Getting Your Data: Surveys

Activity: 3.1 Survey Administration Training

Purpose of Activity:

To make participants familiar with the survey instrument being used for your research project and to train surveyors on how to conduct the surveys.

By the end of Activity Participants will:

Understand how the survey fits in to the larger campaign
Be familiar with research terms related to surveying
Be familiar with the Survey instrument
Understand all the key terms in the survey
Understand who should be targeted to take the survey

Before this Activity Participants Will Need to:

Have finalized the survey instrument

Materials Needed:

Paper

Writing Utensils

Copies of the final survey (see Tool 3.1 for sample template)

Copies of rap for your survey outreach (see Tool 3.2 for sample)

List of “Key Terms” in your survey (see Tool 3.3)

Key Terms

Survey

Sample

Respondent

Rap

Intended Audience:

Community members that will be conducting surveys

Time Needed:

2.5 hours

Part I: “Why are we doing this survey?” (15 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

Ask a volunteer who’s been consistently involved in the research project to describe the research project and how it fits into your organizing campaign.
Introduce how the survey fits into your research project.
Popcorn questions about how the survey is connected to organizing.

Part II: “Who are we targeting?” (15 minutes)

Review the terms “sample” and “respondent” with members.
Review the sample group you are targeting and get specific. What is the background of the core group that you are targeting? Why are we targeting this particular group of people? How do we know they have the information we need to collect? Discuss any issues that arise.
Discuss who you are NOT targeting and how to make sure you are surveying the right people.
Discuss what to do if surveyors approach someone that is not eligible for the survey. How do you make sure to still try to connect these people to your organizing work?

Part III: How To Approach People to Survey (20 minutes)

Handout copies of “the Rap” you have created for your surveyors.
Explain what a rap is: a script that you use to approach potential survey respondents. The rap should introduce yourself, your organization and why you are doing the survey. Read it through once as a group and answer any questions.
Have participants role play the rap in partners
Debrief
Discuss any issues that need special attention in doing outreach for the survey (confidentiality, discussing sensitive issues, etc.)

Part IV: Getting Familiar with the Survey (40 minutes)

Before the meeting, prepare a list of key terms that show up frequently in the survey that are specific to your campaign.
Give each participant a handout that includes:
- The list of key terms
- A copy of the survey
- The “tips for surveying” handout (see Tool 3.3)
Go over the list of key terms with members, clarify any questions that arise.
Walk through the survey with the group and discuss how to use each part of it.
Next go over the general tips for surveying.

Part V: Test the Survey (45 minutes)

Break out in pairs and survey each other.
Come back to the big group to debrief and discuss the questions that are tricky.
- Are there any questions that seemed hard to understand or explain?
- Are there any words that are confusing or hard to read?
- Are there directions in the survey that are confusing?
Troubleshoot—brainstorm how to address some of the issues that came up.

Part VI: Wrap up check out (10 minutes)

Discuss questions, and concerns that came up throughout the day’s activity.
Discuss next steps in conducting survey outreach.

Download Tool 3.1 as a WORD DOC

Download Tool 3.1 as a PDF

Tool: 3.1 Survey Template

Surveyor Name: _____________________________
Date: ______________
Site of Survey: ______________________________
Borough: _________________

This survey is being conducted by Domestic Workers United, a city-wide alliance of domestic workers that have come together to gain respect and recognition for domestic workers, and to establish fair labor standards for our industry. We are an independent, nonprofit, non-governmental alliance. The purpose of this survey is to document working conditions for domestic workers. This information will help DWU to establish more rights and higher labor standards for domestic workers. All information is confidential and anonymous.

Opening Questions
These questions will ask you about your work as a domestic worker. If you are currently working, please answer the following questions about your current job(s). If you are unemployed, please answer the questions based on the most recent job(s) you had.

