Gov. Dept. Surveys Students

The Government Department's tutorial office sent an anonymous survey to 600 students this week to determine how they choose their concentrations and how they perceive the department.

The survey, in the works since last spring, is the department's first since 1989, according to the November edition of the "Gov. Department News." Sent out three days ago, the questionnaire covers a total of nine pages and consists of 37 questions.

One-third of the surveys were sent to government concentrators, selected at random; the rest were randomly sent to students in other concentrations.

Only upperclass students received the survey, according to Associate Professor Louise M. Richardson, who is also head tutor of the department.

The questions are mostly based on those asked in the 1989 survey, said Undergraduate Program Coordinator Laura K. Lyndon.

The survey asks students how certain they are of their concentration after taking their first concentration course and how important career plans are in choosing a concentration.

The survey also asks students if they had ever considered concentrating in government.

Richardson said the department wanted to conduct the survey as a way of getting student feedback.

"We're a big department, so [there are] a lot of ways we try to get feedback from students," she said.

Lyndon said learning what factors students consider in choosing their concentrations is important.

"As [part of the] tutorial office, [it's] interesting to know why students make the choices that they do, their source of advice," she said.

The Tutorial Office has already received 21 responses, Lyndon said. The deadline to return the surveys is Nov.22.

As an incentive to turn in the questionnaire, the Government Department is holding a drawing for an HMV gift certificate for all students who return the survey and fill out a separate card saying they have completed the survey.

One respondent who requested anonymity said the department's efforts are appreciated.

"I have faith that they constructed the survey well and with careful thought," the student said. "You never know whether they have psychological evaluation or statistical runs through the questions. They'll be able to infer a lot about it, I'm certain."

Anya E. Bernstein, architect of the survey and an assistant head tutor in the Government Department, said she worked with experts on survey research to select the questions.

Lyndon said she expects to have a final evaluation by early February and that results will likely be published in the department's newsletter

The survey also asks students if they had ever considered concentrating in government.

Richardson said the department wanted to conduct the survey as a way of getting student feedback.

"We're a big department, so [there are] a lot of ways we try to get feedback from students," she said.

Lyndon said learning what factors students consider in choosing their concentrations is important.

"As [part of the] tutorial office, [it's] interesting to know why students make the choices that they do, their source of advice," she said.

The Tutorial Office has already received 21 responses, Lyndon said. The deadline to return the surveys is Nov.22.

As an incentive to turn in the questionnaire, the Government Department is holding a drawing for an HMV gift certificate for all students who return the survey and fill out a separate card saying they have completed the survey.

One respondent who requested anonymity said the department's efforts are appreciated.

"I have faith that they constructed the survey well and with careful thought," the student said. "You never know whether they have psychological evaluation or statistical runs through the questions. They'll be able to infer a lot about it, I'm certain."

Anya E. Bernstein, architect of the survey and an assistant head tutor in the Government Department, said she worked with experts on survey research to select the questions.

Lyndon said she expects to have a final evaluation by early February and that results will likely be published in the department's newsletter