Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
What Dr. Harper advises Aisha to check in order to raise survey response rates:
the survey [21] __________________
the email [22] __________________
an appropriate [23] __________________
the number of [24] __________________
the level of [25] __________________
question [26] __________________
Questions 27–30 (Multiple choice)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
27 What will Aisha do about the email account she uses to send the survey? A She will send it from her university email address. B She will continue using her personal email address. C She will ask Dr. Harper to send it on her behalf.
28 What does Aisha decide about promoting the survey beyond email? A She will make a short announcement in a lecture using a QR code. B She will rely only on email distribution. C She will post the link only on social media instead.
29 What does Aisha decide about offering a results summary to participants? A She will definitely include a results summary in the invitation. B She will include a results summary only if she can meet the deadline. C She will not offer any results summary.
30 What does Aisha decide about sending reminders? A She will send two more reminders. B She will send one final reminder only, then stop. C She will keep sending reminders until enough people respond.
Keys
21 length 22 subject 23 incentive 24 reminders 25 trust 26 formats 27 A 28 A 29 B 30 B
Transcripts
Part 3: You will hear a university student called Aisha discussing her dissertation survey with her tutor.
DR. HARPER: Hi, Aisha. Come in. You said your survey isn’t getting enough responses.
AISHA: Yes. I’m panicking a bit because hardly anyone is completing it.
DR. HARPER: Okay, we’ll fix it step by step. First, tell me how long it takes to finish.
AISHA: About fifteen minutes, maybe longer if people type comments.
DR. HARPER: That’s the first issue. Your survey length is too long for first-years. Cut it to around eight minutes and put the most important questions at the start, before people drop out.
AISHA: I can cut it down. I thought extra questions would make the data richer.
DR. HARPER: Only if people complete them. Next, the email invitation. What did you put in the subject line?
AISHA: “Dissertation survey request.”
DR. HARPER: That email subject is too vague. Make it specific, like “Quick 8-minute survey on first-year study routines.” The subject line should signal the topic and the time commitment immediately.
AISHA: Right, so it feels relevant rather than generic.
AISHA: I also read that incentives help. Should I offer something?
DR. HARPER: Yes, you should consider an incentive, but keep it ethical and clear. You could use a small prize draw, or a non-monetary option such as sending participants a short summary of the results. Either way, you must state it transparently in the invitation.
AISHA: A results summary might actually motivate people who are curious.
DR. HARPER: Now, timing and follow-up. When did you send the first email?
AISHA: Late Sunday night.
DR. HARPER: That’s bad timing. Send it on Tuesday or Wednesday lunchtime instead. Also, the number of reminders matters. Too many reminders annoy people and can reduce goodwill. Ideally, one reminder is enough.
AISHA: I’ve already sent two reminders.
DR. HARPER: Then stop after one final, polite reminder. Make it brief, and call it the last message.
DR. HARPER: Another key factor is trust. From which address did you send the survey?
AISHA: My personal email, because it was quicker.
DR. HARPER: That lowers credibility. Use your university email address, add your department name, and mention that the study is supervised. People are more likely to respond when the request looks official and legitimate.
AISHA: Okay, I’ll switch to my university address and include your name as supervisor.
AISHA: Should I also change the questions?
DR. HARPER: Yes, question formats can kill response rates. Long grids and repeated rating scales create fatigue. Reduce them, vary the question style slightly, and limit open-ended questions. If you keep one open question, place it at the end or make it optional.
AISHA: I have three open-ended items. I’ll reduce them to one optional question.
DR. HARPER: Good. Now let’s decide what you will actually do this week, in a clear plan. First action: using your university email address.
AISHA: I’ll definitely do that. I’ll resend the invitation from my university account with the department line and your supervision stated.
DR. HARPER: Second action: widening distribution beyond email. Could you do a short announcement in a lecture with a QR code?
AISHA: Yes, I’ll definitely do that too. I can ask my lecturer for two minutes and put a QR code on one slide.
DR. HARPER: Great.
DR. HARPER: Third action: the non-monetary incentive you mentioned, the results summary. Will you include it?
AISHA: I may include it. I like the idea, but I need to check whether I can promise a summary within the deadline. If I can, I’ll add it.
DR. HARPER: Sensible. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
DR. HARPER: Final action: sending two more reminders. What will you do?
AISHA: I definitely won’t send two more reminders. I’ll send one final reminder only, then stop.
DR. HARPER: Excellent. Now shorten the survey, revise the subject line, simplify the question formats, and bring me the updated invitation text before you send it.
AISHA: I will. Thanks, Dr. Harper.
