Best questions for college doctoral student survey about diversity and inclusion climate

Here are some of the best questions for a college doctoral student survey about diversity and inclusion climate, plus tips on crafting them for actionable insights. You can build your own survey in seconds with Specific’s AI-powered tools.

Best open-ended questions for a diversity and inclusion climate survey

Open-ended questions help us dive deep into experiences, reveal nuances, and spot patterns that standard formats can miss. They’re ideal when you want honest, candid perspectives from college doctoral students—and when you’re genuinely curious about what people have to say.

For example, Montana State University found that just 57% of students of color were satisfied with their campus climate, compared to 63% overall—data that open-ended questions can help explain by uncovering the “why” and “how.” [1]

Here are 10 of the best open-ended questions we recommend for a doctoral student survey on diversity and inclusion climate:

1. How would you describe the overall atmosphere regarding diversity and inclusion in your department?

2. Can you share an experience where you felt especially included or excluded in your program?

3. What factors contribute most to your sense of belonging (or lack thereof) as a doctoral student here?

4. How does your identity (race, gender, background, etc.) influence your daily experience as a student?

5. What changes would make the university’s climate more welcoming and inclusive for you?

6. Describe how faculty and administration support diversity within your academic environment.

7. Have you witnessed or experienced any incidents of discrimination or bias? If so, what happened and how was it addressed?

8. What kinds of diversity and inclusion resources or support do you wish were more available?

9. How has your understanding of diversity and inclusion evolved since joining your program?

10. What advice would you give new doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds here?

Best single-select multiple-choice questions for doctoral student surveys

Single-select multiple-choice questions come into play when we need quantifiable insights, or just want to give participants an easy on-ramp to the conversation. For complex or sensitive topics, providing a shortlist of options helps respondents share their views quickly—even if they’re unsure how to express them in their own words.

Considering the disparities in climate and belonging—for instance, the University of Iowa reports only 76% of underrepresented minority graduate students feel their identities are respected—quick, structured questions are a great way to measure change and surface areas for concern. [3]

Question: How would you rate your overall sense of belonging in your program?

• Very strong

• Somewhat strong

• Neutral

• Somewhat weak

• Very weak

Question: Have you ever felt isolated or excluded due to aspects of your identity within your department?

• Yes, frequently

• Yes, occasionally

• No

• Prefer not to say

Question: Which campus resources related to diversity and inclusion have you accessed in the past year?

• Workshops or panels

• Peer support groups

• Counseling services

• Resource center

• None

• Other

When to follow up with "why?" If a student selects a neutral or negative option, ask them “why?” This reveals the story behind the score, helping highlight what’s working and what needs immediate action. For example, after “Somewhat weak,” a follow-up like, “Can you share what contributes most to this feeling of weak belonging?” unveils actionable insight you’d never see in a chart alone.

When and why to add the "Other" choice? Always offer “Other” when you can’t assume you know every answer. Many valuable experiences or resources don’t show up in standard lists; a follow-up here lets you uncover emerging needs and overlooked services.

Using NPS-type questions for doctoral student climate feedback

NPS (Net Promoter Score) typically tracks loyalty in business, but it’s surprisingly valuable in higher education—especially for diversity and inclusion. It asks, “On a scale from 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our program (or campus) to a peer from a similar background?”

This question cuts to the core of satisfaction and belonging. It’s a powerful way to benchmark inclusion: at Virginia Tech, despite a generally positive climate, 38% of grad students still reported feeling isolated—a sentiment reflected in low NPS results and important for prioritizing change. [4]

If you want to set up a focused, ready-made NPS survey, you can get started using Specific’s NPS survey builder tailored for this audience and purpose.

The power of follow-up questions

What really sets conversational surveys apart—especially those powered by Specific—is how we use follow-up questions. Instead of one-and-done answers, automated AI follow-ups dive deeper in real time. They're a breakthrough feature (see our AI follow-up questions explainer) because:

• They clarify vague responses instantly, so you don’t get stuck with “it depends” or “I’m not sure.”

• You don’t waste days chasing context by email.

• Conversations feel human, not robotic surveys.

Imagine this:

• Student: “I sometimes feel excluded at events.”

• AI follow-up: “Can you tell me more about what happened at those events or share an example that stood out?”

How many follow-ups to ask? For most surveys, two to three follow-ups strike a great balance—they gather detail without feeling overwhelming. With Specific, you can set it so smart follow-ups stop once your goal is met, or let someone skip forward anytime.

This makes it a conversational survey: Each response and follow-up builds on the previous answer, making the respondent feel understood, not interrogated. That’s the heart of a conversational survey—dynamic, engaging, and natural.

AI survey response analysis: Analyzing all this rich, free-text data might seem daunting, but Specific’s AI survey analysis makes it incredibly easy. Even massive sets of open responses become searchable and instantly summarized for themes, sentiment, and actionable next steps.

Automated follow-up questions are a game changer—try generating a survey and see the difference for yourself.

How to compose prompts for AI survey question generation

Drafting great survey questions is easier when you give AI the right instructions. Start with something simple:

Use this first prompt:

Suggest 10 open-ended questions for college doctoral student survey about diversity and inclusion climate.

But don’t stop there—AI’s results get dramatically better when you add context. For example:

Suggest 10 open-ended questions for college doctoral student survey about diversity and inclusion climate. Focus on uncovering differences in the sense of belonging and perceived support among underrepresented minority students and those in STEM departments.

Once you have your initial list, focus further with:

Look at the questions and categorize them. Output categories with the questions under them.

Then, to dive deeper:

Generate 10 questions for categories “Belonging and Inclusion” and “Faculty Support for Diversity.”

Guiding the AI like this produces expert-quality question lists tailored to your exact survey goals. Or, you can use the AI survey generator in Specific to save time and get a professional draft instantly.

What is a conversational survey (and why use AI)?

A conversational survey feels less like an exam and more like a supportive interview. Every answer can prompt new, context-aware follow-up questions. This keeps respondents engaged, builds trust, and produces real insight instead of just averages and charts.

Here’s how manual survey building compares to an AI-powered approach with Specific:

Why use AI for college doctoral student surveys? AI-generated conversational surveys help you surface subtle differences in climate—like why doctoral students of color at Montana State report lower satisfaction, or why 21% of Harvard’s engineering respondents cite discrimination. The result? Faster, more accurate discovery of what's working and where communities need support. [1][5]

Specific’s conversational survey platform offers the best-in-class experience for both creators and respondents—smooth, welcoming, and productive at every step. For a step-by-step approach, consult this practical guide on how to create a doctoral student survey on diversity and inclusion climate.

See this diversity and inclusion climate survey example now

Ready to discover how real doctoral students experience your campus? Launch a conversational, AI-powered survey in minutes, and start unlocking honest, actionable feedback today—no expertise or manual editing required.