[ADR]: Method & technology for collecting targeted feedback

[andycochran]

Description

tl;dr = We need a survey tool

This ADR is intended to determine a method and technology for collecting feedback through the Simpler.Grants.gov website. We are interested in hearing from all archetypes, but especially the Novice (first-time applicants or users who've created a workspace but haven't applied yet). But anyone should be able to respond regardless of their experience with federal grants.

~Feedback should be collected through open-ended text boxes that allow users to write whatever they want. Direct questions can be address or ignored.~ With PRA general clearance having been obtained, it's no longer required that responses be open-ended, as survey approval can now be fast-tracked.

This should consider the "contact us at [email]" CTA, and how/whether that may be a different use case. Allowing users to submit questions or comments privately (as an alternative to a public forum or listserv) may be a particular way an instance of this tool is used, but this is not the sole function. There is a separate ADR for "contact us" (#682).

Example use case: We have launched a new set of search filters and want to send a survey to specific communities to get their feedback.

DACI

role	people
Driver	@andycochran
Approver(s)	@lucasmbrown-usds, @itsemilyianacone
Contributor	@sumiat, @EOKENAVA, Adriana Weitzman
Informed	@acouch, @daphnegold, @SammySteiner, @chouinar, @widal001, @sarahknoppA6

Potential options

• Ethnio
• Touchpoints
• Microsoft Form (created by HHS's 365)
• HTML form that posts to HHS's Sharepoint
• HTML form that creates a GitHub issue, letting users know their response will create a public issue w/o needing to create a GitHub account
• Create and embed an open text form with a user research tool like Dovetail, so that feedback is captured, centralized, and analyzed in the same place as future research studies
• Google form (link to, embed, or post to)
• Ask that folx use the Google Group openly

Decision criteria

• Should not feel like a black box; user understands how their submission will be used
• Has a better UX than sending an email
• Data is stored in a structured way
• Metadata (tags, fields, etc) make submissions easy to sort through, analyze, and synthesize

Definition of Done

• [ ] The approvers for this decision have been identified (ideally before work on the ADR starts)
• [ ] The ADR is created and stored in documentation/decisions/adr
• [ ] The ADR has been reviewed and approved by the approvers listed above
• [ ] The ADR satisfies requirements that are outlined in the ADR template
• [ ] Any follow-up tickets have been created (if necessary)

Open questions / Notes

• What are the use cases? How will we be using the data?
• Design choices: Will we collect PII? Will we respond to the respondents?
• Are there federal data retention requirements for surveys that should be considered (e.g. where the data is stored, how long it must be kept)?

[andycochran]

Chatted yesterday with @itsemilyianacone, who will look into whether HHS has a Qualtrics license that can be used for the beta site.

[sarahknoppA6]

Could we find out if this is done or still in progress?

[andycochran]

ADR for #691 prescribes using Ethnio for design research. It includes a general surveys feature that satisfies the criteria listed in this issue. I think this issue (in addition to #117) can be closed by #691.

[margaretspring]

@andycochran is this still relevant - please check out & close if appropriate.