The Data Buddies Project
The Data Buddies Project is the means by which CERP reports important information to the community on the state of computing in higher education. CERP collects this data via the Data Buddies Survey (DBS). Explore this page to learn more about this project.
About
What is the Data Buddies Project?
The Data Buddies Project started as a survey for evaluating intervention programs through a BPC-Alliance award to the CRA-WP (CNS-1246649) in 2011 and since then, it has grown to collect multi-level and longitudinal data. The project has turned into a well-trusted data source used for many purposes.
Through the project, CERP collaborates with departments to provide them annual comparative reports, makes the data available to be used by researchers, and provides information resources to the community. Knowledge production from this project is disseminated through our publications, monthly infographics through CRN, and reporting to departments.
Data collected via this project provide useful insights into student attrition and retention, factors that support the successful matriculation into graduate school and research careers, and means by which the field can broaden participation from individuals who identify with groups considered underrepresented in computing (includes all women, persons with disabilities, and people who are Black, Hispanic, Native American/Indigenous, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander). CERP has also evaluated intervention programs by collecting participant and comparison group data through the project.
What is the Data Buddies Survey (DBS)?
The Data Buddies Survey (DBS) is the means by which this project collects data. DBS is an annual survey that collects data from individuals in computing and technology fields. Academic departments across higher education institutions in the United States and Canada volunteer to distribute DBS to students in their degree program, while CERP also directly connects with other students and professionals in the field to complete the survey. CERP uses these data to track individuals’ educational and professional development over time, with the intention to promote evidence-based best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion in computing and technology fields.
Participating in DBS is FREE for all interested volunteers. More information about how to get started can be found in the Participate tab.
Project staff
All CERP staff contribute to this project in one way or another. The following CERP staff make up the core DBS team:
- Burçin Campbell, Project Oversight
- Heather Wright, Project Manager
- Evelyn Yarzebinski, Data Manager
- Brendan Kane, Administrator and Primary Liaison
- Andres Purpuro, IRB specialist
For questions about any aspect of this project, contact CERP Staff.
Acknowledgements
The Data Buddies Project is currently supported through U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awards (1821136, 2036717, and 2335072), sub-awards and contracts, and direct CRA contributions. Previous NSF awards that supported DBS include 1246649, 1431112, and 1840724.
Participate
How to get involved
Participating in the Data Buddies Survey (DBS) is free for your department, thanks to support from the National Science Foundation. If your department is interested in participating, your department will need to dedicate one or more faculty or staff members to be the liaison. Typically the liaisons in the department are also responsible for distributing the survey out to students, but this is not always the case. The Department Chair or Head will be CC’d on communication.
Responsibilities of your department
- Dedicate at least one person to be the liaison
- Update CERP about changes in contact information and student enrollment numbers
- Send 2-3 emails per year to students for recruitment
- In rare instances, someone may need to support the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process.
What happens after you sign up
After you sign up for DBS, you will receive an email within a week from our department liaison who will confirm your participation. After we receive confirmation, we will begin the onboarding process (e.g., confirming contacts, enrollment numbers, initiating contact with the IRB).
IRB
CERP works with an external IRB (Solutions IRB) to review DBS. Our project is deemed Exempt (45CFR46.101(b)(2)). In addition to our review through Solutions IRB, the CERP team contacts your local IRB to inquire whether additional review is necessary. CERP handles all negotiations with your IRB unless otherwise requested by the IRB.
Timeline
Below is our typical timeline for DBS:
Resources for departments
Tips for getting a strong response rate in your department
Request a copy of the Data Buddies Survey
Resources for individuals
Methodology
Population
The Data Buddies Survey (DBS) population is undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree seeking students; and professionals in computing and technology fields. The students can be declared computing majors or students who are taking computing-related coursework.
Sampling
The DBS sample is obtained in two ways. First, CERP collaborates with computing departments across the United States and Canada to distribute the survey to students via an anonymized survey link. Second, CERP reaches out to participants of various programs (e.g. workshops, REUs) and individuals who agree to receive follow-up surveys directly from CERP.
The departments that participate in the Data Buddies Survey are volunteer departments that either sign up to become a Data Buddy or are recruited by CERP. These departments cover a range of various factors such as the department size, highest degree granted, geographic location, and MSI status. DBS departments do not need to be a CRA member to join.
Procedure
DBS is implemented during the fall every year. The survey is administered online and distributed either by the participating departments or directly by CERP to those individuals who are in the follow-up sample.
Data Management
DBS data are managed according to the CERP Data Management Plan, IRB guidelines, and CRA Privacy Policies. Respondents’ personally identifying information is encrypted and available exclusively to the project team’s senior personnel. Only de-identified data are used to conduct analysis. Minimum sample sizes are required for reporting demographics in department reports to avoid identification of students who responded to the survey.
