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SRE 2011 FAQS: Completing the survey

What does the survey look like?

The Univerity of Sydney has designed its survey based on advice DIISR has published. The survey will be conducted online by an external provider "Voice Project".

How do I complete the survey?

Please confirm your participation in the survey by responding to the instructions in your invitation. The invitation contains a unique link to your survey. Please do not forward this email on as the link is only valid for your survey responses. Detailed instructions on the completion of the survey instrument will be provided in this invitation. It is important that we take this survey seriously by seeking to maximise the response rate by all eligible staff and by ensuring that the information provided by staff is as accurate as possible. If you need help to complete the survey please contact Kerrie Legge.

What is ACG Research? What funding comes under ACG Research?

Australian Competitive Grant (ACG) research is research carried out on projects funded by a scheme listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register. If you’re unsure whether you are undertaking ACG research, please check the Register.

You need to have a clear understanding of the specific research projects you are working on at any one time in order to accurately assign the time spent on ACG versus Other research.
Time spent working on ACG projects should be recorded in the “Research – ACG” category regardless of whether the grant is administered by your institution or another institution.

When do I need to complete the survey?

The SRE survey period will open on Monday 11 July and close on Sunday 7 August. This period was set by the government and we are aware that many researchers are away at conferences or on leave for the first two weeks. So rather than fixing the period for all researchers we have opted to extend the survey period into the first two weeks of semester 2 so that you have flexibility to choose to record your time when it is most convenient for you.

Please choose a period where you can complete the full weeks data as incomplete weeks data counts as a nil response. It is important that your response be completed by 7 August in order to have your response included in your institution’s response rate, and in order to have your research effort counted.

You can complete the information required in the online survey each day, at the end of each week or at the end of the survey period. Recording your activities on a daily basis is recommended as it is likely to be easier to recall your activities throughout the day. If you prefer to keep a separate record for the survey period after accepting the survey at the start of the survey period there is a sample Excel timesheet survey template (Excel) available. Note that the data obtained by using a template timesheet will need to be entered by you into the online survey at the end of the 14 days.

What if I am on leave for all or part of the survey period?

You cannot estimate the time you would have spent on activities for those days you are on leave. Only actual hours spent on an activity should be reported.

If you know that you are on leave for the majority of the survey period - that is, on leave for three working week or a total of 23 days (including weekends) or on leave for 75% or more of the survey period:

  • a. Your institution may choose to exclude you from the survey sample and you may not be asked to complete the survey; OR
  • b. If you have been identified as a survey participant please contact the area administering the survey at your institution and they will advise as to whether you should still complete the survey.

If you are away for part of the survey period, you should record hours spent on formal leave (for example a public holiday, annual leave, or sick leave) during the survey period in the “Leave” category.

Note: For academic staff 1 full day leave is 7.5 hours and for general staff 7 hours.

If you have been identified as a survey participant and are on leave to conduct research (for example Special Studies Program Leave), please complete the survey provided you have access. You should treat your leave as regular work time and recorded your activities in the appropriate categories.

Further advice on how to record research work while on leave.

If you do not respond to the invitation you will count towards our Nil response rate so if you are unsure please contact Kerrie Legge.

What if I only complete week one of the two week survey?

You must complete the full two week survey (14 days total) in order to have your response included in your institution’s response rate, and in order to have your research effort counted.

Can someone else complete the survey for me?

No. You must complete the survey yourself; other people cannot estimate your answers for you.

If necessary, you may provide actual hours to another person to input into the survey instrument on your behalf.

I am affiliated with more than one institution. How do I complete the survey?

You should be identified as a survey participant by an institution if you have an employment relationship with that institution and are ‘undertaking research’. For example:

  • If you are employed by University A and also affiliated with University B but not employed by University B, then you should be surveyed only by University A.
  • If you are employed by two or more universities, each university should survey you in respect of the time that you are employed in that university over the survey period. Each university will also need to indicate your fractional FTE.

If you have been seconded to another institution for research/teaching purposes, the rules above apply.

What will constitute a completed survey?

The Government will only consider a survey response to have been completed if time use estimates have been provided for all 14 days and all required fields have been completed. If not pre-populated, the Field of Research (FOR) codes must also be completed. Note, however, that it is not necessary to provide more than one Field of Research code if this information is not applicable.

Do I need to commence the survey week on a Monday?

No, although the survey instrument is configured Mon-Sun you can commence on any day of the week and then complete the 7 day period for that survey week .

Can I just complete the Excel timesheet?

NO, THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL SURVEY INSTRUMENT which must be completed online by selecting the link contained in the invitation email sent from Jill Trewhella.