Posted on Aug 31, 2015
The "Anonymous Survey": How anonymous is it really?
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After filling in all the pertinent information that narrowed it all the way down to what workcenter I was in (less than 15 people usually), then adding in the identifiers (rank, age, race, gender, etc), I could usually identify anybody in my workcenter. Was it really anonymous? With that being said, do you answer them as if they were truly anonymous, or do you make sure your answers won't get you in trouble?
Posted in these groups: 
Command Climate
Command Climate
Posted 10 y ago
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I answered honestly at my last base. Even if they did decide to go all CSI on the demographic answers they would narrow it down to about 30+ people. Good luck picking me as the one who gave those specific answers.
I feel that being honest is the best way to possibly get some changes rolling. If everyone is too afraid to tell the CC what's wrong then the problems are only going to get worse.
I feel that being honest is the best way to possibly get some changes rolling. If everyone is too afraid to tell the CC what's wrong then the problems are only going to get worse.
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MSgt Matthew Meindl
There is honesty (being careful how you say it) and then there is brutal stark naked truth.
The lower ranked you are and if you happen to be in a large section and of the majority demographic, yes you can hide behind that curtain, for a while.
The lower ranked you are and if you happen to be in a large section and of the majority demographic, yes you can hide behind that curtain, for a while.
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SrA Matthew Knight
I see what you mean. Perhaps a better way to run a survey would be to leave out the demographic questions and just stick with the questions on specific unit related issues, which honestly if I were a commander is all I would really care about in the first place. But then (and no offense to any commanders here on RP) there are many reasons I don't have leaves or higher on my collar, the way I would run things is probably one of many.
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CW3 (Join to see)
In my (Army) company, I'm the *ONLY* black, male warrant officer. Guess I'm shit out of luck for hiding.
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Anonymous no longer exist if you complete the survey out correctly - gender, age, GS level, position etc.....they know who you are
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Unless the survey mandates I be anonymous, I always use my correct name and identifiers. That held true in both the military and civilian arena. Irritated some, but never worried about anything but honesty. Paid off for the most part, a little pain from those that didn't want the truth.
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As much as I hate to say it, I answer to ensure that my answers won't get me in trouble... Even now, I do the same as a DA Civilian...
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MSgt Matthew Meindl I've always thought that if your CaC card is required, there's no anonymity at all.
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MSgt Matthew Meindl
Pretty much. All kinds of ways for them to identify you, even though they want you to think you are anonymous.
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Non-anonymous surveys are screwed up. Typically, you could tell straight off if it was truly an anonymous survey when filling on the initial qualifiers. If it was, I answered truthfully. If it wasn't, I'd try to skip it unless it was tracked via login; then I sadly became Hillary Clinton (tap dancing and politically correct). One would hope commanders realize this.
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With all the data breaches, and the amount of "demographic data" I never assume that anything I answer cannot be pinpointed back to me. Especially after a few times after the results of surveys are released and I was specifically asked about questions I responded to with an unusual bit of accuracy.
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I still answer anonymously. Usually the people running the survey don't actually include all of the demographics attached to each answer. Occasionally they do though, so it could be important to know.
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Maybe this is one of the reasons I got to E-4 after 12 years of service (that and I turned an E-5 promotion once) but I would not concern myself with who know how I replied to the survey. If you believe that your answers are correct and honest; stand your ground. Even if it burns those above and or below you.
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a·non·y·mous
əˈnänəməs/
adjective
adjective: anonymous
(of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name.
MSgt Matthew Meindl Clearly if someone wants to know who you are and all the criteria (rank, age, race, gender, etc) is queried the anonymity is no longer there.
əˈnänəməs/
adjective
adjective: anonymous
(of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name.
MSgt Matthew Meindl Clearly if someone wants to know who you are and all the criteria (rank, age, race, gender, etc) is queried the anonymity is no longer there.
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