XXI NWOS Urban Telephone Survey Guide

XXI. NWOS Urban Survey Telephone Guide
INTERVIEWER INTRODUCTION
Interviewer text:
Hello, this is calling on behalf of the Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics
Service. We are conducting the National Property Owner Tree Survey for the U.S. Forest Service and you
were selected to participate. Several weeks ago you were mailed a copy of this survey. We have not
received it and were hoping to collect the data by telephone today. Your cooperation is extremely important
to the accuracy of the survey and your individual report will be kept confidential (under Title 7 of the U.S.
Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347)). Response is voluntary.

The rest of the interview time is allotted to going through the survey and recording property owner’s answers.
These interview questions will a subset of the National Property Owner Tree Survey (below), with the interviewer
reading the questions and the property owner responding. Interviews will not go beyond the allotted time (25
minutes).
Ownership & Land Information
1. Which category below best describes who owns this property?
__Individual
__Joint, with husband or wife
__Joint, such as with other family members or friends
__Family partnership or family LLC or LLP
__Family trust or estate
__Corporation or business
__Other (please specify):_______________
2. Which category below best describes this property?
__Residential
If this is a residential property, what type of structure is on it?
__Single family home
__Multi-family home
__Apartment building or condominiums
__Other (please specify):_______________
__Industrial or commercial
__Vacant lot
__Municipal or public
__Other (please specify):_____________

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If this is a residential property, please complete the rest of this survey.
If this property is industrial, commercial, a vacant lot, municipally/publicly owned, or other nonresidential uses, no additional responses are needed. Please return this survey in the postage paid
envelope provided.
3. Do you currently own more than one property in the [AREA]?
___Yes

___No

If no, skip to question 4.
If yes, how many properties do you own? ____ properties
4. My property has the following features:
Check all that apply.
__A back yard
__A front yard
__A side yard(s)
__Trees and/or shrubs that were planted
__Trees and/or shrubs that grew naturally
__Vegetable/fruit garden
__A flower garden
__A recreational feature, such as a tennis or basketball court
__A water feature, such as a pool or pond
__A driveway
__Patio, porch, or deck
__Shed or other storage building
__None of the above

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Not applicable

Not important

Of little importance

Moderately important

Important

Very important

5. How important are the following reasons for why you currently own this property?
Check one box for each item.

For property investment
To enjoy beauty or scenery
To raise my family
The local school system
Services offered by my municipality
Cost of the property
Level of property tax
Close to work
Safety of the area
To pass property on to my children or heirs
For recreation
Quality of the neighborhood/community
Other
Please specify:
6. Do you reside on this property?
___Yes, I live there

___No, I do not live there

7. In what year did you, personally, first acquire this property?
|__|__|__|__|

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Activities
8. Which of the following have occurred on your property in the past five years?
Check all that apply.
__Applied fertilizers to lawn
__Applied fertilizers to trees
__Collected or foraged wild plants or mushrooms, such as , on your property or
from your neighborhood or nearby parks. This does not include harvesting from gardens.
__Eliminated or removed invasive plants
__Installed a new lawn
__Planted shrubs, flowers, or ornamental grasses
__Planted trees
__Pruned trees
__Removed whole trees
__Used chemicals to control weeds or insects
__None of the above
9. Which of the following will likely occur on your property in the next five years?
Check all that apply.
__Apply fertilizers to lawn
__Apply fertilizers to trees
__Collected or foraged wild plants or mushrooms, such as , on your property or
from your neighborhood or nearby parks. This does not include harvesting from gardens.
__Eliminated or removed invasive plants
__Install a new lawn
__Plant shrubs, flowers, or ornamental grasses
__Plant trees
__Prune trees
__Remove whole trees
__Use chemicals to control weeds or insects
__None of the above
__Don’t know

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10. Who, if anyone, performs the tree and yard work on your property?
Check all that apply.
__Me
__My husband or wife
__My children
__Another family member
__A neighbor
__A landscaping or tree care company
__Home Owner’s Association or Co-op
__Other (please specify):__________
__No one
Your Neighborhood and Community
11. About how many of your neighbors do you know by name?
__None
__A few
__About half
__Most of them
__All of them

Not applicable/Don’t
know

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor
disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

12. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.
Check one box for each item.

Local government services are adequate in my
neighborhood
People in the neighborhood are willing to help one another
People in the neighborhood can be trusted
There are many opportunities to meet neighbors
There is an active neighborhood group or association
Trespassing and/or vandalism are a concern for my
property

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Programs & Organizations

13. In some areas, there are programs that help property owners cover the expense of planting new trees or
maintaining existing trees on their property. Typically these programs are intended for planting or
maintaining trees close to the road.
a. How familiar are you with programs like these?
Extremely
Familiar
__

Moderately
Familiar
__

Somewhat
Familiar
__

Slightly
Familiar
__

Not at all
Familiar
__

b. In the past five years, have you used a program like this to help you plant new trees or maintain existing
trees on your property?
__Yes
__No
__Don’t know
Sources of Information
14. In the past 5 years, have you talked with anyone or received information/advice about how to maintain your
property’s landscape?
__Yes

__No

If yes, please answer a, b, and c.
If no, skip to question 24.
a. What was it about?
Check all that apply.
__Trees
__Gardening
__Lawn care
__Ornamental flowers and shrubs
__Weed, pest, or disease control
__Other (please specify):_____________
b. How did it happen?
Check all that apply.
__Talked to someone
__Received a brochure or written material
__From the internet
__Attended a conference or workshop
__Went to a local library
__Read product labels
__Other (please specify):_______________

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c. Who was involved?
Check all that apply.
__No one, I found the information myself
__State or local government employee
__A neighbor
__A family member or friend
__A non-profit organization
__Employee at a lawn and garden center
__Employee of a landscaping or tree care company
__Other (please specify): __________
Demographics
Please answer for the owner who makes most of the decisions for this property.
15. Are you retired?
__Yes
__No
16. What is or was your main occupation?
_____________
17. What is your age:
______
18. What is your gender?
__Male
__Female
19. What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed?
__Less than 12th grade
__High school/GED
__Some college
__Associate degree
__Bachelor’s degree
__Advanced degree
20. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?
__Yes
__No

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21. What is your race?
Select one or more.
__American Indian or Alaska Native
__Asian
__Black or African-America
__Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
__White
22. What is your household’s annual income?
__Less than $25,000
__$25,000 to $49,999
__$50,000 to $99,999
__$100,000 to $199,999
__$200,000 or more

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