Monday, November 4, 2019

Answers to frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of this research?

The UW conducts this study every year. The research will:

  1. Gather information on travel behavior that the University uses for long-range development plans.
  2. Provide data required by the State of Washington’s Commute Trip Reduction Law. Major employers are required by this law to provide data on their employees commuting choices as determined by the survey. (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Transit/CTR/overview.htm)
  3. Provide important information on the effectiveness of the UW’s transportation programs and potential program improvements.

Who is Northwest Research Group?

Northwest Research Group (http://www.nwresearchgroup.com/) is a full-service research firm that is working with the UW to support this research study. Northwest Research Group has extensive experience with transportation research and has worked on many transportation surveys locally as well as across the country. Northwest Research Group is based in Renton.
Northwest Research Group is hosting the survey on their secure servers to maintain respondent confidentiality. All work is conducted in accordance with ISO 20252—Market Research Standards. Northwest Research Group is a member of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) and is bound by their strict business and ethical guidelines (http://www.casro.org/?page=TheCASROCode).

Why was I selected?

A sample of approximately 3,000 students, faculty, and staff were randomly selected from all enrolled students as well as faculty and staff on payroll for Fall Quarter 2019. Northwest Research Group drew the sample. Your survey responses are kept completely separate from any individual data that would identify you personally, such as your email address, address, phone, etc.

Northwest Research Group has agreed to abide by the University of Washington’s strict data confidentiality and security standards.

The CASRO Code of Ethics states:
Since individuals who are interviewed are the lifeblood of the survey research industry, it is essential that survey research organizations be responsible for protecting from disclosure to third parties—including clients and members of the public—the identity of individual respondents as well as respondent-identifiable information, unless the respondent expressly requests or permits such disclosure.

Our goal is to collect at least 1,624 completed surveys. We are required under the Commute Trip Reduction reporting requirements to achieve at least a 50 percent response rate; it is very important for those selected to respond so as to ensure that results represent the entire university.

To encourage responses, you will receive a $5 coffee card if you complete the survey online. Instructions on receiving your card will be e-mailed to you after the study is complete in December – you will have a chance to enter a different e-mail address than the one where you received the survey invitation.

The coffee card incentive is only offered to those who complete the survey online.

Who do I contact at the UW if I need more information?

UW Transportation Services at SurveyTS@uw.edu or (206) 897-1727.

Who do I contact at Northwest Research Group if I need more information or the survey link does not work?

Nathan Wiggin, Project Director at Northwest Research Group, at nwiggin@nwresearchgroup.com or (206) 489-2363.