Survey research
The ANZCA Trials Group aims to facilitate survey research for Fellows and trainees while at the same time reducing survey "fatigue" and protecting the privacy of College Fellows and trainees. The trials group acts as gatekeeper for survey research sent to Fellows and trainees.
The College has an ANZCA Council endorsed survey research policy. This is available at Survey Research Policy, and interested researchers are strongly advised to read the document.
Surveys are sent to random samples of 950 Fellows. We estimate that a random sample of 950 Fellows is large enough to the represent the College fellowship, and 250 to represent a special interest group (SIG).
We aim to ensure a balance between scientific validity while reducing the number of surveys sent to Fellows and trainees. This also helps reduce costs to researchers.
Increasingly, emails containing links to survey websites are sent to Fellow and trainees which allows them to respond anonymously online. For the privacy of Fellows and trainees we do not give survey researchers the names or details of respondents.
To reduce survey fatigue we will send a primary survey and one reminder. While all researchers would like a 100 per cent response rate, a 60 per cent response rate is reasonable.
The survey must be of a high scientific quality and of a publishable standard for the ANZCA Trials Group of facilitate distribution to ANZCA Fellows and trainees.
The following paper describes the standards we expect of surveys facilitated by ANZCA:
Surveys: An introductory guide to survey research in anaesthesia. D Jones, D Story, O Clavisi, R Jones, P Peyton. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2006:34:245-253. PubMed
Another useful link can be found in an article in the March 2009 issue of the ANZCA Bulletin.
Fellows and trainees wishing to survey their peers must provide the trials group coordinators with a copy of the following documents before gaining approval from an Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or New Zealand equivalent and, if applicable, the relevant formal project officer:
- A research proposal.
- A working survey questionnaire if an electronic method is being used (recommended), otherwise a Word document.
- A survey covering and follow-up letter.
- A completed Survey Research Application Form 2012.
Once the ANZCA Trials Group has granted approval, the following documents are required before the survey can be distributed:
- A Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or NZ equivalent approval certificate (from your local institution).
- An approval letter from your formal project officer (for trainees undertaking formal projects only).
For further information, please contact the Trials Group research coordinator at trialsgroup@anzca.edu.au
Fellows