Are you currently employed as a domestic worker?
•Yes            • No
(If No, ask #2, if Yes, skip to #3)

If you are unemployed, what month and year did your last job as a domestic worker end?
Mo______Yr_______

Which of the following tasks do/(did) you do at your job(s) as a domestic worker? (check all that apply)

Who pays/(paid) your salary?
• An agency    • Family that I work for    • Not Sure
• Other:________________

In your last month of employment, how many different households did you do domestic work for, including part time jobs?
•1                    •2                  • 3                • 4           • 5            • 6
• More than 6

Are/were any of these jobs full time (40 or more hrs/week)?
•Yes            • No

How many hours per week do/(did) you work in each household?
(Write down hours worked per week for each household, starting with (a) as the most hours and ending with the least)

How many other workers, besides you, work in the household (s) where you work?

Are/(were) you a live-in employee for the household where you work(ed) the most hours?

•Yes/Live-in                 • No/Live-out

On average, how much do/ (did) you get paid per week for all of your
domestic work jobs?
$_____dollars per week               • Not Sure

Benefit Questions
For currently employed: Now I want you to think about the employer where you work the most hours.

For unemployed: Now I want you to think about your most recent employer, where you worked the most hours.

In the questions that come next, only answer for that employer.

SICK DAYS: First I’m going to ask you about sick days. These are days that you can take off of work because of illness or injury; if you need to go to the doctor or if you need to care for a family member that is ill or injured.

Do/ (did) you have an agreement with your employer about sick days?
•Yes            • No            • Not Sure
(If Yes, ask #12…If No or Not Sure, skip to 13)

If you made an agreement with your employer about sick days, was the agreement kept or broken?
• Agreement kept               • Agreement was broken
• Not sure                   • N/A

In your last year of employment, did you take any sick days? (If yes, how many days did you take?)
•Yes____# of days           • No            • Not Sure
(If Yes, ask #14…If No or Not Sure, skip to 15)

Are/ (were) the sick days paid or unpaid?
•Paid        • Unpaid    • Both paid and unpaid       • Not Sure

What is the maximum number of paid sick days that you can/(could) take per year? (if none, write zero)
___# of days       • Not Sure        • N/A

What is the maximum number of unpaid sick days that you can/(could) take per year? (if none, write zero)
___# of days       • Not Sure       • N/A

If you don’t/(didn’t) use your sick days in a certain amount of time, what happens?
• I get paid for the sick days I didn’t use   • Days roll-over to the next year
• I lose the sick days                • Not Sure
• Other:______________________               • N/A

How comfortable or uncomfortable do/(did) you feel talking with your employer about sick days?
• Very Comfortable          • Comfortable
• Somewhat Comfortable         • Uncomfortable
• Very Uncomfortable        • Not Sure

In your last year of employment, how many times did you go to work, even though you were sick?
• Never       • 1-2 times       • 3-5 times
• More than 5 times               • Not Sure

Current Demographic Information (See Sample Demographic Questions for more options)

Age:    • 20yrs or less        • 21-31yrs        •32-42yrs        • 43-53yrs        • 54-64yrs               • 65yrs and older

Gender:   • Female • Male • Transgender • Other:____________

Race/Ethnicity:
• African American     • Caribbean    • Latino/a    • White
• South Asian               • East Asian      • Other:_____________

Do you have children?
• Yes    •No

Number of children:
• 1   • 2   •3        • 4        • 5     • More than 5

Neighborhood(s)/ zip code where you work:______________________
zip code________________

Neighborhood/zip code where you live: __________________________
zip code________________

Download Tool 3.2

Tool: 3.2 Sample Rap for Surveying

From Domestic Workers United Study:

Hi, my name is ______________ and I’m with Domestic Workers United. We are a group of domestic workers including nannies, housekeepers and elderly caregivers fighting for more rights and better working conditions. Are you a domestic worker (or nanny, housekeeper or elderly caregiver?)

If No…probe a little to find out what they do and if they are not a domestic worker (hand them literature about DWU and thank them for their time)

If they are a domestic worker SAY…

You may have heard about the recent law that just passed that gives more protections to domestic workers like a day of rest and the right to overtime pay. Have you heard about it? (Briefly explain)

We are doing a brief survey today because we think there is more that can be done to make sure that we have more rights and better working conditions. We are going to write a report based on this survey to educate people about domestic workers and our industry. Do you have some time to answer a few questions about your work as a domestic worker? It should just take a few minutes.

