Survey on Safety in Off-the-Beach Sail Craft

Like other University research studies I've been involved with, this one is very naively drafted and unlikely to produce useful results.

I understand the US Coast Guard regards the OTB sailors as the safest form of boating and OTB sailing generally is one of the safest sports; although never without risks.

From participating and teaching the sport for some 55 years and having followed the publicized injuries and deaths, the main causes would seem to be entrapment by a trapeze belt hook and (more OS than here because of the waters we sail on) the boat blowing away from the crew after a capsize [there was a recent death of a young man in Melbourne while sailing a Laser, but last I heard the cause of death was not determined].

Maybe start by examining recorded injuries and deaths worldwide and basing your questions around that. But make sure you distinguish between OTB boats and larger yachts and better allow for Australian conditions. Fatal head injuries are not unknown on yachts - pretty rare on OTB boats. Some of your questions lose specificity by not making it clear OTB boats are still the focus of the question (Eg the GPS one). The GPS question is a good example of the naivety. In the enclosed waters nearly all OTB sailing occurs in Australia, a GPS is of little use. By the time the signal is picked up and chased down, they've either drowned or been picked up by a passer by (there might be some more open water places in Australia they have a use, but the survey doesn't explore this).

You focus on helmets, but don't leave room to explore whether they are a help or risk. They are a risk because by elevating the head, they make a boom strike more likely and provide more leverage for the strike to cause a neck injury. They also form an entrapment risk. My view is the risks outweigh the benefit. Modern bump hats might be better, but aren't certified in Australia and you don't distinguish between the two.

Specific problems that show a certain naivety start with "years experience" where, for the sort of information you are looking for, the difference between 1 and 3 years experience is nothing. Beyond that there's no graduation, so the quality and experience behind the answers is not determinable.

Same with the "other" catch all of classes sailed. It gives you no real idea of the quality or experience of the answers you are getting.

And that's just the start.

Good luck. As I've done with other such surveys I've been professionally involved (in the agricultural sector) my comments are intended to get you to a better final result, not just be narky.

That is great advice from Tamble Parolla, and I agree with his comments.
The 1,2 and 3 yr options are a bit meaningless , you should have age brackets . Windsurfing is more unique in the type of injury, wind and sea state conditions , gear...pretty much everything compared to dinghys and cats. I'd definitely split them looking at your questions and answer format, it'll confuse your results.
GPS, PLB, smart watches ais transmitters are all stuff you live with on keel boats, not so much OTB sailing. I'd take Tambles comments, rejig your questionaire then redo the survey
Best of luck with it!