Introduction to Community Surveys

Introduction to Community Surveys

Community surveys are research tools used to collect data and information from individuals within a
specific geographic area or community.

These surveys can be administered through various methods, including online questionnaires, phone
interviews, or in-person interviews.

The primary purpose of community surveys is to gather insights into the needs, opinions, and behaviors
of community members, which can inform decision-making, policy development, and resource
allocation.

Objectives of Community Surveys

The objectives of community surveys can vary depending on the context and purpose of the survey.
Some common objectives include:

 Assessing community needs and priorities

Types of Community Surveys

There are several types of community surveys, including:

Needs assessments: These surveys aim to identify the needs and gaps in services within a community.

Satisfaction surveys: These surveys evaluate community members' satisfaction with existing services and
programs.

Health surveys: These surveys focus on the physical and mental health of community members, as well
as their access to healthcare services.

Quality of life surveys: These surveys assess community members' perceptions of their overall quality of
life, including factors such as housing, education, and employment.

Methodologies and Tools

Community surveys can be administered using various methodologies and tools, including:

Online survey software

Focus groups or community forums

Mailed questionnaires or paper surveys

Benefits and Limitations

Community surveys offer several benefits, including:

Providing valuable insights into community needs and opinions

Informing decision-making and policy development

Building community engagement and participation However, community surveys also have some
limitations, such as:

Potential biases in sampling or questionnaire design

Limited response rates or participation

Difficulty in generalizing results to the broader community

Clarify the purpose

Every survey should start with a clear objective. Whether seeking feedback on a new housing
development, improving public transport, or gathering opinions on environmental initiatives, knowing
the purpose will help you:

formulate focused and relevant questions

gather data that is actually relevant to your project

help respondents understand why their input matters

For example, if your project aims to improve cycling infrastructure, frame the survey to explore current
cycling habits, potential barriers, and what improvements residents would like to see.

Tip: Begin your survey with a brief introductory statement explaining what the survey is about and how
the information will be used. This transparency builds trust and encourages participation.
2. Consider your demographic

Knowing who you're targeting is crucial for creating a survey that resonates. Are you engaging residents
from a specific neighborhood, business owners, or a mix of community stakeholders? Your questions
should be tailored to the experiences and needs of your audience.

For example, if you're developing a new public park, families with young children might prioritize
playgrounds, while older residents may care more about accessibility and seating. Understanding these
diverse needs ensures your survey is inclusive and relevant.

Reviewing past engagement activities can also provide insights. Were certain groups underrepresented
in previous efforts? Are there barriers, such as language or access to technology, that may prevent
participation? Addressing these factors in your survey structure can make a significant difference.

Tip: Consider translating your survey into the languages spoken in your community and involve local
leaders in co-designing the survey. This will help you reach more people and create a more inclusive
process.

3. Keep your survey short and to the point

Survey fatigue is real. If your survey is too long or repetitive, participants may abandon it before
finishing. To avoid this, focus on the essential questions that align with your objectives and use features
like skip logic to streamline the experience.

What is skip logic? For example, if a respondent indicates that they don’t own a car, skip questions
about driving habits and focus instead on public transit or cycling. Incorporating a mix of text, visuals,
and interactive elements like maps also helps keep respondents engaged.

Tip: Use skip logic and visuals to reduce survey length and increase engagement. This keeps the survey
dynamic and prevents drop-off.

4. Ensure accessibility

Your survey should be designed to be usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Include
features like alt-text for images to support respondents using screen readers and offer alternatives for
interactive question types.
Instead of using an interactive slider that requires dragging a slider handle to indicate a preference level,
for instance, consider using a linear scale question type with the labels explicitly listed above each
option.

Tip: We’re always on the move. So make sure your survey can be completed from the subway as well as
from the office.

Tips to formulate effective survey questions

Once your survey structure is set, the next step is drafting questions that will capture the insights you
need. The way questions are framed has a direct impact on the quality of data you collect.

Your objective is to get as many responses as you can so you can make the best decisions. But to do this,
you need to follow a few basic “rules.” ‍

1. Keep your language simple and specific

Unless you’re asking Ph.D. students about their opinions on string theory, there’s no need to include
jargon or complex language. Instead, use simple, straightforward language that everyone can
understand, regardless of their background or expertise.

For instance, if you're asking about residents' opinions on local environmental policies, frame the
question as, "What do you think about our current recycling program?" instead of using overly technical
language like "Evaluate the efficacy of municipal waste management protocols."

Think about how you would explain the topic in everyday conversation. The goal is to make it easy for
participants to engage without second-guessing what the question means.

2. Avoid leading questions

It's important to ask questions neutrally, without pushing respondents toward a particular answer.
Leading questions can plant an opinion and skew the data you collect. For example, instead of asking,
“How satisfied are you with our excellent public services?” a more neutral approach would be, “How
satisfied are you with the public services provided in your area?”

Even in online surveys, people exhibit what social scientists call social desirability bias. This is the
tendency for people to answer questions in socially acceptable ways. In some cases, it means
overreporting good behaviors (“I get up from my desk every hour”) or underreporting perceived
negative behaviors (“I drink alcohol once per week”).

Present questions in a way that allows respondents to form their own opinions, ensuring that the
feedback you receive is unbiased and useful.

3. Ask one question at a time

Double-barreled questions—those that ask two things at once—can confuse respondents and lead to
unclear answers. For instance, instead of asking, “How was the community meeting and the location?”
split it into two separate questions: “How would you rate the community meeting?” and “What did you
think about the meeting location?”

4. Avoid second-hand knowledge questions

“Does your community have a problem with crime?”

Not only are “crime” and “problem” vague, it might be challenging for a resident to report on something
related to the community at large. The responses to the question wouldn’t be reliable. Stick to asking
questions that cover people’s firsthand knowledge.

If you are trying to understand the prevalence of criminal acts, it would be better to ask: In the past 12
months, have you been the victim of a crime?

5. Use a variety of question types

To gather the most useful input from your community, it’s important to offer a variety of question types.
This not only keeps respondents engaged but also makes it easier for them to provide thoughtful,
relevant feedback. Different question formats help you collect a range of data and cater to different
ways people prefer to respond.

Map-based questions: Great for gathering spatial data. These allow residents to identify specific areas of
concern, like marking where a new bike lane should go or highlighting locations for public
improvements.

Multiple-choice questions: Ideal for quickly capturing quantifiable data, multiple-choice questions help
identify trends or preferences across a broad audience. They are easy to answer and analyze, making
them a good choice for gathering opinions on various topics.
Open-ended questions: While they require more effort to analyze, open-ended questions are useful for
collecting detailed, personalized feedback. They give residents space to express thoughts in their own
words—perfect for when you need richer insights. And with Sensemaking, Go Vocal’s AI analysis tool,
you can analyze the information in no time.

Image or picture choice questions: A picture paints a thousand words. But in a survey? It does so much
more. Ask a picture choice question and make your survey even richer. Tell a story, and show rather
than tell.

Rating questions: These let respondents express how strongly they feel about an issue, such as rating
their satisfaction with local services or a project proposal. It’s a simple way to capture nuances in
opinions.

Test, test, and test again

Testing isn’t just about finding technical glitches. Ensure that your questions elicit the kind of responses
you need and that your survey is easy to navigate from start to finish.