VISP Project
What is the VISP project?
The Valuing & Investing in Service Personnel (VISP) project is a long-term research project looking at the careers, expectations, attitudes and experiences of regular Service personnel across their careers.
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Preliminary research has shown us that personnel do not always feel as valued or effectively used as they should and policy makers are not always aware of this.
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The aim of VISP is to provide information regarding how to best sustain greater health and well-being, motivation, satisfaction, retention and capability within the Services.
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VISP is carried out by an independent research team from the Department of Management at King’s College London, led by David Guest, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Human Resource Management. The project is commissioned by the MoD (DCDS[Pers]), supported by a team from the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) and has received recommendation from the MOD Ethics Committee. Those who agree to participate in the research will be surveyed up to three times over the next five years of their Service careers.
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VISP is underpinned by a sound theoretical framework.
The VISP Survey
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The VISP survey has been developed since 2006 to become a state-of-the-art psychometric measurement tool specifically tailored for use within the Service context.
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This survey has been validated through extensive pilot work within the Services.
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In early 2008, 50,000 regular Service personnel were sent questionnaires as part of the VISP project. Since then, two reminders have been sent and as well as a second questionnaire in November 2008 for those who have not yet responded. Those who respond will be followed-up with a further questionnaire in 2010 and 2012.
What are the benefits of VISP?
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VISP will provide strong evidence-based information to support key policy decisions about where investments in Service personnel could be most effectively made. In particular, it will help to influence policies on issues such as allowances and benefits, accommodation and quality of Service life.
Why should I take part?
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Policy makers are not always aware of your views. This is an opportunity to express them. Unfortunately, if you do not take part in surveys like this your views and those of people like you may not get heard and will not be considered in policy decisions that may affect you.
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As a further encouragement to take part in the survey, a prize draw will be made from those who complete and return the questionnaire. The first prize will be £1000 and there are ten further prizes of £100.
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Your responses will be anonymous and confidential.
Is VISP 'just another survey'?
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VISP is the largest independent survey of its kind to date in the Services.
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VISP will follow serving personnel as they progress through their careers to look at changes in attitudes and expectations and the issues that cause these changes. Large groups of personnel at the beginning of their careers, those in the middle and those nearing the end of their Service career will be targeted in all three Services. This has not been done before on this scale.
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As such it will provide the strongest impartial evidence available upon which to base a range of policy decisions.
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The findings will be available to the public in full. The research cannot be ‘brushed under the carpet’ – you will be able to see the VISP findings for yourself and how they are being used to change policies that may affect you.
VISP Theoretical Framework
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VISP is underpinned by a clear theoretical framework concerned with the way you are managed and your skills are used. It also covers the nature of ‘the deal’ between the Services and Service personnel, including issues of commitment, trust and fairness of treatment.
Ethical Approval
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The VISP Project has received full approval by ethical committees both within King’s College London and within the Ministry of Defence (MODREC). Data will not used for any purpose other than those specified. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, data will only be used for statistical and research purposes.