Survey overview
The survey on the use of social software in the business and community engagement (BCE) sector was carried out by JISC infoNet and Netskills in May 2007. The survey aimed to gain an overview of usage trends and indentify concerns and opportunities. The data gathered should help to establish ways in which the JISC Advisory Services, among others, may be able to offer support to the sector in its ue of social software. The survey was created using Netskills' inhouse survey design tool and was hosted online for approximately three weeks.
Publicity
The survey was publicised via various means including:
- Emails to relevant mailing lists, including JISCMAIL-hosted lists such as PSCI-Com (public engagement with science) and Placements, as well as lists managed by other organisations, such as AURIL.
- Contacting organisations directly and asking them to publicise the survey internally, such as UNICO, Student Volunteering, Praxis, and KTP.
- Contacting people involved with relevant projects and ventures, such as science parks.
- Posting announcements on relevant messageboards such as the National CKE forum and KE good practice forum.
- Dedicated sections of the Netskills' and JISC infoNet web sites
As an added incentive, a prize draw for an iPod shuffle was offered.
Overall response
The survey received 150 responses in total, which was pleasing given that the BCE sector is difficult to reach, as stated in the recent Hill-Farmer research; "There is very variable practice within HEIs about where those working in BCE are located , and about how they fit into institutional structures"1. Indeed, some respondents to the survey had never heard of the term BCE, although they were clearly working in that sector. The Hill-Farmer research represents one of the few benchmarks for surveying this sector, and obtained 124 responses, which suggests that the Netskills/infoNet survey had a good reach.
1 Hill, Stephen and Farmer, Julie (2007), How JISC could support Business and Community Engagement, p.13. Available online at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/themes/third_stream/bce_user_needs_study_final_14may2007.pdf [accessed 18/7/07]
