The joint university and university college media have halted the data collection for their joint study on diversity and inclusion at their education institute. Resource has also taken its surveys offline.
The journalist research has been prematurely put on hold as the result of trolling. A notorious website posted an incendiary article on the study and called on its readers to fill out the questionnaire. In the article, the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences survey was linked, but links to other surveys were also shared. This has contaminated the data collection.
Research agency Newcom, which conducts the study at the behest of the Circle of Editors-in-Chief of Higher Education Media, decided to put the data collection on hold. The agency is no longer able to guarantee the trustworthiness and quality of the study, a spokesperson says.
Legitimate question
The Circle of Editors-in-Chief support the decision. Chair Ries Agterberg: ‘It is a pity that a diligent and neutral study had been thwarted. This study was specifically designed not to impose any particular opinions but to investigate how students and employees feel about this topic. To what degree do they support the universities’ diversity policies? This is a legitimate question. The trolling prevents us from illuminating these opinions.’
Continuation undecided
Resource is still investigating if and to what extent it is possible and desirable to continue the Wageningen part of the study in a secure online environment. The risks of an ‘open’ survey were known, but there were reasons at the time to choose this approach for the Circle-study.
The surveys that staff and students have already completed will be studied, and the stories, if any, that have been shared will be read and used. These contributions will not be lost.
The survey is part of an extensive study by almost all independent university and college media in the Netherlands. The Circle of Editors-in-Chief were awarded funding for the study by the Journalism Stimulus Fund. In December, the higher education media will publish the results of the qualitative investigation into the institutes’ diversity policies.
