The UC Berkeley Office of Student Research and SERU administered the online survey and recruitment emails using the census method of sampling. Using a census method meant that every undergraduate who was registered in winter quarter or spring semester (at Berkeley and Merced) was invited to participate. Up to nine recruiting emails were sent to students between April and July . Students who responded to the survey were eliminated from subsequent recruitment mailings. Each campus offered its own incentive or prize structure including cash prizes,. The 2008 survey achieved a 39% response rate systemwide, with all campuses achieving a 31% or higher response rate.
Various sampling methods have been used over the history of the project. The 2002 survey was a census of newly matriculated students in their first year of attendance at UC and seniors. The 2003 survey randomly sampled 2,000 undergraduates at each institution. The 2004 survey was an undergraduate census using one comprehensive questionnaire.