Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Last update: June 10, 2020

Who can use Qualtrics?
Qualtrics can be used by current faculty, staff and students with a valid Ohio State Username and password.

How do I access Qualtrics?
Follow the instructions on the Getting Started page of this blog site.

What training is available for Qualtrics?
Qualtrics offers its own robust customer service and training resources online at http://www.qualtrics.com/university/researchsuite/. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use the Qualtrics-provided resources first to learn how to use Qualtrics and address issues beyond the scope or knowledge base of OSU staff. This site’s Resources page contains additional help aids to become familiar with creating and managing surveys in Qualtrics.

I can’t distribute my survey. What should I do?
All Ohio State faculty, students, and staff are automatically assigned to a default account in Qualtrics. The default account is designed for students’ use of Qualtrics for academic purposes and does not allow distribution of any surveys that are created.

You can upgrade to a standard account by requesting an upgrade code from your Division Administrator. If you are an employee of the Wexner Medical Center, please see the instructions for upgrading your account here.

If you have already upgraded to a Standard Account and are still experiencing issues distributing your survey, contact your Division Administrator for assistance.

Students using Qualtrics for an academic course should contact their professor for assistance with issues.

How do I get an upgrade code?
Upgrade codes can be obtained through your Division Administrator. Students using Qualtrics for an academic course should contact their professor for assistance. If you are an employee of the Wexner Medical Center, please see the instructions for upgrading your account here.

Who is my Division Administrator?
The current list of Division Administrators is located here: Division Administrator. This list is updated monthly.

Who do I contact if my area doesn’t have a Division Administrator?
If your department or college does not have a Division Administrator assigned, request assistance from a Brand Administrator.

If you are interested in becoming a Division Administrator for your Ohio State department or college, complete the Division Administrator Role Request.

Students using Qualtrics for a course should contact their professor for assistance.

What level of data can be collected and stored in Qualtrics?
Qualtrics has been reviewed by Information Security. The Information Security Advisory Board has approved collecting and storing up to S3 (private data) in Qualtrics. To learn more about the data classifications levels please visit these OSU policies:

What is a BAA?
BAA stands for “Business Associate Agreement”. A BAA is typically used to establish terms and conditions for security restricted or sensitive data such as FERPA, PHI or HIPAA data. Restricted or sensitive data is considered S4 data.

Ohio State now has a BAA with Qualtrics. Qualtrics has been reviewed by Information Security. The Information Security Advisory Board has approved collecting and storing up to S3 (private data) in Qualtrics.

How do I transfer data out of my old survey tool into Qualtrics?
Download the data from your current survey tool.

Create a new survey in Qualtrics similar to the one you already had in your current survey tool.

Follow this link to see exactly how to upload your previous responses into the new Qualtrics survey: https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/data-and-analysis/data/import-responses/

Moving surveys can be a very tedious process. Users are encouraged to evaluate the need to store the survey results in Qualtrics. Take into account the costs and benefits of storing survey results in Qualtrics versus secure Ohio State or non-Ohio State computers/drives. When making these decisions, you can review the following:

How do I request an increase for my account to distribute my survey to a large group (above 10,000)?
Use the following attachment as a guide: Qualtrics Account Limitations

How do I collaborate on my survey with someone at Ohio State?
You can access the Qualtrics support page about collaboration: https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/my-projects/sharing-a-project/

How do I collaborate on my survey or share data with someone outside of Ohio State?
First, determine if your data and projects are allowed to be shared with non-OSU researchers or collaborators. The following links will help with this evaluation:

Researchers and other people you collaborate with who are not affiliated with Ohio State are responsible for acquiring/purchasing their own Qualtrics accounts.

How do I become a Division Administrator?
If you are faculty or staff and interested in becoming a Division Administrator for your college or department:

  • Review the Division Administrator roles and responsibilities.
  • Submit a completed Division Administrator request. Approval from your department or college administrator in a Director-level position or above will be required.
  • You will be notified if your request has been approved by your department or college administrator.
  • Upon approval, the required training must be completed before Division Administrator access is granted.

Note: Where necessary to reduce the number of Division Administrators, multiple smaller areas may be aligned under one Division Administrator.

How do I see who has accessed my account?
Log into your Qualtrics account, access Account Settings -> User Settings -> Recent Logins

How do I contact IRB (Institutional Review Board)?
Faculty and researchers utilizing surveys to obtain human subject data must contact and work with the Institutional Review Board. Visit: http://orrp.osu.edu/irb/

When should I contact the Survey Coordinating Committee (SCC)?
The SCC coordinates surveys within the campus community in order to reduce survey burden and improve the quality of the information collected.  Learn more.

