Member survey

This survey is a key part of our Member Value Project – a project to fully understand what drives value for our different types of members. Our Member Value Project began in 2022 with member interviews and workshops. From the initial findings taken from those member activities, the RTPI is keen to understand whether the themes highlighted in the first phases of the project align with the wider membership. Our aim is to understand what each member in our community values and requires from their membership. The survey results will be invaluable, helping to inform our future activities so that we can best support our members and the planning profession worldwide.

Research by Design is an independent market research company that has been commissioned by the RTPI to undertake research on its behalf. Research by Design operates under the Market Research Society’s (MRS) Code of Conduct, which ensures that research participants’ anonymity is protected and that information provided is kept strictly confidential.

Research by Design’s website is: http://www.researchbydesign.co.uk

Research by Design is registered as a Data Controller to undertake research in any field, including market, health, lifestyle, scientific or technical research, under the UK GDPR, the EU GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 1998 as applicable; registration number Z5405593.

Research by Design is committed to meeting the requirements of the following laws and codes:

• The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
• The EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)
• Data Protection Act 1998 and the new Data Protection Bill 2017
• ICC/ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research) International Code on Market and Social Research.

You can review Research by Design’s privacy policy here: Privacy Policy.

An online survey will be distributed via email to all RTPI current and lapsed members (who have shown legitimate interest in research and for whom a valid email address is held), including those who are retired. The survey will also be open to non members.

Respondent data is encrypted in transit (via HTTPS) and is stored encrypted in EU data centres.

Research by Design sends email invitations to participate in the survey on behalf of its clients. The email ‘from’ address in this instance will say ‘The RTPI’ followed by our software server email address ([email protected]). A separate standalone survey link will be available for any non members wishing to participate.

If you are a current or lapsed RTPI member and have not received a link to participate in the survey, please contact Will Hardwick at [email protected] to request a link.

The survey is available online with personalised invitations to participate sent by email. Each email contains a survey link allowing the recipient to be directed straight to their own version of the online survey. Reminder emails are sent at intervals throughout the fieldwork period to help encourage participation. Reminder emails are automated and the RTPI will not know who has participated in the research and who has chosen not to. An opt out will be included for those who wish not to receive any reminders.

The survey is likely to take around 15 minutes to complete, but this does depend on the answers you provide and the number of comments you wish to make.

If the survey has not been submitted (by pressing ‘submit’ on the final page) you can log back into the survey using the link on the emails to continue where you left off at any time. Each time you move to a new page of the survey your responses are saved.

Once you have submitted the survey, amendments are not possible; if you wished to make revisions once you have pressed ‘submit’, you would have to contact Research by Design to discuss the options available.

This save and return feature is not available to anyone accessing the survey via the non-personalised, standalone link.

Once you have reached the final page of the survey you will be provided with a submit button at the bottom of the page. Your responses will be sent automatically to Research by Design.  If you do not complete the survey, then your saved answers may still be used in the analysis. 

All responses from the online survey will be aggregated and reported together. Free text insights will be reported thematically. All responses will remain anonymous and confidential. Specific comments will not be attributed to any individual (unless agreed otherwise).

Following analysis, we will update members on next steps.

For those that wish to speak to the RTPI about the research, please contact the Membership Team by emailing [email protected]

To speak to Research by Design about the research, please contact Will Hardwick at [email protected] or call 0121 643 9090.