ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY OPINION AND REACTION DEPENDS UPON ADEQUATE SAMPLING TECHNIQUES. VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS PROVIDE ONE SOURCE FROM WHICH TO DRAW SAMPLES. RESEARCHERS MUST CONSIDER THE COSTS OF LARGE SAMPLES IN RELATION TO TWO QUESTIONS--(1) THE CLOSENESS WITH WHICH THE TOTAL POPULATION IS TO BE MATCHED BY THE SAMPLE, AND (2) THE…

This book presents hands-on information on how to plan, administer, and analyze opinion polls. Guidance is also offered on how to make this strategy accessible to public interest groups. Several examples, checklists, warnings of possible pitfalls, and lists of material and human resources occur throughout the chapters. Major sections address the…

Summarizes the methodology and findings of a telephone survey conducted by Central Florida Community College to identify the educational needs of its service district. Discusses the role of an advisory committee in planning the study, the pilot testing of the questionnaire, interviewer training, publicity, funding, and costs. (JP)

To continue to be an effective local educational leader in curricular change, fiscal policy making, and, above all, in planning for education, the school administrator must have a continuous flow of usable information on public opinion. The purpose of this book is to provide the administrator with practical methods for systematically monitoring…