Survey Programmer

ECS seeks a part-time, remote Survey Programmer to support the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).

The Social Sciences Branch of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) carries out economic and social primary research, data collection, and analysis for NOAA Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic region. SSB staff is responsible for providing estimates of economic and social impacts on fishing businesses and communities associated with fisheries management decision making, which inform management actions. These economic and social data are used in many of the frameworks and amendments to the region’s fishery management plans (FMPs) that require economic and social impact analyses. Without an accurate understanding of the financial costs faced by commercial fishing businesses, these analyses would suffer. SSB staff strives to provide accurate, timely, and relevant data and analyses about economic and social conditions in the Greater Atlantic region’s fishing communities to its stakeholder groups, which include fishing industry participants, fisheries management decision makers, fishing community organizations, academics, non-profit organizations and the interested public.

The SSB last implemented the cost survey in 2023 for costs incurred by commercial fishing vessel owners in 2022. The survey implementation was largely based on the Dillman mixed-mode protocol, allowing every owner of a federally-permitted commercial fishing vessel in the Greater Atlantic region to respond either by mail, online, or through a phone interview . When assessing responses, about half of the participants filled the survey online, either via smartphone or desktop. During the last implementation and years prior, a survey firm was hired to code the online survey version. The SSB cost survey working group (CSWG) will be involved with reviewing the online survey skip logic and question text. Given that there are 10 different survey versions, this proved to be a time consuming and costly effort. By developing the survey within the SSB using Qualtrics software, a consistent survey platform will be utilized for all future surveys, reducing costs and freeing up resources. Additionally, the CSWG has been working to improve their data storage, management and access capabilities. This includes writing a technical memorandum on data quality assurance and quality control practices, databasing cost data on Oracle, creating proper metadata and documentation, and developing tools and metrics using the cost data. The SSB has also increased focus on improving the integration of SSB data and web tools to ensure socioeconomic data are used to their maximum potential by researchers, managers and industry members.

This position will support NOAA Fisheries’ SSB of the NEFSC to enhance their data collection, processing, storage and accessibility capabilities. Specifically, prior to the next survey implementation, the CSWG is aiming to develop and maintain the online cost survey versions within the SSB moving forward. This will require a survey programmer to develop the 10 different survey versions using the FED RAMP approved survey software, Qualtrics. The programmer will be responsible for coding and creating survey features for both mobile and desktop survey versions following survey methodology best practices and guidance from the survey team. They will create features to access the survey (i.e., landing pages and QR codes), user test all survey features, as well as be responsible for developing secure links for participants to access the information. The programmer will also create guidance documents and/or media for training SSB staff to use the qualtrics surveys for future implementations. Along with survey programming, the individual will play a role in databasing previously collected cost survey data from 2006-2008 on Oracle servers, creating metadata and proper documentation for the existing databases. They will also contribute to updating the cost data visualization tool as needed, as well as harmonizing socioeconomic data and web tools generated by the SSB to the extent possible over the course of the performance period.

Tasks to be Performed

The specific tasks to be performed are as follows:

Online Survey Development

• The contractor will be responsible for generating 10 gear-based cost survey versions using Qualtrics Software to be consistent with the hard-copy survey versions.
• The contractor will be responsible for creating all skip logic needed for the surveys to decrease survey burden.
• The contractor shall be responsible for creating value thresholds and data entry prompts to ensure the proper value ranges are entered.
• The contractor will be responsible for creating a protocol for future survey implementations and adapting past implementations to the new survey platform. This includes but is not limited to:
• The development of participant-specific survey QR codes
• The creation of unique individual survey links
• The generation of security protocols for accessing secure links
• The development of a landing page for individuals to access their unique online survey
• The contractor will be responsible for debugging and user-testing the 10 survey versions during the performance period to correct any errors.
• The contractor will be responsible for completing tasks a-e for both desktop and mobile devices.
• The contractor will participate in regular meetings with the Cost Survey Working Group team members to receive feedback and provide progress updates.
• The contractor shall be responsible for creating guidance documents and video training tutorials for SSB staff to navigate and edit the Qualtrics survey versions for future implementations.

Database and Metadata Creation

• The contractor shall be responsible for databasing previously collected cost data from 2006-2008 using naming conventions determined from currently databased tables.
• The contractor shall be responsible for creating metadata, including precise element definitions and updating the end-user Github metadata site
• The contractor shall be responsible for updating all metadata on InPort metadata site and linking all relevant metadata related to cost survey data.

SSB Data Tools

• The contractor will be responsible for leading and or assisting in the updating of the cost data visualization tool.

• The contractor shall assist in additional efforts to harmonize data products within the SSB.

Deliverables

• Generate 10 gear-based cost survey versions using Qualtrics Software (initial draft).
• Create all skip logic, value thresholds, and data entry prompts for surveys.
• Debug and user-test the 10 survey versions (initial phase).
• Develop protocol for future survey implementations & adapt past implementations to new platform.
• Develop participant-specific survey QR codes.
• Create unique individual survey links.
• Generate security protocols for accessing secure links.
• Develop a landing page for individuals to access their unique online survey.
• Create guidance documents and video training tutorials for SSB staff.
• Participate in regular meetings with Cost Survey Working Group team (Ongoing).
• Create metadata (survey content & element definitions) and update end-user Github metadata site.
• Update all metadata on InPort metadata site and link relevant cost survey data metadata.
• Assist in updating the cost data visualization tool with guidance from product owner.

Assist in additional efforts to harmonize data products within the SSB.

Salary Range: $36.00 – $41.00/hr.

General Description of Benefits

• Highspeed internet access.
• Experience programming in the Qualtrics platform