Go into survey…

Download Tool 3.3

Descarga Herramienta 3.3 En Espanol

Tool: 3.3 Tips for Conducting Surveys

General Surveying Tips:

Make sure you fill out the information at the top of the survey (your name, site of survey, date, etc.).
Ask questions and give answer options word for word as they are written.
Ask questions in the order they appear in the survey.
Ask every question, unless the directions say to skip it.
Write down responses immediately after they are given.
Clearly mark your answers.

Tips for Using Your Surveys as an Organizing Tool:

Surveying can be a useful tool to strengthen your community organizing and outreach efforts because it enables your organization to meet and discuss with new community members who might be interested in joining your cause. Below are some tips for how to use surveys as an organizing tool.

Make sure you have a clipboard with organizational contact sheets.
After you finish the survey ask the respondent if they’ve heard of your organization and if they’d like to get more involved.
Ask the respondent if they are interested in joining your efforts by becoming a surveyor and surveying others.
Whether or not the person is eligible to take your survey, make sure you get the person’s contact information so you can follow up with them.

Download Tool 3.4 as a PDF

Tool: 3.4 Needs Assessment Survey Template

OUR Waterfront- East River Waterfront Survey

Please fill out this survey to help us document community preferences for development of the East River waterfront. This survey is completely voluntary, confidential and anonymous. If you would like to know the results of this survey and be informed of related follow-up activities, please include your contact information. Personal information will be kept separate from survey answers and will be used only to provide you with information about East River Waterfront Development and activities that might interest you. Thank you for your time and collaboration!

If you would like further information about waterfront development along the East River, please provide us with your contact information:

I am interested in:

Learning more about development along the East River Waterfront

Becoming more involved with OUR Waterfront

Note: Contact information will not be associated with any of your survey answers and will be used strictly to provide you with follow up information.

1. What are the most important issues facing Chinatown and the Lower East Side? Please check all that apply:

Safety and security

Affordability:

Housing Food Retail Services

Pollution and cleanliness

Displacement

Policing

Gentrification

Homelessness

Other _________________________ (please specify)

2. Do you currently go to the East River Waterfront? Yes No

A. If Yes, what do you do there?

Recreational activities:____________(please specify)

Dog walking

Fishing

Educational activities

Other __________________________(please specify)

B. If No, why not ?_________________________

_________________________________________

The City of New York has issued a plan to develop the two miles along East River Waterfront from the Battery to East River Park encompassing the financial district, the South Street Seaport, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. The following questions refer to your preferences for development along the new East River Waterfront.

3. What services, activities, and programs do you think should be included on the new East River Waterfront ? Please check all that apply and provide specific examples:

Recreational activities_________________________

Educational activities _________________________

Information services __________________________

Social services _______________________________

Arts and cultural space _________________________

Commercial/retail opportunities__________________

Employment/ job creation ______________________

Transportation _______________________________

Open space __________________________________

Other _______________________________________

4. The city’s current plan includes space for stores and businesses. Do you think there should be businesses and retail shops on the East River Waterfront?

Yes No I Don’t know

If Yes, what types of businesses and retail shops would you prefer to see along the waterfront? Please check all that apply:

Please check all that apply:

Type of Business:

Provided By:

Price Range of Goods:

Full service restaurants

Cafes and coffee shops

Carts, kiosks, and vendors

Bars and clubs

Big box stores, i.e. Home Depot, Target

Retail

Entertainment

Sports and recreation

None

Other________ (please specify)

Local small businesses

Large national chain stores

Street vendors

Other_________ (please specify)

Free

Low-cost

Mid-range

High-end

Other__________ (please specify)

5. What would be a reasonable amount of money for one person to spend on activities or services at the new East River Waterfront? (i.e. What is “affordable” for one person to pay for activities or services such as kayaking, entertainment, etc.?)

