University Health Insurance Satisfaction Survey Design
This paper presents a complete social science research instrument designed to measure satisfaction with health insurance coverage among members of a large Midwestern university community. The study draws a stratified random sample of 300 students, 300 faculty, and 300 staff members. The paper includes an overview of sampling methodology, a participant cover letter, a follow-up reminder email, and a ten-question survey instrument. The survey captures demographic role, insurance usage, satisfaction ratings across multiple dimensions, preferences regarding deductibles and premiums, dependent coverage, and attitudes toward domestic and same-sex partner benefits. The instrument is designed to inform potential modifications to existing university health insurance plans.
- Study Overview and Sampling Methodology: Random stratified sampling from three university groups
- Cover Letter to Participants: Voluntary participation disclosure and survey instructions
- Reminder Email to Participants: Follow-up prompt sent two weeks after mailing
- Survey Instrument: Ten-question health insurance satisfaction survey
- Satisfaction Ratings and Plan Preferences: Likert ratings and deductible preference scenarios
- Coverage Options and Attitudes Toward Partner Benefits: Dependent coverage and same-sex partner benefit attitudes
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What makes this paper effective
- The instrument clearly separates its three distinct populations — students, faculty, and staff — ensuring comparative analysis is built into the sampling design from the outset.
- The cover letter and reminder email are professionally worded, transparently disclose IRB approval, and follow best practices for voluntary participation and confidentiality assurance.
- The survey questions move logically from demographic identification to behavioral usage to attitudinal satisfaction, ending with an open-ended item that captures concerns not addressed by closed-ended questions.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates stratified random sampling applied to a real institutional context. By drawing equal samples from three distinct university subgroups, the researcher ensures sufficient cell sizes for between-group comparisons — a foundational technique in social science survey research. The use of a Likert-type rating scale for satisfaction items (Question 3) alongside categorical and ordinal items reflects standard psychometric instrument design.
Structure breakdown
The paper is organized as a full research instrument package: it opens with a methodological overview and sampling rationale, followed by participant-facing documents (cover letter and reminder email), and concludes with the ten-item survey itself. The survey progresses from role identification and insurance background through multi-item satisfaction ratings, plan-preference scenarios, dependent coverage, and a final open-ended question. This structure mirrors professional survey research practice and provides everything needed for IRB review and field deployment.
Study Overview and Sampling Methodology
This survey has been designed to examine levels of satisfaction with health insurance at a university. The sample will be drawn from various members of the university community, including faculty, staff, and students. A random sample from each category will be invited to participate in the survey. Random sampling will be conducted through a random number table, which will then be applied to university records for faculty, staff, and students.
The survey will be mailed to the address on file for each randomly selected participant. To help encourage participation, a prize ballot will be included with the mailed survey, which participants can mail back separately to be entered into a draw to win a cash prize. Additionally, participants will be sent a reminder email about the survey two weeks after the initial mailing.
The sample will consist of 300 students, 300 faculty, and 300 staff members from a large Midwestern university in the USA. Health insurance issues are different for each of these groups, and it is therefore important to ensure that an adequate number of participants from each category complete the survey in order to allow for meaningful comparisons between the groups.
Cover Letter to Participants
Dear University Community Member,
Please find enclosed a brief survey about your current views concerning the health insurance provided by the university. We are conducting this survey as part of an investigation into whether the university should modify its current insurance plans, and to determine whether the current university community feels well served and protected by the existing insurance plans. The survey will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete, and we have enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope in which you may return the survey. In addition, please find a ballot, which you may complete and mail back separately, allowing you to be entered into a prize draw for $50.00.
You were selected to participate in this study through a random selection of university community members. Your participation is entirely voluntary and you may choose to withdraw at any time. There are no harms or risks involved in participating in the study, and there are no direct benefits. All information collected through this survey is entirely confidential, and the survey collects absolutely no identifying information. The final report will be presented to university administrators with data analyzed as a whole; no individual case will be identified.
This study has received approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the university. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the IRB chair or the supervisor of this research project through the contact information provided separately.
Thank you for your time!
Survey Instrument
Instructions: Please answer each of the following questions as honestly as possible. Your answers are entirely confidential and will in no way be traced back to your personal identity. After you have completed the survey, please place it in the included self-addressed stamped envelope and return it by mail. Thank you!
1. What is your current role at the university?
a. Undergraduate Student
b. Graduate Student
c. Tenured Faculty Member
d. Non-Tenured Faculty Member
e. Staff Member
2. Do you have any additional health insurance other than the plan provided by the university?
a. Yes
b. No
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