Getting More Out of Your Surveys

You’ve heard us talk about decision-fatigue.  That “ugh” feeling we experience while navigating an avalanche of choices. In times of decision-fatigue, surveys are powerful and are used to help focus on specific choices while developing a plan. We all know what it feels like to get an email asking you to fill out another survey for an organization. It happens often, we get the email, give our feedback, and hope our feedback is considered for planning. However, at the end of the day we never really know what happens after we click submit. Surveys, although a great tool for organizations to drive decision-making and measure impact, often leave the survey respondents asking the question “what’s next?”

After hearing this question, we began wondering how to transform survey tools into a collaborative process that benefits the respondent and the organization receiving the data. Surveys are powerful. The report out process has the opportunity to transform data collection into a collaborative process under a community-based participatory approach. Under this approach, both survey respondents and creators become equal partners in the data collection process. At See What I Mean, we have utilized this approach in our online tools. We are turning surveys into tangible plans that survey participants can use. Instead of wondering “what’s next” after hitting submit, survey respondents receive a personalized action plan constructed from the input they provided in their survey. 

We have been using the tool Alchemer, an online survey builder, to develop surveys that explore choices, collect research, and distribute plans. Recently, we have used Alchemer as a co-creation tool for planning. Network members are sent the tool and are deeply engaged in the different steps of the planning process. After filling out the planning tools, the information is immediately shared with network members in a report style. The report outlines the actions decided on their own personalized timeline. It can also include a spot to assign responsibility for tasks to help understand roles. The report includes tools and resources the network can utilize in the implementation process. The plan is also shared with the network hub to help the hub understand the tools, resources, and guidance the network needs. 

This form of data collection is also an equity-based approach. A report by Chicago Beyond explores the power dynamic created by research between community organizations and community members. By blocking information to communities most in need, data collection creates a system for researchers' unintentional biases to decide how knowledge is generated and shared. By focusing on a co-creation approach, for both the recipient of the data and the respondent we can begin to address and shift the power dynamic that emerges in the creation of research.

We would love to work with you in co-creating plans for your network. You can connect with us on scheduling a workshop by clicking the link below.

 
Author: Jenna Hoover