University of Guelph Library
FAQs for LibQUAL+
Q: I can't find my specialty/program in your list! Which discipline should I choose?
Q: Why should I complete this survey?
Q: How long will the survey take to complete?
Q: What happens to my data?
Q: I can't find my specialty/program in your list! Which discipline should I choose?
A: UofG offers a very wide range of study with many interdisciplinary options and we could not list them all. As a result, you may find it difficult to identify your specific area of study. The options we developed come from the undergraduate list of colleges, departments, and schools at UofG, as well as consulting with registration experts. The list of "disciplines" includes specific subject areas (e.g. History or Philosophy), broader areas of specialization (e.g. International Development or Biomedical Sciences), and one degree program (e.g. Bachelor of Arts and Science). Undergraduate students should note that "ARTS" refers to the "College of Arts" programs and disciplines and not "Bachelor of Arts" degrees, which are offered by a number of Colleges at UofG.
Please select the "discipline" most appropriate to your academic work. Graduate students, faculty and (non-student) researchers should select a "discipline" that reflects a specific subject (i.e. college / departmental affiliation), wherever possible. To find your "discipline", follow these steps.
- Please read the full list for the area of study you are registered or work. Note that the full list displays in certain browsers, whereas in others the list requires the scrolling function for all discipline options to be viewed.
- If you don't find your specific program listed, have not yet decided on a program, or are in an interdisciplinary program - choose the area of study closest to the discipline you primarily work, are currently interested or the area you are planning to pursue.
More detailed guidance on selecting a "discipline" is available below.
Biological Sciences (except for Environmental Biology)
Corresponds to the College of Biological Science (CBS).
Includes all programs in the CBS departments of : Integrative Biology ; Human Health and Nutritional Sciences ; and Molecular and Cellular Biology. The discipline listing is:
1 - Biological Science (except Environmental Biology)
1 - Biomedical Science, Toxicology, Biochemistry
Agriculture and related disciplines (incl. Environmental Biology)
Corresponds to the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).
Includes all programs in the faculty, departments and schools in OAC in the listed areas of study. The discipline listing is:
2 - Earth & Environmental Science, Land use
2 - Environmental Biology
2 - Landscape Architecture & Rural Development
2 - Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics
2 - Plant and Animal Science, Food Science
Physical and Engineering Science
Corresponds to the College of Physical and Engineering Science (CPES).
Includes all programs in the CPES departments and schools of : Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics & Statistics, Computing & Information Science and Engineering. The discipline listing is:
3 - Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics
3 - Engineering, Computing and Information Science
Veterinary Sciences (all)
Corresponds to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Includes the departments of Biomedical Sciences ; Clinical Studies ; Pathobiology ; and Population Medicine, as well as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. All undergraduates in the DVM program should select this "discipline". The discipline listing is:
4 - Veterinary Sciences (all)
Business, Management, Economics
Corresponds to the College of Management and Economics (CME). Includes four departments or schools: Business, Economic, Marketing and Consumer Studies, Hospitality and Tourism Management. The discipline listing is :
5 - Business, Management, Economics
Social and Applied Human Sciences
Corresponds to the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS). Includes the six departments or faculties: Family Relations & Applied Nutrition, Geography, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology & Anthropology, and Management. The discipline listing is:
6 - Family Relations & Applied Nutrition
6 - Geography, Political Science
6 - Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology
6 - International Development, Criminal Justice, Public Management
Arts and Humanities
Corresponds to the College of Arts (ARTS). The list below includes the five departments and schools as well as the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts and Science, European Studies and Women's Studies programs. The discipline listing is:
7 - English, Theatre Studies, Languages & Literatures
7 - Fine Art, Music
7 - History, Philosophy
7 - Bachelor (Arts and Science) degree
7 - European Studies or Women's Studies
Q:Why should I complete this survey?
A: Asking library users to consider and state their needs and perceptions about the Library's "services" is important feedback for Library decision-makers to hear. The Library serves a wide range of users, from novice to expert, and making sure we strike a useful balance is important to us. User feedback provides the "acid test" to determine whether or not we are meeting needs and expectations. In the past, user feedback has resulted in the creation of quiet and group work areas, developing a laptop loan program, more rapid expansion of our electronic journal collections, creating more and tailored study space and increasing access to electric outlets for laptops, among other initiatives. One other reason; we will be giving prizes for participating (3 iPod Touches) will be randomly drawn from participants with valid uoguelph email addresses.
Q:How long will the survey take to complete?
A: The average length of time to complete the survey is about 13 minutes, (even thought ARL claims "about 10 minutes". Slow internet connection speeds or extensive opinions that you want to type into the 'comments' section may result in longer completion times.
Q:What happens to my data?
A: Your responses will be captured on a server at the Association of Research Libraries - an organization that has been collecting data on libraries from around the world for about 100 years. Those data will be put into a database with all other UofG respondents. Data will then be subjected to validity and reliability checks, and respondent data that does not meet criteria will be removed from analyses. ARL will generate a standard report for UofG that will be sent to us for review. UofG will also receive four data files from ARL, (with all personal data removed):
- The raw response database
- A file with the comments from respondents
- A file with validated data
- A randomly drawn prize-winners list