Services

uniIT

The survey software provided at the University of Graz is Lime Survey: This makes the creation of interactive online surveys very easy, as users can concentrate on the survey design. The tool offers a large amount of editing and configuration possibilities, among others:

  • Multilingual user interface
  • Create new, and import existing surveys
  • Extensive customization options in the user interface and survey design
  • Personal, and anonymous surveys

 

The survey results are stored in databases on university servers in accordance with data protection regulations. The data can already be analyzed in the online tool or exported in all common formats (e.g., CSV, R, direct import in SPSS) for processing in statistical programs.

Links:

 

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Data Protection

Even when collecting data, the question is whether and to what extent the processing of personal data is necessary to achieve the purpose of the research and whether it is not possible to achieve the purpose with anonymous data.

More information on the distinction between personal, pseudonymised and anonymised data can be found in FAQs No. 20 - 22 on the intranet.

For advice on data protection issues, please contact the staff members responsible for data protection issues in the Research Management and Service Department for externally funded projects or the Legal and Organizational Department for all other research projects.

The specific contact details and competences can be found at https://datenschutz.uni-graz.at/de/datenschutzorganisation/.

RDM Capture and Collect ©CC-BY-SA, Helmut W. Klug - Remix of image by Gaelen Pinnock.

Help and training

With regard to surveys, it is data protection aspects that must be taken into account in particular. In general, data protection does not serve to protect the data collected, but rather the persons associated with this data. Personal data refers to all information that can be used to identify a natural person: Direct personal data is, for example, a name, an IP address, a photo; indirect data is when a person can be identified by the combination of several data. Surveys are anonymous if either no personal data is collected, or an identification of persons is only possible with a disproportionate effort in terms of time, costs, and manpower. In general, data minimization is expected with regard to the personal data collected.

Against the background of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2016/2018), certain aspects must be taken into account when creating and conducting surveys. A distinction can be made between personal and anonymous surveys for this purpose: The GDPR only applies to the former! However, all participants in surveys should be informed prior to participation about the purpose of the data collection, the scope of the collected (personal) data, the data processing and any publication of the data as well as their rights (e.g., right to information, deletion) and obligations. This information must also include the time limits for data retention and the names and contact details of the persons responsible. This information must be read and understood by the participants and accepted as part of a voluntary declaration of consent, e.g., by actively checking a box and submitting the form. The procedure is not necessary for anonymous surveys, but it contributes to the information and education of the participants and is therefore recommended.

Attention: For ad personam projects (§26 projects) and students (qualification theses) separate rules apply, so that they have to conclude a separate order processing contract with the university (cf. Declaration of the University of Graz as order processor) and also formulate their own privacy policy for their survey (cf. Terms of use).

In order to be able to conduct a survey at the University of Graz, certain procedures and deadlines must be followed, which are defined in the framework company agreement on conducting surveys. Further information is available on the intranet.

 

Literature, Resources:

RDM Capture and Collect ©CC-BY-SA, Helmut W. Klug - Remix of image by Gaelen Pinnock.