Recommended Questions for Community Conversations 5/3/2016
“This survey is intended to help us better understand civic engagement in America. This includes understanding how we interact and relate to each other, as well as how we work together to make changes in our communities and country.
The first set of questions focuses on interacting with family and friends.
In the past 12 months, how often did you…
Alternative 1 – In the past 3 months, how often did you…
Alternative 2 – Since (Name an event e.g. Memorial Day), how often did you…
Alternative – Since the end of the school year, how often did you…
Speak to or spend time with friends and family, including spouses, partners and significant others? This might be in person, over the phone, or using the internet or social media.
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
Discuss political, societal, or local issues with friends or family? This might be in person, over the phone, or using the internet or social media.
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
Provide food, housing, money or help for friends or extended family beyond your children, parents, and partners?
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
OPEN ENDED Questions - 1. What have been some challenges that have prevented you from interacting with family and friends?
2. What has facilitated your ability to interact with family and friends?
This next set of questions focuses on interacting with neighbors.
In the past 12 months, how often did you…
Speak to or spend time with neighbors? This might be in person, over the phone, or using the internet or social media.
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
Discuss political, societal, or local issues with neighbors? This might be in person, over the phone, or using the internet or social media.
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
Do you and (your/his/her) neighbors do favors for each other? By favors we mean such things as watching each other’s children, helping with shopping, house sitting, lending garden or house tools and other things to help each other.
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
7. When someone in your neighborhood has experiences a hardship, loss or has gone through a life stage change (birth, death, marriage, graduation, enlistment) have you participated with other neighbors in an organized response, (raised money, celebrated, expressed support, helped out).
(1) Yes, (2) No
8. Have you ever organized a neighborhood response to a neighbor’s need, difficulty or celebration?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
9. In the past 12 months, did you get together with other people from your neighborhood to fix a problem or do something positive for your neighborhood or the community?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
OPEN ENDED Questions – 1. Have you helped a friend or family member figure out a political issue or debate, help register to vote, etc.
2. What have been some challenges that have prevented you from interacting with neighbors?
3. What has facilitated your ability to interact with neighbors?
This next set of questions focuses on interactions and civic activity in general.
In the past 12 months, how often did you…
Alternative 1 – In the past 3 months, how often did you…
Alternative 2 – Since (Name an event e.g. Memorial Day), how often did you…
Alternative – Since the end of the school year, how often did you…
10. Speak to or spend time with people from a different racial, ethnic or cultural background than your own, in person, over the phone, or using the internet or social media?
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
11. Consume news or information about local political or social issues?
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
12. Post your views about or otherwise discuss local political or social issues on the internet or social media?
(1) Basically every day, (2) A few times a week, (3) A few times a month, (4) Once a month, (5) Less than once a month, (6) Not at all.
13. In the past 12 months, did you:
a. Provide food, money or help to an individual whom you did not necessarily know, however you believed to be in need?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
b. Attend a public meeting, such as to address a local issue?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
c. Attend a cultural event?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
d. Contact or visit a local public official to express your opinion?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
e. Buy or boycott a certain product or service because of the social or political values of the company that provides it?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
f. Volunteer or make a donation to a local candidate’s political campaign?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
g. Enrolled or participated in a class, workshop or leadership opportunity in your community?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
OPEN ENDED Question 1. Have you participated in any grassroots efforts to address an issue in your community – For instance an effort started by neighborhood groups, non-profits or church groups? Can you describe your participation and the reason you took part in it?
2. What have been some challenges that have prevented you from participating in some of the activities I just named? Which ones in particular? What has facilitated your ability to be involved?
This next set of questions focuses on membership in and activity with groups, organizations and associations. This could include but is not limited to community groups and organizations like a neighborhood watch or parent-teacher association, civic or service organizations, religious or spiritual communities, recreational groups like a book club or sports league, professional associations or unions, or political or advocacy groups. Additionally, participation in these groups could be in-person, online, or a mixture of the two.
In the past 12 months, did you…
Alternative 1 – In the past 3 months, how often did you…
Alternative 2 – Since (Name an event e.g. Memorial Day), how often did you…
Alternative – Since the end of the school year, how often did you…
14. Volunteer through or for a group, organization, or association?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
If Yes, approximately how many hours per week would you say you spent volunteering?
(Open numerical response)
15. Hold a leadership position (Board, Officer) with a group, organization or association?
1) Yes, (2) No.
16. Give money, assets, or property with a combined value of more than $25.00 to a charitable or religious organization or group?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
17. In the past 12 months, were you a member of any groups, organizations, or associations?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
a. If Yes, how many groups, organizations, or associations would you say you are a member of?
(Open numerical response)
Thinking about the group, organization, or association with which you are most active, which best describes the proportion of in-person activity to online activity?
All activity is in person; (2) Activity is more in-person than online; (3) Activity is evenly split between in-person and online; (4) Activity is more online than in-person; (5) All activity is online; (6) I am a member but not active with any groups, organizations or associations.
OPEN ENDED Question 1. Have you engaged in any leisure activity, taken a class or taught a class in your community? Can you tell me about this activity?
2. Have you raised money for a local school, church or community organization?
3. What are some challenges that prevent you from participating in some of the activities I just named? Which ones in particular? What has facilitated your ability to be involved?
These last questions pertain to the survey and the manner in which these questions are asked.
1A. Thinking about different ways of answering these survey questions, which setting is the most comfortable for you to respond; (1) Answering in person (door to door interviews); (2) Answering a phone survey; (3) Answering an online survey; (4) Answering in a small focus group or a discuss group; (5) Answering in an informal discussion at a local organization, church or community center .
2A. Are there any questions that I did NOT ask that would describe other civic or social activities in you have engaged in?
2B. Are there any question that I did NOT ask that would describe other civic or social activities in your neighborhood?
3A. Are there any questions that you think should be omitted?
(1) Yes, (2) No.
b. If Yes, Which one(s)________________
Would you mind sharing a few items of personal information?
Age: ______
Gender ____________
Education Level: (Highest Grade or degree completed)
Race/Ethnicity: _________________________
Housing: Own _______ Rent_______
The name of the neighborhood you live in? _______________________
Employment: FT___ PT____ Unemployed_______ Not Working for other reasons_______
Do you have any children under age 18? Yes____ No____
That brings us to the end of the survey. Thank you very much for your time and contribution to this important research project.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Breems, Joseph |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-27 |