Previous workplace climate surveys differed in length and content across areas of UC Davis Health, reducing their analytic value in informing institution-wide improvement.

UC Davis Health previously used four different instruments to collect climate survey data across various areas of the organization. The instruments varied in some aspects of their content, decreasing comparability across groups and limiting the surveys’ ability to identify areas for actionable improvement across the organization. UC Davis Health wanted to refine these instruments into a single, comprehensive survey that aligns with the strategic planning and goals of their IDARE initiative. They also wanted to reduce the overall survey length to encourage participation and minimize the burden on the employees taking the survey.

NORC developed a single survey instrument that effectively measures workplace climate across the organization and aligns with institutional priorities.

UC Davis Health partnered with NORC to evaluate the existing survey instruments and put them in conversation with information and data needs to illuminate redundancies or gaps in the types of information collected during the climate survey process. NORC drew on its methodological expertise to conduct four rounds of iterative instrument review and approached the review with four purposes:

1. Review the existing climate survey to ensure alignment with both UC Davis Health’s priorities and core domains of climate. 

2. Identify content areas and survey items for refinement. 

3. Identify redundant items for possible elimination to reduce participant burden without forfeiting critical information. 

4. Review the overall survey language to ensure the instructions and questions are comprehensible.

After revising the survey instrument, NORC conducted four, hour-long cognitive interviews to test the programmed instrument for clarity, cohesion, and length. We then provided final recommendations based on the findings of the cognitive interviews and worked closely with the UC Davis Health team to reach a shared understanding of the revised survey instrument.