INTERPRETING YOUR
SURVEY RESULTS
This is NOT a statistics class, and I could never teach you statistics no matter how hard I tried!! Instead, what I’m looking for when it comes to sharing the information about your surveys is how you answer the question “WHAT DO NOTICE?” when you look at the survey data you’ve collected. Look for GENERAL similarities or connections. Did most of your participants choose the same issues for Numbers 1, 2 and 3? Did they choose the same issues for 8, 9, and 10? The top three and bottom three answers tell you basically how your surveyed group feels about what is important.
You can use the sample tables below to help you look at your information.
ISSUE No. or % WHO CHOSE IT AS “1”
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS WHO SAID THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ONE “NUMBER 1” ANSWER =
ISSUE Second “No. 1” choice based on
response from the final page
|
Reducing crime nationwide |
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ISSUE No. or % WHO CHOSE IT AS “10”
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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If you have a couple surveys that don’t follow these patterns, that’s alright. Look at those and, if you can find a reason in the demographics or their responses on the last page (age, experiences, ethnicity, etc.), discuss that in your speech.
If you have answers that vary greatly from one survey to another, that’s alright too. Look at the demographic information or responses on the last page and try to determine why they chose what they did based on age, ethnicity, education level, or level of awareness of the news and current events. You can use the worksheets below to help you. Mark those areas that received the 1 and 10 responses. Then mark any areas that participants said should be a SECOND NUMBER ONE response. If you don’t see patterns there, then mark the 1, 2, 3 responses and the 8, 9, 10 responses.
Looking at Issues Based on Age
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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Finding cures for serious diseases |
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Containing the cost of health care |
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Ensuring people have jobs and decent wages |
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Improving the quality of public schools |
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Improving the image of the U.S. worldwide |
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Establishing and enforcing stricter gun control laws |
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Controlling the rate of foreclosures |
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Improving the quality of our environment |
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Improving race relations |
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16-24 |
25-44 |
45-64 |
65+ |
Looking at Issues
Based on Ethnicity
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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Finding cures for serious diseases |
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Containing the cost of health care |
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Ensuring people have jobs and decent wages |
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Improving the quality of public schools |
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Improving the image of the U.S. worldwide |
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Establishing and enforcing stricter gun control laws |
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Controlling the rate of foreclosures |
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Improving the quality of our environment |
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Improving race relations |
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White/ Caucasian |
Black/ African American |
Hispanic/ Latino |
American Indian/ Native American |
Other |
Looking at Issues
Based on Education Level
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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Finding cures for serious diseases |
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Containing the cost of health care |
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Ensuring people have jobs and decent wages |
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Improving the quality of public schools |
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Improving the image of the U.S. worldwide |
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Establishing and enforcing stricter gun control laws |
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Controlling the rate of foreclosures |
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Improving the quality of our environment |
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Improving race relations |
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Some High School |
High School Graduate |
Two-year Degree |
Four-Year Degree |
Master’s or Doctoral Degree |
Looking at Issues
Based on Hours Spent Reading or Watching the News
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Reducing crime nationwide |
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Finding cures for serious diseases |
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Containing the cost of health care |
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Ensuring people have jobs and decent wages |
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Improving the quality of public schools |
|
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|
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Improving the image of the U.S. worldwide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Establishing and enforcing stricter gun control laws |
|
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|
|
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Controlling the rate of foreclosures |
|
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Improving the quality of our environment |
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Improving race relations |
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Less than 1 Hour a Week |
1-2 Hours |
3-4 Hours |
5-6 Hours |
More than 6 Hours |