Incentives
DBS includes an opt-in incentive for each participating department’s students, allowing two randomly selected winners from each department. Incentives are delivered after the survey closes.
If participating departments are interested in offering additional incentives for their students, they can contact CERP in order to make appropriate arrangements.
Professionals and other non-students completing DBS also have the opportunity to opt-in for incentives, which are also delivered after the survey closes.
Below is our list of raffle winners from the last two years!
Congratulations to Our Raffle Winners!
Fall 2023
Raffle winners are affiliated with the following institutions:
Colorado State University
Tennessee Tech University
University of California-Berkeley
University Illinois-Springfield
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of Oregon
University of Utah
Western Washington University
Fall 2022
Raffle winners are affiliated with the following institutions:
Case Western Reserve University
Cornell University
DePaul University
Duke University
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Chicago
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Measures
DBS includes various measures tailored towards the different groups in the DBS population as applicable. Below is a non-exhaustive list of DBS measures.
Previous education and past experiences
- Academic background (e.g. pre-college CS and Math courses, completed degrees)
- Experiences related to computing (e.g. programming languages, software/hardware projects)
Current program details and experiences (for students)
- Enrollment information and reasons for matriculation and persistence
- Perceptions of degree program and institution
- Levels of academic and social support
- Degree of involvement in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities
Employment status and experiences (for non-students)
- Employment information (e.g., job type, title)
- Promotion and salary
- Attrition and persistence
General attitudes and beliefs regarding computing
- Perceptions of abilities, skill sets, and accomplishments
- Levels of identification with computing and sense of belonging
- Perceived support from professional network and mentors
Future plans and career aspirations
- Highest degree intentions
- Employment and graduate school plans
- Future career interests
- Career values and perceptions of computing careers
Demographics
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Marital status
- Socio-economic measures
- Parents’ education and career
CERP Data Sharing Request
Please complete the following form to request CERP data.
Currently, you may request data going back to 2020 and can request separate datasets of each four subsets that are surveyed. Those subsets include undergraduate students, graduate students, non-degree seeking students and alumni & professionals.
You can request datasets of multiple different subsets at once with a single submission of the form, but if you wish to request data from multiple years you will have to fill out the form multiple times.
Once you submit the form, you should receive a downloadable file of the dataset you requested to the email you provided within a few minutes.
Note: To protect survey respondent privacy, we do not provide institutions with their own survey data and the institutions are not identified in any shared datasets.
If you have additional questions, comments, or requirements, please contact us.
Reporting
Annual Department Reports
During the spring, Data Buddies Survey (DBS) departments receive customized reports each year they participate in the project*. These annual department reports include aggregated summary tables on how their students responded to the survey measures, and those responses are compared to students at structurally similar institutions.
The Annual Department Report includes:
- An executive summary page containing visualizations of key findings about students in each department.
- Detailed tables comparing your students’ responses to those of similar institutions
- Detailed tables comparing your students by gender and by racial/ethnic identity presented alongside of the same comparisons among students at similar institutions
In addition to the overall department report, participants will receive a key findings report that summarizes some of the most interesting insights gained from the survey in a more digestible form. The key findings report will also contain tables that compare students to those of similar institutions.
Want to receive your own department report? Click here to join!
Special Report Request
Departments can further customize their reports and receive reports that break out their results either by different subsets or different comparison groups. For example you can request a report of just your Doctoral students or a report of students with a certain declared major. Click here for more information.
Annual Survey Reports
During the spring following the close of each survey cycle, CERP Staff produce an annual survey report that details some aggregated results across all participants. Click here to read the current report for the 2023 survey cycle.
Read past reports:
Other products
In addition to the annual department reports, CERP also produces other products using DBS data. Below are links to each of these types of products, which can also be found on the main CERP website and CRA pages.
Infographics published in Computing Research News
Request a DBS dataset from CERP
* To protect students’ privacy, CERP only creates a department report when five or more students within a given department complete one of our surveys.
Our Data Buddies
This page includes the full list of volunteer departments who are currently active with the Data Buddies Project as of our fall 2023 survey. Elite academic units are defined as having a 20% or greater response rate for a given survey cycle.
