CSE Exit Survey Summaries

An exit survey for CSE graduates-to-be has been administered on-line since Spring 1999, as a requirement for filing papers indicating intent to graduate within the next two quarters. The links below let you view summaries of the results of the on-line surveys.

Interpretation of Results

For each CSE program objective the respondent is asked their extent of agreement with the statement: "This program objective has been met for me personally." The possible responses and the weighting scales used in summarizing these responses are as follows:
 
Qualitative Response Proportional
Weighting		 Threshhold
Weighting		 One-sided
Weighting
Strongly Disagree
0%
0%
0%
Moderately Disagree
20%
0%
0%
Slightly Disagree
40%
0%
0%
Slightly Agree
60%
100%
0%
Moderately Agree
80%
100%
100%
Strongly Agree
100%
100%
100%

The proportional weighting scheme tries to capture the extent to which the respondent disagrees or agrees with the statement. A reported average of, say, 80% for some statement means something like this: "On average, respondents moderately agreed with this statement." Other schemes that weight different responses with different numbers are possible, but this "linear" scale makes about as much sense as any.

The threshhold weighting scheme distinguishes between those who agree and those who disagree with the statement, without attempting to capture the extent of disagreement or agreement. A reported average of, say, 80% for some statement means: "80% of respondents agreed with this statement, and 20% disagreed with it."

The one-sided weighting scheme distinguishes between those who moderately or strongly agree and those who are close to neutral in their agreement or, in fact, disagree with the statement. A reported average of, say, 80% for some statement means: "80% of respondents moderately or strongly agreed with this statement." (Note that of the other 20% in this case, some slightly agreed and others disagreed.)

The proportional weighting scheme tends to smooth out differences in opinion, while the threshhold weighting scheme tends to emphasize them.

In addition, for each CSE program objective the respondent is asked to rate "how important the particular objective [is for me] personally." The possible responses and the weighting scales used in summarizing these responses are as follows:
 

Qualitative Response Proportional
Weighting		 Threshhold
Weighting
Very Unimportant
0%
0%
Somewhat Unimportant
33%
0%
Somewhat Important
67%
100%
Very Important
100%
100%

Survey Summaries

The results below are divided into multiple parts. The CSE program objectives were changed slightly in November 2000, and the change was reflected in the surveys starting in Autumn 2001. Another change occurred in 2004, when the terminology changed to distinguish "objectives" from "outcomes", and this change was reflected in the surveys starting in Autumn 2004. (This changed the questions slightly as well, but the above descriptions of the basic survey structure and the interpretation of results still apply.)

Spring 1999 - Summer 2001 Autumn 2001 - Summer 2004 Autumn 2004 - Present