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WHY DO A SURVEY?
Sometimes you need to know what people think about an
issue or idea. For example
you might want to find out how many people would attend a
particular event before you go through the trouble of organizing
it. Or, you might want to
know how many young people are interested in setting up a community
or school youth council.
A survey is an excellent tool for
- determining public opinion
- gathering information
- raising awareness about an issue
- demonstrating support for an idea
You can conduct surveys in person or by phone. The best way is in person. When you can tell people face to
face how much you appreciate their opinion, people are more likely
to respond. You can conduct
your survey in public places like your school or at the
community/recreation centre. You may have to obtain permission
in advance. You can also go
door to door or wait for a special event. Distribute copies of the
questionnaire to as many young people as possible. Take plenty of copies of your
survey and plenty of pens. Remember to be friendly and
polite. Keep your cool if
somebody says no. Some
people might disagree with your survey or idea. Find out what they would suggest
as an alternative.
Once you have received as many questionnaires as
possible, tabulate the results, organize the information and write
a report. When analyzing the
results, think about how they reflect the group of people who
participated in your survey. Were there an equal number of
males and females? Were they
from various age groups? Consider these as you analyze your
survey findings. Finally,
let other people know what you have discovered through your survey
and why it is important. Set
up and information booth or use the results of your survey in a
flyer or poster. You can
attach it to a Band Council Resolution or a proposal. Motivate people to take action on
your findings.
The following sample survey is a survey about
recreation opportunities in a community. You can download it here
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