The purpose and opportunities of background information
The purpose of background information is to enable demographic analysis and compare results between different groups within the organisation.
Background information can be collected in two ways: through background questions in the survey or through background variables assigned to each user in the organisational structure. What both methods have in common is that they enable the following:
- Segmentation – Enables analysis of results across different groups, such as how various age groups experience the workplace.
- Comparison – Makes it possible to identify differences between, for example, genders or job roles.
- Deeper insights – Helps uncover patterns and trends, such as whether new employees have a different experience than long-tenured staff.
- Improved actions – Supports tailoring initiatives and improvement efforts to the specific needs of different groups.
Standard anonymity rules apply to all background information, regardless of whether it is collected through variables or questions.