2008 Woodie Awards
Regional poll tests Rice recognition
Jocelyn Wright
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
Students from outside of Texas may not be surprised to learn that about half of the professionals from the East and West Coasts have heard of Rice, according to a recent market survey by the Office of Public Affairs. The survey, which Vice President for Public Affairs Linda Thrane said is the first to ask about Rice's recognition, polled 800 people and found Rice to be best-known in Texas, with awareness dropping along the East and West Coasts. Thrane said the survey found that among those who recognized Rice, the majority had a favorable impression of the university. The majority of those surveyed surprisingly did not have a negative view of Houston, Thrane said.
The Office of Public Affairs conducted a phone poll of 800 opinion leaders - affluent people over 35 who are active in their communities - in Houston, greater Texas, New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Participants were asked about their familiarity with Rice, what attributes they associated with the university, whether they had heard or read about Rice in the news, whether they had a personal connection with Rice and whether they had visited Houston. Thrane said the survey was intended as a benchmark for future surveys on Rice's reputation as part of President David Leebron's Vision for the Second Century.
The Office of Public Affairs shared the results of the survey with Leebron, the Board of Trustees Committee on Public Affairs, the Communicator's Forum and the Administrator's Forum. The results also appeared briefly on the Rice News Web site, although Thrane said she had the article removed because she was worried the article might be misleading.
"People easily misunderstand polls," Thrane said. "It's more for us internally to help measure progress."
Thrane said the small sample size left room for error in the survey and that the results were not conclusive. She said this survey marks the beginning of future, more large-scale surveys.
The Office of Public Affairs conducted a phone poll of 800 opinion leaders - affluent people over 35 who are active in their communities - in Houston, greater Texas, New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Participants were asked about their familiarity with Rice, what attributes they associated with the university, whether they had heard or read about Rice in the news, whether they had a personal connection with Rice and whether they had visited Houston. Thrane said the survey was intended as a benchmark for future surveys on Rice's reputation as part of President David Leebron's Vision for the Second Century.
The Office of Public Affairs shared the results of the survey with Leebron, the Board of Trustees Committee on Public Affairs, the Communicator's Forum and the Administrator's Forum. The results also appeared briefly on the Rice News Web site, although Thrane said she had the article removed because she was worried the article might be misleading.
"People easily misunderstand polls," Thrane said. "It's more for us internally to help measure progress."
Thrane said the small sample size left room for error in the survey and that the results were not conclusive. She said this survey marks the beginning of future, more large-scale surveys.
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