Q: If I recall correctly, a main goal for surveys is to make sure it is brief?

Maybe you have some input for me as I try to figure the best way to survey for the following information-

We offer and Emergency Medical Service two day conference at one of our campuses. I have set up enrichment classes for spouses/family who may accompany the attendees, but the venue has changed and classes have not run.

I want to accurately survey whether or not family in fact, does come to the city and desires enrichment classes on that weekend. If they did, I would want to know for whom to focus (adult, child) and topics of interest.

Do you think I should try a one question survey to our past attendees simply asking, do they come with you? And then go from there? Or just ask all at once/

Also, We utilize a LERN-based participant survey for our Continuing Education classes, but I am looking for examples of surveys used for youth/College for Kids participants.

A: You can ask past participants if they have brought family members. Our experience is that in certain cities where there are lots of other attractions, people are more likely to bring spouses and children. The difficulty in asking past participants is that they may be likely to bring family to a city like, say, New Orleans or Orlando and not so likely to bring family to Chicago or San Francisco, so the city is important in the decision of whether or not to bring family.

 

You might be better advised to ask people who are registering whether they plan to bring family, and if so, whether they would be likely to attend enrichment classes.

 

A. You are right in thinking that surveys should be limited in the number of questions, however, you are fine to include up to multiple questions on your survey if you make sure each question gives you actionable information and that the survey does not exceed one page. For this survey, you might ask the following questions:

 

1. Will you be bringing family members to the XXX conference with you this year:   yes/no

2. If yes, which family members will accompany you:  a. spouse  b. children  c. both

3. If family members are coming with you, would they be likely to participate in enrichment courses (be sure to indicate whether these are free or whether there is a charge.) planned for family members of attendees. yes/no

4. If your family members would be likely to attend enrichment classes, what age groups would be of interest:

 

a. adult

b. Children (indicate ages:________________________)

 

5. What topics would of most interest to your family:


B. Regarding Youth/College for Kids' surveys, attached is a sample of another members' evaluation given at the end of their program. If this isn't what you were looking for or you need more information, please contact us at info@lern.org.

http://media.lern.org/webinars/James-City_County-Course-Evaluation-Sample.pdf