In each year, we have collected between 380 and 410 surveys. There are approximately 4,400 undergraduates at Princeton.
The survey, which has always consisted of a single, double-sided form, has been distributed during a two week period at dinnertime to underclass students in the University's Residential Colleges and to upperclass students in the Prospect Avenue Eating Clubs. The students assigned to distribute and collect the survey have generally used one of two techniques, depending often upon the logistics of the dining hall: handing out forms at every second or third table, or distributing the surveys to students as they approach the check-in area.
We have selected this surveying method in order to obtain a more reasonable cross-section of views. It was assumed, for example, that soliciting responses through the mail or on campus might overly prejudice the sample. Student subjects occaisonally counter that they know relatively little about computing, but usually agree to fill it out when they learn that we are seeking a fully representative set of views. Fewer than five students a year have refused to fill out the form.
A great number of people have worked very hard indeed to collect, enter, proofread, and process the data. We would particularly like to thank Jerene Good, Susan Post, Doug Mills, and David Most of CIT's Research Services for working with the student assistants, giving them invaluable tips for collecting the information in the most reliable ways, and most importantly, for all the time and effort in converting and processing the many data sets involved.
We must also extend our appreciation to the more than 30 student volunteers who have helped to gather and enter the data. Nearly all have regarded the exercise as a useful experience, so much so that they know they would never again want to collect and process survey instruments.