Professor Adrian Simpson adrian.simpson@durham.ac.uk
Principal
The Structure of Surveys and the Peril of Panels
Simpson, A.
Authors
Abstract
University league tables give the image that there is a single dimension along which institutions can be placed. Most derive rankings from an aggregate score of multiple items, which often include opinion responses which has the potential to introduce sampling bias. This paper explores what happens when the two issues of dimensionality and sampling bias interact in league tables. It uses the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey – which uses a panel design – to explore these issues. It notes that they combine to produce a distorted image of the relative quality of the student experience in different institutions. We conclude that ignoring dimensionality and the systematically unrepresentative nature of the sample could lead policy makers to draw inappropriate conclusions.
Citation
Simpson, A. (2018). The Structure of Surveys and the Peril of Panels. Studies in Higher Education, 43(8), 1334-1347. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1252321
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Oct 11, 2016 |
Online Publication Date | Nov 16, 2016 |
Publication Date | Aug 3, 2018 |
Deposit Date | Oct 11, 2016 |
Publicly Available Date | May 16, 2018 |
Journal | Studies in Higher Education |
Print ISSN | 0307-5079 |
Electronic ISSN | 1470-174X |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis Group |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 43 |
Issue | 8 |
Pages | 1334-1347 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1252321 |
Public URL | https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1403056 |
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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Studies in Higher Education on 16/11/2016 available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03075079.2016.1252321
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