Public Input and Opinions

Public Input and Opinions
Surveys	Surveys can assess widespread public opinion about issues and needs and public feedback on proposed plans and alternatives. An agency administers a survey to a sample group of people via a written questionnaire or through interviews in person, by phone, or by electronic media. The limited sample of people is considered representative of a larger group. Surveys can be formal (scientifically assembled and administered) or informal. Surveys portray community perceptions and preferences. They can accurately report on what people know or want to know. They can test whether a plan or plan element is acceptable to the public as it is being developed, or test an agency's perception of what people are thinking based on information obtained from other participation tools. Surveys can test whether opinions are changing, if repeated after an interval of time. Results can be useful to planner, elected officials, and community leaders to guide efforts to meet public concerns and develop effective messages for public information. A survey is based on a carefully designed questionnaire and can be administered in different ways, including by telephone and by mail. Response rates for telephone surveys tend to be higher than for mailed surveys. Surveys are not interactive. Used in isolation, surveys produce data, not a dialogue between the community and an agency or between groups of people. The information in a questionnaire should be neutral to allow respondents to make up their own minds about a question or concern. Surveys can spread misinformation if poorly drafted.
Interviews	Interviews are usually defined as a conversation with a purpose. They can be very helpful when information is needed about assumptions and perceptions of the community. They are also useful for in-depth information on a particular topic from a community leader or an expert. Interviews can be conducted by telephone or face-to-face with an individual or focus group. Care should be taken to prepare a careful list of questions, but administering the interview should be flexible and free-flowing to enhance interaction. Because of this interviewing is often described as an art, rather than a skill or science.
Plan review	Plan review meetings are work sessions focused on the public review of conceptual or detailed plans, usually for site development. Participants may include those potentially affected by the plan as well as the plan developers and agency planners. The objective of session is to obtain frank and honest opinion and concerns as well as ideas for plan improvement.
Public review and comment	Public review and comment on draft plans, environmental statements, and other documents, is usually a required participation method by regulation, and in this way is similar to public hearings. Also like public hearings, it is a one-way flow of feedback from the public with little or no interaction and usually occurs very late in the process. Review and comment requires significant effort and some sophistication on the part of the reviewer, and therefore, is of limited use for the average citizen. Despite these limitations, review and comment is an important "official" participation tool. It is important for organized groups and other agencies because their comments become part of the official record. To be effective, review and comment procedures must include a deadline for comments and more importantly, a mechanism for agency reaction to the comments and how and why they were used or not used in the final plan.
Resources & Links	Community Toolbox: Bringing Solutions to Light University of Kansas Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development in Lawrence, KS, and AHEC/Community Partners in Amherst, Massachusetts Needs Assessment Surveys Gathering Information on Opinions Conducting Interviews Public Involvement Techniques for Transportation Decision Making Federal Highway Administration, September 1996 Public Opinion Surveys