NARA Communications Audit

NARA Communications Audit
Survey Questions
11/15/12

Dougherty & Associates, Inc. (DAI)
1199 North Fairfax Street, Suite 800
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
T: 703.838.0093
F: 703.838.0094
www.dai-solutions.com

Survey Questions
Introduction:
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is committed to keeping you up to date with
timely news and information that helps you meet your research goals. The survey will help us learn how
you receive information from NARA and how we can communicate better with you.
We encourage you to provide us with candid feedback during the survey, but be assured that the
information you share will be kept confidential. Thank you for participating!
Questions:
1. In your own words, please tell us what NARA does? And how these service(s) are offered to you?

2. How did you find out about this survey?
a. Through email
b. Through NARA social media
c. Through a friend or colleague
d. Other

3. How often do you:
Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Visit NARA’s Facilities
Use NARA’s online
resources (website,

`

1

database, etc.)
Connect with NARA via
Social Media
Communicate with a NARA
employee

4. If you use NARA’s online resources, can you easily locate the information you need on the
following tools and outlets?
Yes

No

Sometimes

Does not apply

The Archives.gov website

`

NARA blogs
Online databases and
applications

5. Which methods do you use to communicate with NARA (select all that apply)?
a. Phone
b. Email
c. Personal visits
d. Online or social media applications
e. United States Postal mail service
f. Other (please specify)
6. If you communicate with NARA employees, were your interactions:
a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Mixed
d. Neutral
e. Does not apply
7. Please provide additional detail regarding your interaction with NARA employees (optional):

8. What type of information do you want to receive from NARA? (Select all that apply)
a. News and events
2

b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

From the Vaults – Historic Items in the Archives
Behind the Scenes – Our Work at the Archives
Newly available tools and resources
Only information related to my particular issue, interest or research topic
Other __________________________________
I do not want to receive information from NARA.

9. Do you read our quarterly Prologue publication?
a. Yes
b. No
10. Do you use our monthly Calendar of Events (in print or online)?
a. Yes
b. No
11. How do you prefer to receive information from NARA? (Select all that apply)
a. Via email
b. On www.archives.gov
c. In person
d. Over the phone
e. Through NARA social media
f. Other ________________________________________________________________
12. When you request information from NARA, do you receive a response that:
Yes

No

Sometimes

Does not apply

Is timely
Meets your needs
Is clear and easy to
understand

13. Would you recommend the following NARA resources to others?
Recommend

Not Recommend

Neutral

N/A

`

NARA website
Online research tools

3

NARA blogs and other
publications
NARA social media sites
NARA events

14. Please identify the types of media in which you have heard or read about NARA (select all that
apply):
a. Newspapers
b. Magazines
c. TV
d. Radio
e. Online news sources
f. Outdoor advertisements
g. Blogs/Message Boards
h. Does not apply
15. I am a(n):
a. Veteran
b. Educator
c. Professional researcher
d. Personal researcher
e. Government employee
f. Historian
g. Genealogist
h. Journalist
i. Member of the general public (none of the above)
16. How does NARA support your needs?

17. How can NARA support you better?

4

18. Which communications from NARA are most useful to you? Which are the least useful to you, and
why?

19. From your perspective, what can NARA do to improve Federal Records Management and/or Access
to our holdings?

5

Audience Specific Questions
Educators:
1. If you are an educator, how do you use NARA’s resources and offerings (select all that apply)?
a. Professional research
b. Personal research
c. Lesson planning
d. School visits
e. National History Day
f. Other _______________________
g. Does not apply
2. If you are an educator, how did you learn about NARA’s resources?
a. www.archives.gov
b. A friend
c. Docs Teach
d. Colleague
e. Professional association
f. Other _______________________
g. Does not apply
Veterans:
1. If you are a veteran, how do you use NARA’s services and offerings? (Select all that apply)
a. To search for or obtain personal military service records
b. To search for or obtain a friend or family member’s service records
c. To conduct other research
d. Does not apply
2. If you are a veteran, how did you learn about NARA’s services for veterans?
a. www.archives.gov
b. A friend or family member
c. A fellow veteran
d. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
e. The Department of Defense (DOD)
f. Veterans’ service organization (for example Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion,
etc.)
g. Other _______________________________________________________
h. Does not apply
6