\n\tThe National Student Survey (NSS) is now in its tenth year. Vice-Chancellors set targets by it, newspapers and magazines use it to create league tables and university strategies are framed around it. Expressing an off-message opinion on the NSS cost former HEA research director Lee Harvey his job.  \n<\/p>\n

\n\tIt surprises me how little has actually been written by an NSS in peer-reviewed journals. By ‘how little’ I don’t mean little as in nothing, but relatively little  considering the big part it plays in the life of the British university.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tI’ve long been a critic of the NSS. What it comes to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, the NSS is a bit like using a screwdriver to put a nail into the wall. It is possible to get a nail in into the wall using a screwdriver, but you’re better off using a hammer. If you don’t have a hammer then you might go ahead and use the screwdriver at the risk of a bent nail, broken screwdriver or injured hand.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHowever, perhaps I’ve been a bit mean to the NSS over these past few years. For all the emphasis on ‘overall satisfaction’, and assessment and feedback you might think that there were only three or four questions on the NSS. The NSS asks questions about course organisation, library resources and skills development as well, but we don’t hear much about these. What if we actually paid attention to some of these questions?\n<\/p>\n

\n\tI took up this challenge in developing a new system of measurement for the NSS. I reasoned that if we considered all the questions and understood their relative importance we could bring about a system where each UK course at each university could have a ‘score’—in my paper I call this the Weighted Student Satisfaction Score (WSSS). However a raw score of say 1400 doesn’t tell you what they means in relation to other scores, so the scores are then normalised to a normal distribution so that an average course scores 100 (the Weighted Student Satisfaction Quotient—WSSQ). Over time it will be possible to trace changes in both absolute and relative scores. The system is fully outlined in the article and takes into account subject differences as well as providing a bonus for good response rates.  \n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe full ‘Canning list’ (a term used by David Law in his editorial is available from my website.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHere are the top 10 best courses in the whole UK according to the 'Canning list'.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOverall rank<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tInstitution<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tSubject\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tType<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSS<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSQ<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tHugh Baird College\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tFine Art\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1884.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t141.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tSomerset College\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tDrama\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1877.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t140.5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tGrimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tImaginative writing\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1869.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t140.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tPlymouth College of Art\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tCinematics and photography\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1861.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t139.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tPetroc\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tDesign studies\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1843.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t138.2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Cumbria\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tFine art\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1836.8\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t137.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tNorthumbria University Newcastle\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tArchitecture\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1836.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t137.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t8\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tImperial College London\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tGeology\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1833.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t137.5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Glasgow\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tSocial policy\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1828.5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t137.2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t10\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tNCG\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n\t\t\t\tMarketing\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\tOther undergraduate\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t1817.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n	\n \n\t\t\t\t\t136.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t \n<\/p>\n \n\tA couple of subject ranking examples\n<\/p>\n \n\tPhysics and Astronomy top 10.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tRank<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tInstitution <\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tType<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSS<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSQ<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tLancaster University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1685.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t127.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tNottingham Trent University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1663.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t126.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Birmingham\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1571.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t119.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of St Andrews\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1517.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t116.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tKeele University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1511.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t115.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Hull\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1510.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t115.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Bath\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1494.0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t114.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t8\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Sheffield\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1471.3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t112.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Sussex\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1456.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t111.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t10\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Hertfordshire\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1452.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t111.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t \n<\/p>\n \n\t \n<\/p>\n \n\tFrench\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tRank<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tInstitution <\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tType<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSS<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tWSSQ<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tCoventry University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1686.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t127.5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tQueen's University Belfast\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1667.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t126.2\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tNorthumbria University Newcastle\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1595.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t121.3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Southampton\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1595.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t121.3\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Exeter\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1547.5\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t118.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of St Andrews\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1507.7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t115.4\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t7\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tNewcastle University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1501.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t114.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t8\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Leicester\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1496.1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t114.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tEdinburgh Napier University\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1486.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t113.9\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t10\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tKing's College London\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\tFirst degree\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t1482.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t113.6\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t \n<\/p>\n \n\tLinks<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n\tArticle in Perspectives<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n\tFull dataset<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n \n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The National Student Survey (NSS) is now in its tenth year. Vice-Chancellors set targets by it, newspapers and magazines use it to create league tables and university strategies are framed around it. Expressing an off-message opinion on the NSS cost former HEA research director Lee Harvey his job.   It surprises me how little has … Continue reading The National Student Survey and the development of the 'Canning list'<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[182,44,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-canninglist","category-national-student-survey","category-surveys"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2077"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2081,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077\/revisions\/2081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}