Database design and implementation for USMC Manpower Retention Survey

Abstract

MCERC is a database design and implementation to support the survey instruments for the USMC Exit and Retention Censuses, which are administered over the Internet. The Retention Census is a longitudinal survey administered annually to all Marines. A review of commercially available survey software revealed a lack of support for longitudinal surveys. A semantic object model for survey instruments is developed that relates them to the response data they collect. The resultant database schema facilitates version management of survey instruments over their life cycle. The design supports the longitudinal aspect of the USMC Censuses by allowing the tracking of the instruments and response data over time. A relational model of the database design is prepared and implemented in Access (TM). A user interface is designed using Visual Basic, which integrates Cognos powerplay (TM) into the system for analysis of the data. The interface includes the capability to convert raw data into a matrix for analysis. Issues of database administration are discussed as they relate to scaling the system from a stand alone to a multiple user environment