Yale Student, Parent, and Alumni Surveys

This information is intended to address potential concerns about the confidentiality of surveys administered by the Office of Institutional Research.

• Surveys are administered and analyzed by Yale’s Office of Institutional Research (OIR) and conform to high standards for the treatment of confidential data. OIR staff are the only Yale employees who have access to survey data, and all analysts have completed training in Human Subject Protection.
• Most Yale College Surveys are confidential but not anonymous. Anonymous surveys make it impossible to prevent multiple responses per person or to send reminders only to non-respondents. Additionally, to increase the usefulness of the survey we may combine responses with other information we have about participants.
• Individually identifiable survey responses will not be provided to any students, faculty or administrators outside the research office. Some narrative comments may be provided to high-level administrators for the purpose of program or service improvement.
• Results will be aggregated for all reporting such that the identity of specific individuals cannot be inferred, even by knowledgeable readers.  All analysis for projects is subject to minimum cell sizes and statistical tests to meet the requirements of good research and confidentiality.

Please contact Lily Svensen with any questions about Yale student, parent, and alumni surveys or these policies.