An information system architecture for ensuring anonymity of student survey responses

Abstract

Purpose There has been a lack of an information systems architecture which explicitly illustrates processes that make and maintain the anonymity of student responses in an online system for student opinion survey of faculty teaching. The purpose of this paper is to present an information systems architecture which explicitly shows the process of disassociation of student credentials and their responses. It also shows that the process guarantees a complete anonymity of student responses. Design/methodology/approach The system was developed to satisfy the needs of students, faculty and administrators of a higher education institution with several objectives, one of which is the complete anonymity of student responses. Findings The system developers were successful in designing and developing a student opinion survey system that keeps student responses completely anonymous. Research limitations/implications The anonymity of student responses improves students’ trust in the survey system and may increase student response rate. Other factors that affect student response rate should be analyzed to determine their effect on student response rate and adjust those factors to improve student response rate. Practical implications This paper shares the success of developing an information system that makes student responses anonymous. The goal is to increase the discussion of this topic among researchers and practitioners to further improve the system to increase student response rate. Originality/value The proposed information system architecture is novel because it keeps student responses completely anonymous.