Primary Purpose
Description
Public opinion surveys and polls investigate public awareness of, opinions about, and/or perspectives on a given issue or topic. When designed and conducted properly, the results from surveys and polls can be generalized to a broader community or population. Surveys and polls can also investigate the characteristics, behaviors, or opinions of a specific group of people and help monitor how opinions change over time.
Public opinion surveys and polls can be implemented in a variety of ways depending on the research objectives, and should be designed and conducted by trained professionals. For example, surveys can be conducted face-to-face, over the telephone, on paper via the mail, or online. Trained experts can help determine which method will get the best response rate. They can also determine how to chose the sample (or group of people who will be surveyed) to ensure statistical validity and ask the questions in ways that prevent bias.
Outcomes
Public opinion surveys and polls provide information about how certain opinions or perspectives are spread across a community or population. They frequently provide numerical data that be statistically analyzed and shared via graphs and charts.
Time considerations
Designing, implementing, and analyzing a survey typically takes several months; however, this time frame varies based on the methods employed. Surveys can be used during any phase of a public participation process depending on the intended use of the information gathered.
Staffing
Surveys should be designed and implemented by trained social scientists either within the agency, at a university, or with a private firm. Depending on the complexity of the survey, the distribution method, and the number of respondents, a survey can be designed, conducted, and analyzed by a single individual or a small team. Designing, implementing, and analyzing a survey is time intensive for the staff involved.
Materials
Required materials vary based on the survey method used. For example:
- Online survey
- Survey design software
- Survey hosting website or software
- Data analysis software
- Sample list (email addresses, mailing addresses, etc.)
- Mail Survey
- Survey design software
- Printing
- Mailing supplies (envelopes, stamps, etc.)
- Sample list (mail address database)