assignment 4

Assignment # 2 - Questionnaire Design

Review the Sahuarita Parks and Recreation Citizen Survey Summary below. Look for problems with the research design. This is to sharpen your ability to evaluate the structure of a research study. Then answer the following questions:

1) How was the survey distributed?

2) Is this research design valid?

	If yes, you are finished.
	If no, what are the problem(s) with the design?

3) What was the response rate for the survey?

4) What was the population(s) (N) used for the survey?

5) What were the top three priorities the town should provide/build?

Submit this assignment to the course facilitator as an email message.

Sahuarita Parks And Recreation Citizen Survey Summary

In October 2004 the Town of Sahuarita Parks & Recreation Department and the Parks & Recreation Commission mailed out a general recreation needs survey to residents of Sahuarita. The survey requested resident input on recreational facilities and programs they wanted or felt the Town could focus on. Results were tabulated and summarized for the Town through the Green Valley News. We received 237 completed surveys out of 2,406 distributed, including 66 handed out at Fiesta Sahuarita.

People were asked what recreational activities they participated in, what types of facilities they would use or programs they would participate in if offered in Sahuarita. They were asked to list the top 5 priorities they felt the Town should build or focus on. Following is a general summary of the findings.

The top five activities people said they participated in during the last 6 months were walking or hiking, swimming, using fitness equipment, biking and attending a special event. The next five activities people participated in included using a playground, golf, arts and crafts, use of a playground with water and boating or fishing.

People indicated that having concerts in the park and having a nearby park to go to were of most interest to them. The top 2 facilities were a swimming pool and picnic or ramada areas. The following 3 activities or categories of high interest were special or holiday events, fitness, an indoor gym, music, arts and crafts and hiking (in that order). In addition to the initial shared interests by all groups, people with children expressed additional interests that included youth organized sports, playground with water, youth swim lessons and lighted fields. People without children were more inclined to use or want fitness activities, hiking, music and a wildlife/educational habitat area.

When people were asked about what they thought their overall participation preferences were related to age groups, all people cited concerts in the park, nearby parks, a swimming pool, picnic areas and fitness. Those under the age of 35 also added an indoor gym, lighted fields, playground with water, youth and adult organized sports. Those in the 34-54 age group listed special events, an indoor gym, music, arts and crafts and multi-use fields. Those 55 and older also wanted special events but requested a senior center and programs, arts and crafts and hiking.

When asked about the top five priorities people thought the Town should provide/build, the top three were shared by all: a swimming pool, concerts in the park and fitness. Those under age 35 added racquetball, youth organized sports, nearby parks, dance, toddler programs, basketball and lighted fields. Those 34 – 54 chose an indoor gym, arts and crafts, racquetball, tennis, off leash dog area, a skate park and teen program. People age 55 and older added hiking, indoor gym, arts and crafts, a senior center and senior programs, wildlife habitat/educational area and golf to their list.

[Class] [ Unit 2]