[Winona] Survey Report

[Kathy Seifert]

I've had quite a few messages indicating that the report attachment was incompatable and/or unreadable so I'm cutting and pasting it below.  I will also ask Craig Brooks to post it to the website when he returns after the 10th.   Kathy Seifert   Winona Online Democracy Survey: Increasing Participation   In May of 2003 a new survey was launched by WOD.  The steering committee defined a goal of increasing participation and sought to solicit feedback from members to evaluate the feasibility of that goal, to evaluate some ideas developed within the steering committee, as well as to obtain suggestions from the membership.  The survey was conducted through a free survey website, www.createsurvey.com.  The following summary is based on data tabulated by that site.   According to the survey results reported by Create Survey, there were 63 respondents to the survey.  However, it was observed that repeat comments were recorded on at least three occasions.  In one instance, the exact same comment appeared 5 times in a row in the report!  It is assumed that the respondent was not aware that the answers had been submitted and made several attempts.  This assumption was made based on the second respondent�s comment regarding his/her confusion��I have no idea whether or not this response is going through!�  Another respondent appeared to have submitted his/her answers four times and a third submitted the same answers twice.    Because of this phenomenon, the accuracy of many of the numerical results is in question.  If our survey was to be scrutinized, this would be a serious and valid criticism.  Although the raw data might reveal more accurate statistics, the labor and learning curve would be much too extreme for this writer!  That being said, the data provided by the Create Survey site still offers a great deal of information as to why respondents subscribe and their thoughts about increasing online participation.   Because we know about the repeats and can identify a pattern, it seems more likely that 55 individuals responded to our survey.  WOD�s membership at that point was approximately 200 subscribers, so we estimate that 25% of the membership completed the survey.  That is a conservative estimate based on an awareness that many addresses appeared to be students who may have abandoned their mailboxes before unsubscribing at the end of a semester in which they became involved as part of a course.  We suspect that the actual response rate was an even greater percentage of current intentional members.   The reasons why respondents subscribe to WOD ranged in popularity from the most frequently endorsed choice, �Get information about local issues and events,� to the least often endorsed response, �Use WOD discussion as a springboard for civic action.�  The following list is a rank ordering of reasons for subscribing from most to least often selected:   Get information about local issues Read a variety of views Broaden my understanding of local issues Watch and monitor public opinion Voice my concerns and opinions Read responses from local elected officials Be involved in the democratic process Seek input on topics Ask specific questions Connect with others Learn about opportunities to participate in community Use WOD discussion as a springboard for civic action   When asked if they thought that WOD was currently meeting their expectations, 48% indicated YES; 46% chose the response, SOMEWHAT; 5% answered NO; and one person said that IT HAS EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.  Some comments related to this question included:   I�d like to see more elected official interaction (question posing, indicating interest, etc.)�also I�d like to think of ways we carry discussion through to action Not sure how representative the opinions are�pretty much the same folks post Participation is too limited Often the people responding and interacting are at a level beyond my knowledge or willingness to research.  It is often hard to express an opinion without feeling like you�re uninformed.  Some issues and the depth of the discussion are not of interest to me and there are a few writers that I delete without reading their responses fully because it is so negative or biased. More participation and a wider spectrum of view would be useful. Not enough posting Sometimes opinions which are not �in-line� with the majority of the more vocal posters are dismissed out of hand.  People with Conservative Viewpoints sometimes are ridiculed.  I think many people who subscribe, may be afraid to POST, because they do not wish to be �Labeled� as on one side or the other I wish I had the courage to post more comments.  The discussions seem to take off with such power that it�s often hard to enter them. It�s like a private party of like-minded individuals   Fifty-three percent of the respondents indicated being satisfied with their level of participation, 33% described feeling somewhat satisfied, and only 14% described themselves as not satisfied with their level of participation.  Some explanations for dissatisfaction were lack of interest in the discussion, lack of time, not feeling the need to respond, not feeling qualified--yet knowing participation is essential to making WOD �work� and simply feeling uneasy about posting, ambivalence toward the issues, and, finally, this quote: �I am one of the guilty ones who does not post but enjoys keeping up with current local issues and opinions.  If I had more time, I would probably post something from time to time.�   When asked to choose what would make it more likely that one would increase WOD participation, the top response (34) was �More posts by local government officials.�   Twenty-four chose �Seek out more variety of views/opinions� and 18 indicated �Provide opportunities for action.�  Twelve thought that scheduling �face to face events� would increase their likelihood of participating.  The choices �More posts by moderators,� �Nothing,� and �More opportunity to talk with media members� were each endorsed 11 times.   Ideas from members regarding what might increase their participation included more issue, a variety of viewpoints, more �surveys� asking how folks feel about certain issues, more topics suggested by moderators, less �brow-beating� or forcing subscribers to justify their opinions, more time to think about it, fewer rude or disrespectful comments about conservatives, and folders on topics that would contain all the posts on that subject.  One individual indicated that s/he felt �if you don�t hold the view of the majority that post, you must be an idiot or that is the way you are made to feel at times.�  A school teacher indicated feeling there was no way to feel comfortable sharing an opinion �in this community which thinks I�m a pariah and have no credibility.