I am a student. What happens to my account when I graduate?
Once you graduate, you will have access to your Qualtrics account as long as the following are true:

  • Your Ohio State Username and password are active and allow you to log in
  • University maintains a contract with Qualtrics

If you plan to transfer your Qualtrics account to another institution, take the following steps to request the transfer in a timely manner:

  • Go to the Technology and Commercialization Office (TCO)’s Innovate site at https://innovate.osu.edu
  • Click on “Request a New CDA or MTA”
  • Select the type of agreement – “MTA Out”
  • Select the type of material “Data”
  • Complete the questions
  • Click submit

After the TCO grants approval inform your Division Administrator who will contact a Brand Administrator to authorize the export the contents of your Ohio State Qualtrics account.

I am an employee. What happens to my Qualtrics account if I leave the university?
Should you leave the university, you will have access to your Qualtrics account only if your Ohio State Username and password remain active.

If you are faculty and plan to transfer your Qualtrics account to another institution, take the following steps to request the transfer in a timely manner:

  • Go to the Technology and Commercialization Office (TCO)’s Innovate site at https://innovate.osu.edu
  • Click on “Request a New CDA or MTA”
  • Select the type of agreement – “MTA Out”
  • Select the type of material “Data”
  • Complete the questions
  • Click submit

After the TCO grants approval inform your Division Administrator who will contact a Brand Administrator to authorize the export the contents of your Ohio State Qualtrics account.

If you are staff and plan to transfer your Qualtrics account to another institution you will need authorization from the director of your department and the Vice President of your division (or his/her designee).  Take the following steps to request the transfer in a timely manner:

  • Go to the Technology and Commercialization Office (TCO)’s Innovate site at https://innovate.osu.edu
  • Click on “Request a New CDA or MTA”
  • Select the type of agreement – “MTA Out”
  • Select the type of material “Data”
  • Complete the questions
  • For Question 17 Contacts, list the director of your department AND the Vice President of your division (or his/her designee) as the Contacts
  • Click submit

After the TCO grants approval inform your Division Administrator who will contact a Brand Administrator to authorize the export the contents of your Ohio State Qualtrics account.

Other relevant policies and protocols for managing data collected and stored in your Qualtrics account can be found here:

  1. IRB protocols
  2. Institutional Data Policy Training
  3. Data Management Planning
  4. Office of Research Compliance, Export Control

Note: During account transfers, some data or access to data may be lost, such as shared projects, shared contacts and shared library files. It is recommended that once your Division Administrator provides approval, export shared surveys and data before your account is transferred.

How is Qualtrics funded?
Qualtrics is funded through a cost share model based on the number of FTE per college and department. This funding model was approved by the Senior Fiscal Officers and University Senate. As a result of its approval, faculty, staff and students can use Qualtrics for survey activities without being charged.

Can I change the “From” and “Reply-to” fields when distributing surveys by email through Qualtrics?
Qualtrics users can distribute surveys and reminders using a custom OSU email address.  The domain @survey.osu.edu has enhanced email security set up to make it compatible with sending from Qualtrics.  Users can create their own “From” addresses using @survey.osu.edu in the address, making it easier for recipients to identify that a survey is coming from an Ohio State University sender.  By sending emails through this domain, emails may be less likely to be flagged as spam.  To use the enhancement, users will replace the default From Address with a custom address following the format custom@survey.osu.edu.  Any name can be used in place of “custom” but must be followed by @survey.osu.edu.  Read the Instructions for Using @survey.osu.edu to Distribute Surveys in Qualtrics for more detailed information.

How can I minimize the chance that my survey invitation/reminder email from Qualtrics will be marked as spam?
See  Tips for Avoiding Spam and Instructions for Using @survey.osu.edu to Distribute Surveys in Qualtrics for ways to reduce the chances of survey invitations and reminders being flagged as spam.

I need to use question formats that may be inaccessible to screen readers.  How do I gain access?
Researchers may request an exception for access to inaccessible survey question formats.

Can I use an electronic signature in my Qualtrics survey? 
Electronic signatures can be confusing and quite complex today in our digital world.  Although Qualtrics has a question type for electronic signatures, there are many things to consider before using it.  Read Electronic Signatures in Qualtrics and also visit OSU’s eSignature Project site for important information on the use of these types of questions at Ohio State.

How do I log into the Qualtrics Support site?

  1. Click Help, then Contact Support.
  2. Below your user name, click on “Ohio State University, https//:osu.az1.qualtrics.com”

How do I change my name in Qualtrics? Can I use a preferred first name on my Qualtrics account?
Contact your Division Administrator to request name changes. If your name.# changed (ie. due to marriage), a Division Administrator can update your existing account with the new name. You should not create a new account. Division Administrators also can change first names to a preferred name.