Please check all that apply:

Free

Less than $5

$5-$10

$10-$15

$15-$20

More than $20

Other______________________ (please specify)

6. What are your concerns about development along the East River Waterfront and the impact on the larger community? Please check all that apply:

Safety and security

Lack of cultural diversity in programming

Lack of low cost programs services and activities

Increased displacement

Lack of community input in what will happen

Increased gentrification and luxury development

Other ______________________(please specify)

7. Who should development along the East River Waterfront benefit the most? Please check one response:

Local community members (residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown)

All New York City residents

Tourists

Other_____________________ (please specify)

Demographic Information

Note: This information is strictly confidential and collected only to ensure a diverse survey sample. Your responses will not be connected to any other questions or personal information.

Gender: M F TG/TS

Age: _________

Zip Code where you live: _________________

Race/ Ethnicity:

Asian

Latino/Hispanic

Black/African-American

White

Mixed Race: ___________________ (please specify)

What is your annual household income level?

$10,000 or less $50,001-$60,000

$10,001-$20,000 $60,001-$70,000

$20,001-$30,000 more than $70,001

$30,001-$40,000

What is your primary language?

English

Spanish

Chinese

Other:_________________________(please specify)

What is your relationship to the East River Waterfront and the Chinatown and Lower East Side communities? Please check all that apply:

I live in the area

I work in the area

I have a business in the area

I go to school in the area

Other_________________________ (please specify)

Thank you for your participation in this survey!

Download Case Study

Download the Report

Case Study: 3.1 Domestic Workers United and CDP's Report: Domestic Workers and Collective Bargaining

Method Used: Survey

Background on Organization and Issue

Since 2000, Domestic Workers United (DWU), a community-based organization of 4000 nannies, housekeepers, and elder caregivers, has organized for power and fair labor standards, building a movement for change. In 2010, DWU’s efforts culminated in a historic victory: New York became the first state in the nation to pass a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

This new law represents a momentous advance for New York’s 200,000 domestic workers who have historically been excluded from state and federal labor laws. These workers will now be protected by new, basic labor standards. Despite these gains, the final version of the law did not include five critical benefits: paid sick days; paid personal days; paid vacation days; advance notice of termination; and severance pay.

Instead of passing these five benefits into law, the New York State Legislature commissioned the NYS Department of Labor (DOL) to complete a study on the feasibility of domestic workers’ collectively bargaining for these benefits. As domestic workers are currently excluded from collective-bargaining laws, DWU wanted to document the need for the inclusion of domestic workers in collective bargaining laws and explore which models of collective bargaining would function best in this industry. DWU partnered with the Urban Justice Center’s Community Development Project to conduct this research.

Below is a description of the DWU Collective Bargaining Research Project, based on the Participatory Action Research guiding framework (see Tool 2.1 and 2.2).

WHAT….

Were the Organizing Goals connected to this research?

To increase workplace standards for domestic workers.
To secure paid sick, vacation, personal days and notice of termination and severance pay for domestic workers.
To end the exclusion of domestic workers from the State Labor Relations Act, the law that governs collective bargaining.
To build the power of domestic workers.

Overall questions did DWU want to answer through their research?

What benefits are domestic workers in NYC receiving from their employers?
How do domestic workers fare in negotiating with their employers to secure benefits?
What challenges do domestic workers face when attempting to negotiate the terms of their employment?
Which models of collective bargaining would enable domestic workers to gain additional workplace rights and benefits?
What are the particular challenges domestic workers will face in collective bargaining?

Information did DWU need to collect to answer these research questions?

The types and amounts of benefits that domestic workers currently receive.
The number or percentage of domestic workers in NYC that currently have the benefits that were excluded from the Bill of Rights.
The types of agreements domestic workers have with their employers.
Stories from domestic workers about how they negotiate with their employers to secure benefits.
Stories from employers about how they negotiate with their domestic workers to set terms of employment.
Models of collective bargaining in other industries that could work for privately employed domestic workers.

WHY….

Is this research useful or important for DWU?

Internally: The research was used to educate DWU members about collective bargaining and to strengthen DWU’s base building and leadership development efforts. It also gave domestic workers and employers the opportunity to tell their stories.
Externally: It was used to influence the Department of Labor’s feasibility study and to educate other elected officials and policy makers about collective bargaining for domestic workers. It was also used to collect new data about the industry.

