Student surveys are of particular importance for student and higher education research as well as for quality management at universities, as they provide an important data basis for the investigation of student experiences, views and evaluations. In addition to scientific research questions, they also have very concrete and practical applications, for example when it comes to improving the quality of teaching and studies. Over the last decade, the willingness of students to participate in such surveys has drastically deteriorated. Many ideas have therefore been discussed about incentive systems that can be used to encourage students to participate. Various studies have been carried out in this area, which have primarily examined the effects of monetary incentives. Donations as incentives are a more recent area of research. Here, the participants do not receive a direct monetary consideration, but can donate a certain amount, which is made available to each participant by the project, to a non-profit organization.
In the Incentivation Study 2019, this question was examined to determine whether and to what extent the incentive of being able to make a donation to charitable organizations has an effect on the willingness of students to participate in surveys. To this end, the student survey conducted by the Quality Management of the University of Konstanz ("We want your opinion" 2019) gave students in four treatment groups (0.5 / 1 / 2.5 / 5 euro) the opportunity to donate a certain amount to one of seven non-profit organizations if they participated. In addition, there was a control group without the possibility to donate. The collected amounts of all participants should then be transferred to the respective organizations on behalf of the students.
First results were presented in November at the University of Konstanz (reactions see here in German). Detailed results are currently being prepared and will be published soon.