ABSTRACT
Using data from a pilot study of two UK postgraduate surveys, this chapter explores how coded open comments can inform higher education institutional researchers about potential issues for particular groups within the student population. The chapter finds significant variation in which student groups make comments, and the length of their comments, which impacts on whether their views are heard. An analysis of coded open comment data and closed Likert responses found that the frequency of open comments within a particular theme tends to reflect responses to closed Likert-type questions on that theme. This gives confidence that coded open comments could reliably indicate areas of the student experience that needed to be investigated further, even if there is no corresponding Likert-type data. Example analysis is shown for disability, age, gender and discipline, for both taught postgraduates and research postgraduates. The study builds confidence around the use of coded comment data in directing the often limited analytical resources within institutions.
