Understanding Student Experience Through Conversational Research
How Westover School partnered with Nesolagus to uncover authentic student voices on belonging, identity, and school culture.
Executive Summary
Engagement Overview
Nesolagus partnered with the client to deploy a conversational research engagement designed to capture authentic, unfiltered perspectives from their community. Using the proprietary Warren survey platform, we replaced traditional static questionnaires with a chat-style experience that achieved significantly higher engagement and richer qualitative data than conventional approaches.
The engagement combined quantitative scales with open-ended narrative collection, producing both statistically rigorous metrics and rich qualitative insights. All data was analyzed using Nesolagus’s mixed-methods framework, which integrates thematic coding, sentiment analysis, and psychographic archetype mapping to deliver actionable intelligence beyond what standard survey analysis provides.
Engagement Timeline
From discovery to delivery
Discovery
- Stakeholder interviews
- Objectives alignment
- Discovery workshop
- Design brief creation
Survey Design
- Conversational script writing
- Question flow mapping
- Branching logic setup
- Platform configuration
Data Collection
- Survey deployment
- Real-time monitoring
- Response quality checks
- Engagement optimization
Analysis & Delivery
- Quantitative analysis
- Narrative coding
- Dashboard build
- Report & presentation
The Challenge
What the client was facing
Understanding Student Experience
Traditional climate surveys weren't capturing the nuanced experiences of students navigating identity, belonging, and school culture at an all-girls boarding school.
Faculty Development Needs
Leadership needed data-driven insights to inform professional development, particularly around code-switching awareness, classroom belonging, and equitable rule enforcement.
Authentic Student Voice
The school wanted to hear directly from students in their own words - not just checkbox responses - to understand the 'why' behind their experiences.
The Solution
A conversational approach to student voice
Our Approach
We deployed the Nesolagus conversational research framework - a chat-style survey that feels like a conversation, not an interrogation. Students could skip questions, share stories, and engage authentically while we captured both quantitative metrics and qualitative narratives.
Methodology
- 56-block conversational survey with branching logic
- 11 theme areas covering belonging, safety, voice, and identity
- Mixed-methods analysis combining scales with narrative coding
- Anonymous participation to encourage honest responses
- GIF-based engagement moments to maintain warmth
- Skip options respecting student agency
Deliverables
- 1Interactive Warren Dashboard with real-time data
- 2Student Segment Analysis (6 experience-based personas)
- 3Comprehensive Listening Tour Report
- 4Faculty Professional Development recommendations
- 5Narrative themes with coded student quotes
- 6Survey quality assessment (86/100 score)
Key Findings
What the data revealed
Students feel most authentic with friends
Report adjusting behavior to be respected
Ranked below residential and social spaces
'Depends on the adult' most common response
Students feel most authentic with friends and in dorm rooms, but classroom ranked as one of the lowest spaces for authenticity.
67% of students report adjusting their behavior, speech, or appearance to be taken seriously or respected at school.
Most students have at least one trusted adult, but rule enforcement varies widely "depending on the adult."
This data isn't just numbers - it's a roadmap for how we can better serve our students. The conversational approach gave us insights we never would have gotten from a traditional survey. We now have actionable direction for our January professional development session.
Impact & Next Steps
Turning insights into action
Presenting findings to all faculty with actionable recommendations
Experience-based personas to guide targeted support strategies
Real-time data exploration for continued insight discovery
Recommended Actions
- - Share findings at Jan 9 PD
- - Address food services concerns
- - Align faculty on rule enforcement
- - Develop classroom belonging strategies
- - Train faculty on code-switching awareness
- - Create student voice feedback loops
- - Reimagine "Westover Girl" narrative
- - Expand curriculum representation
- - Follow-up survey to measure progress
What Made This Work
The Nesolagus difference
Conversational Design
Chat-style interface achieves 54% higher completion vs traditional surveys
Mixed Methods
Quantitative scales + qualitative narratives = complete picture
Trauma-Informed
Skip options, pacing rules, and GIFs create psychological safety
Research Methodology & Validation
How we ensured credibility, rigor, and trustworthiness
AAPOR Transparency Initiative1
Full 11-element disclosure following the American Association for Public Opinion Research standard for survey methodology transparency.
Mixed-Methods Triangulation2
Quantitative and qualitative data analyzed independently then synthesized, ensuring findings are not dependent on a single data source.
Behavioral Science Grounding3
Survey instrument designed using principles from Kahneman & Tversky (cognitive bias), Cialdini (social proof), and Dillman (tailored design).
Narrative Thematic Analysis4
Open-ended responses coded using Braun & Clarke thematic analysis framework with inter-coder reliability checks.
Trauma-Informed Design5
Skip logic, pacing controls, and affirmative framing reduce survey fatigue and create psychological safety for honest responses.
AAPOR Code of Ethics Compliance6
Research conducted in compliance with AAPOR's Code of Professional Ethics, including voluntary participation, data privacy, and transparent reporting.
References
1 American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). Transparency Initiative Disclosure Elements.
2 Creswell, J. W. & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE.
3 Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method (4th ed.). Wiley.
4 Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
5 SAMHSA (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication.
6 AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics and Practices (2023 revision).
Interested in This Approach?
The Nesolagus framework can help your school uncover authentic student voice and transform data into actionable strategy.
Nesolagus
Relationship Intelligence Company
Nesolagus builds consent-first conversational research tools that transform how organizations understand their communities. Our proprietary Warren platform combines behavioral science, mixed-methods research, and AI-powered analysis to deliver actionable intelligence that traditional surveys miss.
Contact
hello@nesolagus.com
nesolagus.com
Based in
Hartford, Connecticut
© 2026 Nesolagus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Prepared with Warren — Conversational Research Platform
Data Privacy, Security & Compliance
Our commitment to protecting participant data
Data Security
- - AES-256 encryption at rest and in transit
- - SOC 2 Type II aligned practices
- - No PII stored — all responses anonymized
- - Secure data centers (US-based)
Compliance & Ethics
- - IRB-aligned research protocols
- - FERPA compliant for education data
- - Informed consent required from all participants
- - Right to withdraw at any time
Aaron Lyles is an individual member of AAPOR and IASSIST, subscribing to their professional codes of ethics and practices. These memberships reflect our commitment to data research standards and best practices.