NSF/SRS Postdoc Data Project: Phase 2

Whether an institution has a formal, institution-level postdoc policy

Whether an institution is:

• private or public
• an AAU member or a non-AAU member
• medical or non-medical

The institution’s:

• size
• geographic region
• level of urbanization

The department has a postdoc listserv or email group

There is a person who routinely responds to requests for survey data. Quality increases for:

• the total postdoc counts
• financial support

Whether the department’s postdoc definition is consistent with the GSS definition

The respondent:

• knows if the department has an official postdoc definition
• is familiar with how the data are entered in the primary data source
• considers their data source as “not at all complex”
• works within the department
• reported the postdoc data for the 2005 GSS based on all of the criteria provided in the instructions
• had read the instructions for the criteria of what constitute a postdoc
• submitted the survey either by the deadline on January 31 or after March 31 (versus submitting the survey between January 31 and March 31

The respondent’s position or education level

Whether the respondent:

• is one of the people always responsible for responding to student data requests for the GSS
• is usually selected by position or on an individual basis
• has been involved in providing data for IPEDS, other NSF surveys, or surveys similar to the GSS
• submitted the survey either by the deadline on January 31 or after March 31

The primary data source itself is:

• easily accessible by respondents
• considered accurate by the respondent
• updated in a timely manner

The way the primary data source is maintained and stored

The format of the primary data source (aggregate or individual)