Question

Help with a traditional survey

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Unknown
Unknown asked

We're in a small community and working a traditional survey. Where can we get help with questions/structure/format -- we're trying to determine the community's take on services, priorities for spending and sources of revenue. Many thanks in advance for the help!

RES




Joshua Wheatley

Maryland Heights, Missouri is a fairly small community numbering about 27,000 people. The city has conducted multiple citizen surveys, the most recent being in 2011. As an intern here this summer, I found the survey results very helpful when I was evaluating and updating the city's key performance indicators. Here's a link to the most recent survey: http://www.marylandheights.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5274

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Robert Woods

We did an online only survey a couple of years ago paralleling the ICMA Citizen Survey by sending a link to randomly selected residences. Response was very light, but was consistent with earlier surveys doen by the city. The link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=rBNaVi6vCVVf3Qe68hSSs9QTLSwmoV7T3173cxGb24s_3d

 
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Lawrence Di Re

Robert,
Before High-Priced Consultants, Inc. shows up telling you what you need to do, you might try contacting a local college or university to see what faculty or institutional resources they might have to assist you. Also, consider some other forum, such as neighborhood focus groups or discussion circles, to drill down past the typical survey "1 to 5" rating scale. Has the governing board bought into the value of the survey? If not, be aware that there may be powers working behind the scene to stifle participation and even actively resist the effort. Just a few cents' worth.

 
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Mike Cohen
Mike Cohen said

As an alternative to an expensive, conventional survey, consider using an online public comment platform -- such as Peak Democracy Inc's Open Town Hall: http://www.OpenTownhall.com .

 
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Elizabeth Fields

I would echo Lawrence's recommendation - check with local colleges or universities' marketing departments. You may find a professor willing to use your survey as a class project.

 
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Rick Aronhalt

Thomas Miller, president of the National Research Center is hosting a web conference on Policy Surveys on 9/6. There will be a lot of helpful information on the topic. Here is the link:
http://learning.icma.org/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=13359

 
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Andrew Pederson

We just did a community survey online through survey monkey. Let me know if you'd like more details.

 
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Tom Nosack
Tom Nosack said

For the last four years (two survey cycles) Vancouver, WA has done both a scientific survey and a SurveyMonkey-type parallel survey with the same questions. The questions sound like what you are looking for and can be used freely:http://www.cityofvancouver.us/performance.asp?menuid=10462&submenuID=17767&itemID=17769

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Jul 19 2012
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