Date of Award

6-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ded)

First Advisor

Marco Murillo

Second Advisor

Chair Ezinne Ofoegbu

Third Advisor

Christine Bachen

Abstract

Universities rely on survey data to improve the student experience, yet declining response rates increasingly threaten the generalizability of these findings. This quantitative quasi-experimental study investigated the relationship between institutional trust and students’ intentions to participate in university-sponsored surveys. Additionally, the study evaluated an information-sharing intervention designed to bolster trust and participation. A QuantCrit lens was employed throughout the development, administration, and analysis of the study. To measure trust, three scales were developed and tested for reliability: Institutional Trust, Institutional Commitment, and Institutional Communication. Results revealed a significant, positive correlation between student-institutional trust and survey intent; however, the impact of the information-sharing intervention remained inconclusive. Significant differences by student characteristics show that not all students have the same trust in their institution nor are they equally willing to participate in surveys. These findings suggest that universities should prioritize trust-building initiatives to improve data collection efforts. Directions for future research regarding trust-based interventions are discussed.

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