Identifies the reasons district populations need to be considered, suggests what to ask whom, and tells what to do before and after the survey. (Author/JN)

School officials often face a credibility problem, and public surveys or community polls are important to school districts. Gives several reasons why they are helpful and seven steps to successful polling. (Author/JN)

A public opinion poll should not only tell the board and administrators what the public thinks but should also indicate what that thinking means. Explains how a school district public opinion poll of real use to the board and administration can be designed to identify public opinion, public knowledge, and public vision; and be conducted with…

This book is intended to aid school officials in conducting effective community surveys for the purpose of improving citizen involvement and influence in educational decision-making. Although the book is of considerable value when used alone, it is designed for use as part of a set of related publications collectively entitled, "Factual Politics."…

These tips on surveying public opinion are based on the contention that community surveys can be useful to educators who want to know what the community is thinking about education, are ready to respond, and have no qualms about making survey results public. The author first discusses the importance of determination of the community survey's…

A secondary analysis of eight years' cumulative results from the annual Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes toward public schools is presented. These eight polls reveal a public that has confidence in its schools and its teachers and supports specific innovations, particularly career education, moral education, and various types of alternative…

The handbook, intended for rural citizens seeking to improve health care in their communities, concentrates on assessment of community health care. Sections cover four steps of the community assessment process, i.e., self preparation, organization, community identification of problems and goals, and community action plan development. "Step One:…

Attitude and opinion research requires considerable planning, careful design of survey procedures and sampling techniques, and practical ways of collecting, analyzing, and reporting results. The following suggestions are based on the extensive public opinion research conducted by the University of Alabama. (1) Decide what specific problem is to be…

To help improve school public relations programs, this handbook tells how to use survey and feedback techniques and how to interpret survey results. The first chapter gives a brief overview of the usefulness of surveys for getting community feedback. Chapter 2 recommends beginning by deciding what one wants to know from a survey, what human and…

A pilot study was conducted of a model needs assessment procedure developed in response to new FCC regulations requiring noncommercial broadcasters to ascertain the needs, problems, and interests of their communities. The needs assessment procedure, conducted largely by volunteers, was implemented in three stages: (1) a telephone survey of the…

This handbook, the successor to the original published in 1973, is designed to help boards of trustees and administrators strengthen both their internal and external communications programs. Key points to be considered by each school board as it develops its own communication program and specific job requirements are outlined. A four-step…