Don’t see your institution on the list below? Click here to join!
| Institution Name | Unit Name | Status | CRA Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny College | Computer and Information Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Arizona State University | School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence | Active | Member |
| Auburn University | Computer Science and Software Engineering | Active | Member |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Bard College | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Barnard College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Boise State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Boston University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Boston University | BU Spark! | Active | Non-Member |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Brown University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Calvin University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Carleton College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Carnegie Mellon University | School of Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Case Western Reserve University | Computer and Data Sciences | Active | Member |
| Case Western Reserve University | Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering | Active | Non-Member |
| Clark University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| CodeCrew Code School | Adult School | Active | Non-Member |
| Colgate University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| College of Charleston | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Colorado State University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Columbia University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Cornell University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Davidson College | Mathematics and Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| DePaul University | School of Computing | Active | Member |
| DePauw University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Drexel University | College of Computing and Informatics | Active | Member |
| Duke University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Eastern Washington University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Farmingdale State College | Computer Systems | Active | Non-Member |
| Fisk University | Mathematics and Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Florida State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Gallaudet University | Science, Technology, and Mathematics | Elite | Non-Member |
| George Mason University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | Information Technology | Elite | Non-Member |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | College of Computing | Active | Member |
| Georgia State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Georgia State University | Computer Information Systems | Active | Member |
| Green River College | Information Technology – Software Development | Elite | Non-Member |
| Grinnell College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Harvard University | Engineering and Applied Sciences | Active | Member |
| Harvey Mudd College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Johns Hopkins University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Kansas State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Kean University | Computer Science and Technology | Elite | Member |
| Lehigh University | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| Loyola University Chicago | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Loyola University-Maryland | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Michigan State University | Computer Science and Engineering | Elite | Member |
| Middlebury College | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Montana State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Morehouse College | Software Engineering and Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Morgan State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | College of Computing | Active | Member |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| New York University | Tandon School of Engineering | Active | Member |
| North Carolina State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Northeastern University | Khoury College of Computer Sciences | Active | Member |
| Northern Kentucky University | School of Computing and Analytics | Elite | Member |
| Oberlin College | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Ohio University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Active | Member |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Purdue University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Radford University | School of Computing and Information Sciences | Elite | Non-Member |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick Campus | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Saint Mary’s College of Maryland | Mathematics and Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| San Diego State University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Simmons University | Mathematics and Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Southern Connecticut State University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Southwestern University | Math and Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Stony Brook University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Swarthmore College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Temple University | Computer and Information Sciences | Elite | Member |
| Tennessee Technological University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Texas A&M University | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| Texas Southern University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Texas State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Tufts University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Union College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Alabama | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of British Columbia | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of California-Irvine | Informatics | Active | Member |
| University of California-Riverside | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Computational Media | Active | Member |
| University of Central Florida | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Chicago | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Cincinnati | School of Information Technology | Elite | Member |
| University of Colorado-Boulder | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Information and Computer Sciences | Active | Member |
| University of Hawaii-Hilo | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Houston | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Illinois-Chicago | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Illinois-Springfield | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Iowa | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| University of Maine | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | College of Engineering and Information Technology | Active | Member |
| University of Maryland-College Park | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| University of Maryland-College Park | College of Information Studies | Active | Member |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Miner School of Computer & Information Sciences | Active | Member |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Computer Science & Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Nebraska-Kearney | Cyber Systems | Active | Non-Member |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | School of Computing | Elite | Member |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Department of Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Bioinformatics | Elite | Member |
| University of North Carolina-Charlotte | School of Information Science | Elite | Member |
| University of Notre Dame | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Oregon | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| University of Pittsburgh | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Pittsburgh | Informatics and Networked Systems | Active | Member |
| University of Puget Sound | Mathematics and Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| University of Rochester | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of San Diego | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| University of Southern Mississippi | School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Texas-Austin | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Texas-Austin | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Active | Member |
| University of Texas-Dallas | School of Engineering and Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Texas-El Paso | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Texas-San Antonio | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| University of Toronto | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| University of Utah | Kahlert School of Computing | Active | Member |
| University of Virginia | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| University of Washington | Computer Science and Engineering | Elite | Member |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Computer Sciences | Active | Member |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Villanova University | Computer Sciences | Elite | Member |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Virginia Tech | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Washington and Lee University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Washington University-St Louis | Computer Science and Engineering | Active | Member |
| Wayne State University | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Wellesley College | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Western Washington University | Computer Science | Active | Non-Member |
| Westminster University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Whitman College | Computer Science | Active | Member |
| Winston Salem State University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
| Worcester State University | Computer Science | Elite | Non-Member |
| Yale University | Computer Science | Elite | Member |
FAQ
Overview of Data Buddies Survey
Who is the intended respondent population of DBS?
DBS is intended for the following types of students in computing & technology-related degree programs: undergraduates, graduate students, and non-degree students. Introductory-level students and non-majors are also welcome to complete DBS.
Why should a department participate in DBS?
Each participating department receives a customized comparative department report that will help the department understand their students’ experience, compare it to similar departments, use the data to inform departmental policy, and evaluate departmental interventions. For example, institutions have used the comparative findings in the report to support their requests for more resources for underserved students by demonstrating that similar institutions show better outcomes on a particular topic.
