Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Satisfaction (Happiness) Surveys?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On May 23, 2019, at 4:45 PM, Mac Thomson via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] 
> cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
> Heartwood Cohousing (rural SW Colorado, 24 homes) is contemplating creating a 
> satisfaction survey. We might ask more big picture questions like, “How 
> satisfied are you with your life here?”, and some more specific questions 
> like, “How satisfied are you with the common house laundry facilities?”

Every few years we have done a preference survey for members to rate from 1-5 
stars their view of something. What do you think needs more attention? Which 
are priorities for you? etc. Many of the items will be standard ( stove, ovens, 
compost bin, etc) and others more specific to a problem a few people have 
identified: Compliance with composting guidelines, rebuilding triangle bed, 
noise from CH HVAC. 

The rating system allows you to see a range of responses, not the majority vote 
of yes/no. Some items will be all 1’s and 5’s. Others 2s and 3s.  Others 4s and 
5s. The numbers are easily tabulated with one person reading the numbers from 
each survey form and another typing them into a spreadsheet. We post the 
tabulations so everyone can see the ranges. (no names)

One issue to prepare for is that in the meeting when you pass out the survey 
there will be 3-5 additional items requested. To facilitate talking about these 
leave some numbered or lettered spaces. Then you can review them by number to 
be sure everyone has the right items written in. (We also ask people for items 
before we finish typing up the survey but there are always more.)

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org