Program Survey Development

Standard 6, Objective 6.3 of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Standards highlights the importance of continuous program improvement.1 To accomplish continuous improvement, programs solicit feedback—often in the form of a survey—from their communities of interest (eg, students, graduates, employers, clinical staff, administration). JRCERT defines communities of interest as, “The internal and external stakeholders, as defined by the program, who have a keen interest in the mission, goals, and outcomes of the program and the subsequent program effectiveness.”

If properly developed, a survey can be an effective, inexpensive, and easy tool with which to gather data. Understanding why respondents answer in specific ways helps avoid survey pitfalls and ensure that the feedback allows for continuous program improvement.