey. You will be provided with information on how to access both the survey and results pages. The look and feel for these pages will be consistent with the University of Ballarat website.

5 555 Hosting and Support In facilitating access to the open source survey programs the survey and results page must reside on one of the CeCC web servers. The fee for customisation and hosting services and for ongoing technical and client support will be charged on an individual survey basis. All ongoing support services will be facilitated primarily via the CECC online helpdesk. Budget We recommend that students speak to their Supervisors and/or the Higher Degrees Coordinator within their School about potential funding support prior to determining their survey requirements. The price for accessing the Online Survey services will be determined based on actual requirements. A number of options are set out below. All costs are exclusive of GST. Activity phpesp one-off access Self manage creation of survey form Cost $ 500 per survey Account set up Customisation look and feel to style of UB website Survey activation Host of survey results and reporting Provide limited telephone and online helpdesk support (up to 1 hour) LimeSurvey one-off access Self manage creation of survey form $ 800 per survey Account set up Customisation look and feel to style of UB website Survey activation Host of survey results and reporting Provide limited telephone and online helpdesk support (up to 1 hour) CeCC delivers set up services* Create survey form Add questions designed by client organisation Embed the survey code into style of UB website Undertake initial testing Provide client with opportunity to review survey Implement any feedback Deploy survey via the internet Provide client with access to view/export survey data Provide support services primarily via the Online Helpdesk Estimated cost based on between 3 and 8 hours set up. * Actual costs will vary based on the complexity of each survey. **Quotations for actual costs can be provided once CeCC is able to review each survey questionnaire. Estimate $240 - $640 per survey