WHO…

Are the Stakeholders in this Issue?

The stakeholders included the 200,000 domestic workers in the U.S. and millions more across the country; the employers of domestic workers; and other low-wage and excluded workers that could benefit from the gains made by domestic workers.

Is DWU trying to influence?

The New York State Legislature; the NYS Department of Labor, the NYS Governor.

HOW…

Did DWU gather information (what methods did they use)?

DWU decided that they wanted hard numbers to make the case to the DOL and legislature that domestic workers were in need of collective standards. DWU members conducted 500 surveys with domestic workers in order to collect information about the types and levels of benefits domestic workers receive and to document the ability of domestic workers to negotiate with their employers for benefits. DWU also conducted a few in depth interviews with workers and employers in order to have some additional stories that could support and flesh out the survey data.

How Research Supported DWU’s Organizing Efforts

The report was released and submitted to the Department of Labor the week prior to the DOL’s deadline to complete their feasibility study. DWU and CDP held a policy briefing to release the report where domestic workers, employers, elected officials and allies presented on the research findings and DWU’s recommendations. When the DOL released its feasibility study and presented it to the NYS legislature, it included many of DWU’s recommendations, and concluded that Domestic Workers should be included in the right to collectively bargaining.

Click here to read the report.

Download Case Study 3.6

Case Study: 3.6 New Settlement's Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) Report: Tipping the Scales in Bronx Housing Court

Background on Organization and Issue

Every day, about 2,000 tenants go through the doors of Bronx Housing Court. Few tenants understand the Housing Court process and even fewer (less than 10%) have legal representation to help them navigate it. Since more than 98% of landlords are represented by lawyers, this creates an uneven playing field. Not surprisingly, Bronx Housing Court issues about 40,000 warrants of eviction each year, the most of any borough. In response, New Settlement Apartments’ Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) launched a campaign to reform Housing Court to make it easier for tenants to navigate. CASA is made up of community members who work together to improve the living conditions in the neighborhood and maintain affordable housing through collective action.

Below is a description of the CASA Housing Court Reform Research Project, based on the Participatory Action Research guiding framework (see Tools 2.1 and 2.2).

WHAT…

Were the Organizing Goals connected to this research?

To document the experiences of tenants in Bronx Housing Court and the challenges they face.
To evaluate judges in Bronx Housing Court.
To develop skills and leadership of members.
To build the base of members in our organization.
To educate Housing Court personnel and elected officials about the challenges tenants face in Housing Court.
To develop recommendations to make Housing Court a place for tenants to access justice.

Overall questions did CASA want to answer through their research?

What is it like to be a tenant in Housing Court?
What are some of the challenges tenants face in Housing Court?
How does having a lawyer impact the outcome of a tenant’s case and their overall experience in Housing Court?
How do individual judges run their courtroom in Bronx Housing Court and how does this affect tenants?
How do tenants and landlord lawyers interact in Bronx Housing Court?

Information did CASA need to collect to answer these research questions?

Relevant laws and regulations that govern Housing Court polices and personnel
Primary data about tenants’ experiences in Housing Court through surveys and focus groups
Secondary data about the average tenant in Housing Court
Court data on the number of cases, types of cases, number of evictions, etc
Data and stories on the impact of flawed Housing Court polices

WHY…

Is this research useful or important to CASA?

Internally: to develop the leadership of its members through their direct participation in the research; to strengthen their Housing Court Reform campaign by gathering data and creating a report that can support the campaign goals; to increase CASA membership; and allow CASA members to share their stories.
Externally: to educate the public and elected officials about housing court; to get media attention towards the need for better court policies and resources for tenants; to put pressure on Court officials to improve policies; to pass legislation to reform Housing Court.

WHO…

Are the stakeholders in this issue?

Bronx residents in Housing Court (most of whom are low-income women of color).

Is CASA trying to influence?

The Office of Court Administration, Chief Justice Lippmann, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Fern Fisher, Bronx Supervising Judge Jaya Madhaven and Bronx City and State elected officials.