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Data analysis, reporting and interpretation
- Is national data available for benchmarking by broad field of education?
Benchmark data, including national or Australasian figures, are provided by broad field of education for each student engagement and student outcome scale score iin the AUSSE institution reports. These data are not provided for all items separately. If you have specific reporting requirements, or would like additional analyses conducted on your AUSSE data, please get in touch with ACER.
- Who analyses the qualitative data?
The qualitative data is a valuable source of information and we encourage institutions to analyse these results. ACER are able to provide guidance to institutions wishing to analyse the qualitative data in the AUSSE.
- Can the tables in the reports be obtained in a form in which they can be easily used?
Each institution that participates in the AUSSE is provided with their AUSSE data in numerous forms. Data from the AUSSE is provided in the Institution Report, an SPSS data file, and also in an Excel table from which tables, graphs and figures can be created to use in other documents.
- Is data made available at the question level broken down by different student groups?
Each institution that participates in the AUSSE is provided with a data file for their institution which contains all the data at the question level along with other demographic information collected from students. Using this data file, institutions can conduct their own analyses and compare results for different groups of students at their institution.
- Is the combined Australasian dataset available to institutions?
Although the Australasian dataset is not publicly available, national and Australasian aggregate data is provided in the AUSSE Institution Report. The data provided in the AUSSE Institution Report includes mean student engagement and outcome scale scores, proportions of responses at an item level, as well as results within specific subgroups. These data can be used by institutions to set targets and to benchmark results.
- What reports does ACER produce based on the AUSSE data?
ACER provides each institution taking part in the AUSSE with an AUSSE Institution Report along with a file of each institution’s own survey data and other reports.
- What are some good ways to disseminate and use survey data?
A guide has been prepared that gives suggestions for ways in which Australasian universities might use AUSSE data in a productive manner at a university level. Collecting and documenting information about how institutions are using student engagement information is an ongoing process. We are currently collecting examples of internal reports and brochures highlighting AUSSE data, usage strategies and particular activities institutions have undertaken to improve student engagement. These examples will form a free, shared resource for universities and will assist in our continuing efforts to improve the quality of the undergraduate experience for all students.
- How can connections be made with other data already collected?
Linking engagement data with data in administrative systems provides a means of studying issues such as student retention and attrition. Analysing engagement data in light of information about attrition and retention may well expose specific patterns of interaction that are distinctive to students who choose to discontinue their courses. Links between engagement data and assessment results could also be made. Analyses may show whether there is a link between student engagement and academic achievement at university.
- What do we do with the data from the SEQ?
The data from the SEQ provides key insights into what students are actually doing, a structure for framing conversations about quality, and a stimulus for guiding new thinking into practice. Institutions may choose to use their AUSSE data for a variety of internal and external purposes. Insights from AUSSE can be used internally in many ways, including using the insights to focus educational strategy and reviews, linking findings with institutional data on retention and attrition, holding teaching and learning collaborations, focusing on academic and general staff development, involving students in improvement activities and developing resources for students. The insights gained from AUSSE can also be used externally as part of stakeholder engagement meetings, reporting results publicly, benchmarking between institutions and groups, influencing scholarly research into engagement and as part of external quality assurance activities.
