communication department

Volume XX Number 6

Communities

New Survey Policy for Communities

Reflecting the increased visibility of and interest in technical communication, STC is receiving a growing number of requests for surveys of our members’ activities. Some of these, such as the study conducted last year by the Aberdeen Group titled The Next-Generation Product Documentation Report: Getting Past the “Throw It over the Wall” Approach (see the article summarizing this report in the May 2007 issue of Intercom or visit www.aberdeen.com for more information), can be of great value to STC and its members by providing valuable information to support the profession’s continued advance. One of the side effects of the heightened interest, however, is what statisticians call “respondent fatigue”—or what happens when too many surveys are conducted. Such fatigue leads to lower response rates, less accurate answers, and—perhaps of greatest concern—the growing irritation of those being continuously surveyed.

After learning of this phenomenon, STC’s Board of Directors discussed looking into the number of surveys that members receive from both chapters and special interest groups (SIGs), as well as those sponsored or endorsed by the Society staff. STC strongly prefers to “self-police” the survey process rather than set a formal policy identifying a specific number of surveys that may be distributed. As part of the self-regulation process, STC would like to make communities aware of the possibility of respondent fatigue.

So that the Society office may remain cognizant of the number of surveys that communities are interested in distributing, the Board recommends that individual communities set their own limits on the number of surveys that they conduct. Communities need to obtain Society office approval for surveys of a substantive nature—defined as those that seek to collect information in the purview of the Society as a whole. Examples would include a survey examining issues affecting technical communicators working in the banking field, or one that explores training needs or certification issues within the technical communication profession. Surveys related to community matters, such as those requesting ideas about speakers and topics that members would like to see at community meetings, do not require Society office approval.

In addition, please note that if a community wishes to engage Society staff in the survey process, or plans to ask the Society office to publish or otherwise distribute survey results, then Society office approval is needed.

To obtain approval to conduct a survey for your community or for more information, please contact Maurice Martin, Director of Communication and Marketing.

Thank you very much for your cooperation. Keeping the Society office informed about any substantive surveys you conduct helps it gauge the risk of respondent fatigue and both identify and prevent duplicate efforts.

Chapters: Make Sure You Are Added to STC’s Liability Policy

As business entities that conduct private and public meetings, chapters are responsible for securing insurance to protect themselves against potential claims or litigation. Coverage is easily obtained by contacting the STC office and requesting that the chapter become an “additional insured” to the national policy. There is a one-time $150 charge to add a chapter to the national general liability policy.

General liability insurance is an important service that provides chapters with coverage in the event of property damage or a “slip and fall” at a meeting. These are everyday occurrences that can leave an unprotected chapter in a dire financial situation. Please be sure to secure this coverage. If you are not sure whether or not your chapter is currently included on the national policy, please contact Evelyn McCamey, Community Relations Manager.