Jisc Online Surveys switches Insights to median response time, and why it matters for student feedback surveys

Updated Sep 07, 2026

Jisc’s release history records an Online Surveys update on 6 March 2026, version 3.34.2. It changed the Insights response-time measure from the mean to the median, changed its display to hours, minutes and seconds, and introduced separate single-choice and multiple-choice types for Choice and Grid questions. Official release history.

What the update changes

The Add item menu was redesigned around the separate question types. Jisc’s product explanation says the previous toggle could be overlooked or changed while a survey was collecting responses; the new structure makes the distinction explicit. Product update, 6 March.

The median is the middle value in ordered data, whereas the mean uses all values in its arithmetic calculation. A very long duration can affect the mean more than the median. That mathematical distinction does not make either metric a direct measurement of survey quality or respondent burden. Jisc’s release note does not establish a causal improvement in either. Jisc’s definitions.

Check comparisons before changing a survey

Our suggestion is to label any response-time series with the metric and platform version. Avoid interpreting a change across the March release as a change in student behaviour without checking whether the same calculation was used.

If completion time raises a concern, investigate the questionnaire and its context. Ask respondents about confusing questions, inspect the response pattern and review the intended purpose of each item. A duration statistic alone cannot tell whether someone struggled, paused or considered a question carefully.

Review shared templates so that single-answer and multiple-answer formats match the question. Keep the collection method stable where comparability matters, and document deliberate changes. These are local survey-design considerations; the platform release does not alter national survey instruments.

The student comment analysis governance checklist can help document how resulting comments will be interpreted. Comment content and platform timings answer different questions and should retain their own limitations.

Review note, 7 September 2026: verified the release through indexed official history after the main change-log URL could not be retrieved. Removed claims that median duration is universally a better burden measure or that the update establishes better-quality comments.