Further, departments participating in DBS contribute to research that provides useful insights into student attrition and retention, factors that support the successful matriculation into graduate school and research careers, and means by which the field can broaden participation from individuals who identify with groups considered underrepresented in computing (includes all women, persons with disabilities, and people who are Black, Hispanic, Native American/Indigenous, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander).
Joining Data Buddies Survey
How can I express interest in participating in future CERP surveys?
You can sign up for our mailing list by completing this form. This will ensure you receive invitations to participate in surveys conducted by CERP, such as the Data Buddies Survey.
How much does it cost to participate in DBS?
Participating in Data Buddies is free for departments.
How long does it take for students to complete DBS?
The survey takes approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.
Who from my department should complete the DBS sign-up form?
Any faculty or staff in the department can complete the DBS sign-up form. Ideally, the person who completes the form is someone who is willing to be a liaison for the project.
What is the role of the Department Chair for DBS?
When a department joins DBS, we ask that the Department Chair or Head be included in priority communications from CERP so that this person is aware of DBS activities within the department.
I am a PhD student. How can I get involved in Data Buddies for my department?
As a PhD student, there are several ways you can get involved in DBS. First, you can encourage your department to join the project. You can be included in our list of contacts to help keep the recruitment momentum going among faculty.
You can also get involved by completing the survey when your department begins recruiting students. At the end of the survey, you will be asked if you are willing to complete futures surveys from CRA. Please consider volunteering to continue contributing to our research efforts.
Can students sign up to volunteer for Data Buddies?
No, students cannot volunteer their department for DBS; however, you can get involved by encouraging your department to join the project. You can also get involved by completing DBS any time that you receive it (often called the CRA Annual Survey) and signing up to complete follow-up surveys from the CRA.
What happens if our local IRB requests additional review?
If your local IRB requests additional review, the CERP team will coordinate with them to ensure all necessary information is provided and that the review process is completed efficiently.
Is yearly IRB renewal required for DBS?
Since our project is deemed Exempt, yearly IRB renewal is typically not required. However, if your department requires yearly IRB renewal for any reason, the CERP team will assist in coordinating this process with both the external IRB (Solutions IRB) and your local IRB to ensure compliance.
Data Buddies Survey Logistics
Is DBS a survey I can send out at any time in the year?
No. DBS is distributed once per year between the months of October and February. Exact distribution dates are determined each year by the CERP team.
Do I need to sign up for DBS each year?
No. Once you sign up for DBS, you are part of the project until you choose to withdraw your institution from participating in the project.
Can my department offer an additional raffle or incentive for students?
Yes, your department can offer an additional incentive in addition to the raffle offered by CRA. The CERP team does not coordinate the logistics of the department incentive unless you specifically request that we do so; however, CERP does ask that you inform us about the incentive so that any adjustments to the survey can be made. Please contact the CERP team about your department incentive and/or if you would like to request assistance with coordinating the logistics of your department incentive.
Can I skip a year?
Yes, you can skip a year at any time. If you need to skip a year, please contact the CERP team.
How do I become an "elite" DBS department?
You will become an elite DBS department if your department receives a 20% response rate or greater during a given survey cycle. We determine departments’ elite status at the end of each survey cycle. We announce the elite DBS departments in our annual end-of-survey article published in Computing Research News. Elite status does not carry over from year to year.
Data Buddies Survey Reports and Data
What information will my department report contain?
Your department report will include a Notes section to help you interpret the report and your results, an Executive Summary that will provide you with visualized highlights of your results, and chapters with summary tables displaying your students’ responses alongside a comparison group of student responses from similar institutions. Summary tables include statistical testing as appropriate. You will also receive a key findings report that synthesizes some of the most interesting results into a shorter, more digestible format.
Can my department have a different comparison group?
Yes, you may request a different comparison group for your department report. Please complete our Special Report Request Form to submit your desired comparison group. You will need to submit this form each year.
What response rate should my department have?
Response rates will vary depending on the size of your department. Most departments strive to receive at least a 20% response rate. It is important to note that the stronger your response rate, the more useful your department report will be. Department reports are not generated when there are less than five responses from students.
Can I request a DBS dataset from CERP?
Yes. If you are interested in receiving a de-identified, aggregated DBS dataset, click here for more information. Please note that we do not provide departments with their own data at this time.
Can I request a copy of the DBS survey instrument?
Yes. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the DBS survey instrument, please fill out our DBS request form. If you use our survey instrument in any way, we request that you provide proper acknowledgement and attribution.
BPC Plans
Can I include DBS in my Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Plan?
Yes, you can include DBS as an activity in either a Departmental BPC Plan or Project BPC Plan. CERP has provided a template on BPCnet.org for you to easily create and submit a BPC Plan.