�   Forty-seven percent of respondents described themselves as SOMEWHAT interested in following up a discussion topic with action. Thirty-two percent answered YES and 22% said, NO, they were not interested in following up with action.  Many indicated that it would depend on the topic and the action.  Lack of time seemed to be a significant factor impeding action.  One individual noted that �unless there is wide agreement on a topic, �action� may be artificial and unrepresentative.  Moreover, action taken that ignores a minority view could discourage participation by those whose views are not aired.  If taken, action should allow for minority reports.�  Another described �WOD as a comfortable place to chat, not an obligation to get involved in some activity or feel guilty.�  One said they s/he would do so �on my own when it is a matter of concern to me.�  The teacher (above) was �through� with giving to the community.   When asked about preferences for follow-up action 48% preferred public opportunities.  Thirty-three percent preferred private opportunities taken from home.  Eleven percent preferred action with a representative WOD group and 7% chose OTHER.  Some preferred action as an individual.  Some were interested in more than one option.  One suggested that electronic input to face-to-face meetings be solicited and that minutes from �real-time WOD meetings be posted on the board� and another felt it was important to know that �we�re heard by appropriate elected officials.�   Fifty-six percent of the respondents indicated that they would be likely to use �clickable� links to local officials.  Thirty-five percent said that PERHAPS they would take advantage of these tools and 9% said, NO, they would not use such tools.   Fifty-nine percent indicated that they were unaware of any impact WOD had had in the Winona area.  Forty-one percent indicated that they were aware of WOD�s impact.  Attention to stop signs, second hand talk about computers in the �early days,� town hall forums after 9/11, a meeting of 50 Winona leaders, individual views receiving attention in governing bodies and media, community forums, folks thinking about and acting on issues, and study circles were noted as specific impacts.  One individual thought that people were discussing �in person� what they�d been reading on the discussion and another speculated that attendance at community events may have been greater as a result of WOD discussions.   There were many suggestions from subscribers for how WOD might have a greater impact.  Several individuals described increasing media visibility as important.  Having the moderators or steering committee suggesting a topic or issue was suggested as a way to bring forth varied ideas.  One person suggested encouraging wider participation and more ideas and letting people know that all political views, conservative or liberal are welcome.  One suggestion was to post the agendas for the City Council, County Board, and School Board in order to allow public input and several thought that making our topics known to elected officials would have an impact.  Another thought that more involvement of local leaders and elected officials would be beneficial as would more diversity in the membership.  Finally, one person wished �the discussion were all about issues and didn�t attack personalities.�   In regard to the civility of our forum, 75% described WOD as tolerant and civil forum where rare insults are dealt with appropriately. Eight percent said WOD had exceeded �safety� expectations and 3% described WOD as �unsafe.�  Fourteen percent endorsed OTHER.  Respondents gave the following explanations for their answers: I feel the new WOD has cleaned up this issue of the past I am not offended personally by angry or crude outbursts, but I understand others might be I am still uneasy in posting an opinion�for fear of looking uneducated It is better than it was previously, but there are still some members that seem to think they are the only ones who know anything and put down those who are different One example of incivility can make a potential new �poster� feel unsafe Elimination of uncivil behavior, however important, must not preclude presentation of different views It�s so �safe� it�s tedious I think there may be some who are overly sensitive about having their comments and/or ideas challenged I am offended by the more frequent �personal� attacks than I had expected.  However, politics often begins with someone�s brave idea, thus if I have the passion for the issue, I will take the risk to post I would have chosen �relatively unsafe.�  I also believe it is becoming more civil of late It�s not so much angry as ugly and disrespectful [showing no] real desire to hear from the �other side� and learn from the discourse. Those who post incompatible opinions are often ridiculed as being ill-informed or unintelligent.  Posters are chastised for �poking holes� in another�s opinion. Personal A vs. B arguments turn me off.  I don�t feel that I should have to defend my opinion as long as I don�t dismiss the other side.   In terms of respondents� view of WOD, 34 individuals noted that WOD has a lot of untapped potential for citizen action.  Twenty-one said WOD is effective in local quality of life and governmental issues.  Nineteen noted they like things the way they are and are satisfied with what they read and their level of participation.  Eighteen said they use what they learn from the discussion in order to be more active in the community.  Fourteen would like to use what they learn to be more active, but are uncertain how to go about it.  Eleven said they might share their two cents if there were fewer attack and five said they were beginning to get dissatisfied with WOD and had considered unsubscribing.   Many of the final comments made by respondents indicated their gratitude and praise for WOD and the volunteers who take the time to monitor and facilitate the list.  One was concerned that when the subject changes, a new discussion thread is not always started.  Another felt there was too much of the same thing by the same people while a third said, �Discussion of ideas should occur in a lively and challenging environment� as a response to the concern about personal attacks.  One individual described WOD as �a work in progress� encouraging him/her to read and respond occasionally.   Another thought the �blind� survey was a great idea and appreciated the opportunity to express one�s views anonymously.  One individual indicated that separating the local and national issues into two lists was not working.  Two described their views as differing from the frequent posters who were perceived as �leaning slightly to very far left.�  One of these felt �why bother� sharing views that would be open to attack and the other intended to continue to read and post in the future.