Asha Weinstein Agrawal (asha.weinstein.agrawal@sjsu.edu)

1. Surveying Participants:
Lessons from Viva CalleSJ
2016 International Open Street Summit
Asha Weinstein Agrawal, PhD
August 18, 2016
Mineta Transportation Institute

2. Presentation outline
1. About the survey project
2. Sampling considerations
3. Questionnaire design considerations
4. Where to learn more

4. Photo by 8-80 Cities

5. Survey project partners
1. My co-author: Hilary Nixon, PhD
2. Mineta Transportation Institute
3. City of San Jose, Parks & Recreation
4. Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

6. Our survey – a few details
• Short! (1 page with 12 questions)
• Self-complete
• Available in three languages
• Surveyors were stationed at 6 key locations
• 618 people returned usable surveys

7. Presentation outline
1. About our survey project
2. Sampling considerations
3. Questionnaire design considerations
4. Where to learn more

8. Sampling Options
Sampling
approach
Advantages Disadvantages
Census Accurately reflects all
participants
Impossible!
Random
sample
Results can be generalized
to all participants
Impossible!
Intercept at
key locations
Easy to administer
Results may approximate a
random sample
Can’t generalize
with full confidence

9. Presentation outline
1. About our survey project
2. Sampling considerations
3. Questionnaire design considerations
4. Where to learn more

10. Questionnaire design
1. What topics to include? Ask:
– How would I use the results?
– Is there another (better) way to get this
information?
2. How many questions can I include? Ask:
– What is my desired response rate?
– What is my budget and desired # of responses?

11. Questionnaire design, cont.
3. How to word each question? Ask:
– Would a distracted 6th grader understand it?
– What are all the ways this question could be
interpreted?
– How accurately can people answer?
– Will people tell the truth?
– How can I simplify even more (grammar & vocab)?

12. Sample question: outreach
How did you learn about today’s Viva CalleSJ
event? (Check all that apply)
□ Radio
□ Newspaper
□ Flyer/poster
□ E-newsletter or email blast
□ Facebook, Twitter, or other social media
□ Other (please specify)___________

13. 2015 results: outreach
Source of information
% of
respondents
Facebook, Twitter, or other social media 29
Other 23
Word of mouth (volunteered) 21
Flyer/poster 21
Newspaper 12
E-newsletter or email blast 12
Radio 5
No response 1
Note: Respondents could select multiple options.

14. REVISED outreach question
How did you learn about today’s Viva CalleSJ event?
(Check all that apply)
□ Radio
□ Newspaper
□ Flyer/poster
□ E-newsletter or email blast
□ Facebook, Twitter, or other social media
□ Word of mouth (friend, co-worker, etc.)
□ Other (please specify)___________

15. Sample question: money spent
How much money are you likely to spend at Viva
CalleSJ?
□ Nothing
□ $1 to $10
□ $11 or more

16. 2015 results: estimated $ spent
Amount spent
% of
respondents
$11 or more 53
$1 to $10 35
Nothing 10
No response 3

17. Draft NEW spending question
How much money have you spent at Viva CalleSJ
today, in each category?
$______Food/drink from food trucks
$______SJMADE Marketplace at Arena Green
$______Food/drink from restaurant along route
$______Stores along the route
$______Other
□ I have not spent any money at all

18. Comparing the two questions
1. How much money are you likely to spend at
Viva CalleSJ?
2. How much money have you spent at Viva
CalleSJ today in each category?

19. Mineta Transportation Institute
Want to learn more?
• Report at transweb.sjsu.edu/project/1430.html
• Email: asha.weinstein.agrawal@sjsu.edu