Obtaining Approval For A Survey Of US Army Personnel

obtaining approval for a survey of u.s. army personnel attitude and opinion survey: a survey is a systematic data collection, using face-to

Obtaining Approval for a Survey of U.S. Army Personnel
Attitude and Opinion Survey: A survey is a systematic data collection,
using face-to-face or telephonic interviews, or self-administered
questionnaires (including Web surveys), from a sample of 10 or more
persons as individuals or representatives of agencies (44 USC § 3502).
The questionnaires or interview protocols contain identical questions
about attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and related demographic
information. The results of the survey will be used to assess and
guide current and planned Army policies, programs, and services. The
findings can be generalized to all members of the target population.
Applicability:
1. All attitude and opinion surveys of Active Army personnel conducted
in two or more major commands (Army Commands, Army Service Component
Commands, or Direct Reporting Units, see Figure 1) must be approved by
ARI prior to administration. (For this guidance, “Major Subordinate
Commands” are not considered as major commands.) Requests for survey
approval from ARI shall be forwarded to ARI (DAPE-ARI-PS) and must
provide the information outlined in Figure 2 (see AR 600-46 , Attitude
and Opinion Survey Program).
2. Attitude and opinion surveys con ducted solely within a single
command (e.g., ACOM, division, brigade, battalion, company/detachment)
must be approved by the unit commander.
3. Attitude and opinion surveys of military members conducted in two
or more DoD Components (Services) must be approved by the Defense
Manpower Data Center, IAW DODI 1100.13 (Surveys of DoD Personnel).
4. Surveys also must be submitted to the appropriate Human Use
Committee.
Standards: A survey will be approved only if—
(1) The need for information warrants the expenditure of resources
associated with survey development, administration, and analysis.
(2) The survey is designed to produce reliable and valid information
without bias while imposing minimum burden on respondents and
supporting organizations.
(3) Survey design, content, and administration protect the anonymity
and respect the personal rights and privacy of individuals selected as
respondents. Surveys will avoid offensive or degrading topics.
Responses will not be personally identified with the respondents
without consent, nor made a part of their personnel files. (The
governing Institutional Review Board will assist in making this
determination.)
(4) Justification is furnished to support the need for all questions
in the survey.
(5) The type of information required is suitable for survey
methodology.
(6) The occurrence of events has caused previously collected
information to become suspect in terms of accuracy or completeness, or
sufficient time has passed to warrant the collection of trend data.
(7) Information does not exist in other forms or cannot be obtained
through other sources.
(8) When requested by ARI, proponents must obtain a Report Control
Symbol (RCS) from their agency. Usually, the RCS for ARI’s surveys
will be assigned.
Examples:
1. Assuming the planned survey of Army personnel will be conducted in
two or more major commands, the following surveys are examples that
would require ARI review and approval:
- Survey of Army Families
- IG Supervisors Survey
- Army Leadership Assessment Survey
- Army War College Alumni Survey
- Medical Specialist Corps Survey
- Human Relations Survey
- G-1 Incentives Survey
2. The following survey and types of surveys are examples that would
not require ARI review and approval:
- Survey of the 173rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
- Clinical Investigations
- Command Climate Surveys (within a command)
- Customer Satisfaction Surveys
It is recommended that Clinical Investigations include only those
attitude and opinion questions that are directly related to the health
and treatment matters.
Survey Control Number
ARI authorization of all approved attitude and opinion surveys will be
indicated by a survey control number (SCN). The series will change
each fiscal year. The SCN will be on the first page of the instrument
or web site in the following format:
SURVEY APPROVAL AUTHORITY: U.S. ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR THE
BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SURVEY CONTROL NUMBER: DAPE-ARI-AO-xx-xx
RCS: xxxxxx
Submit Request to:
Army Personnel Survey Office
U.S. Army Research Institute
for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
2511 Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S.P.S. mail)
2530 Crystal Drive, 4th Floor
Arlington, VA 22202-3926
(703) 602-7858/7877, DSN 332-7858/7877
[email protected]
Army Commands Direct Reporting Units
Forces Command (FORSCOM) Network Command (NETCOM)
Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Medical Command (MEDCOM)
Army Materiel Command (AMC) Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)
Criminal Investigation Division Command (CIDC)
Army Service Component Commands United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE)
USARCENT (Third Army) Military District of Washington (MDW)
USARNORTH (Fifth Army) Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC)
USARSOUTH (Sixth Army) United States Military Academy (USMA)
USAREUR (Seventh Army United States Army Reserve Command (USARC)
USARPAC (United States Army Pacific) Acquisition Support Center
Eighth United States Army (EUSA) Installation Management Command
(IMCOM)
United States Army Special Operations
Command (USASOC)
Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC)
Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)
Figure 1. Major Army command structure

1. Title of survey.
2. Name of sponsoring organization or office.
3. Name, title, mailing address, telephone number, email address of
senior project officer(s).
4. Proposed schedule for survey instrument completion, survey
administration, data analysis, final report.
5. Identification of the Internet site for a web survey (for
compliance with AR 25-2, Chapter 5). Attach Authority to Operate (ATO)
documentation.
6. Name of Institutional Review Board (name of agency, IRB chair).
7. Justification for survey request. (Reason why data are needed,
specific objectives and how data will be used.)
8. Background research. (Description of the planning, coordination,
and staffing of the survey. Include any applicable military or
civilian references.)
9. Target population. (Description and size of total population and
any subgroups to be used in analysis.)
10. Sample. (Description and size of sample and any subgroups to be
used in analysis, type of sample, selection procedures and rationale,
degree of over-sampling for non-response.)
11. Data analysis. (Manner of data processing, plan of statistical
analysis, statistical procedures to be used, and justification for
each, and description of the expected interaction of the major
variables. If scales or indexes are to be formed, provide a detailed
statement on how items will be combined.)
12. Administration procedures. (Method of data collection and
justification, estimated frequency and duration, command effort
required, time required for respondent to complete the survey,
expected schedule of events.)
13. Draft of the survey instrument, letters of instruction to
respondents, and Privacy Act Statement.
14. Planned distribution of survey results.
Figure 2. Information requirements for requesting survey approval
July 2010
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