A survey or questionnaire is usually defined as a research instrument consisting of a set of questions intended to capture responses from respondents in a standardized manner (Bhattacherjee, 2012), is one of the most common methods used in descriptive research. It is also the preferred method when a researcher needs to obtain a small amount of information
from a large number of subjects (Marshall and Rossman, 1995), and the least expensive way to collect data from a geographically-dispersed sample. For this research, a survey focused on the adaptive capacities of metropolitan areas was given to local municipalities.
Two critical components of survey research are sound methodology and well-designed data collection instruments. Although there are a variety of potential methods and instru-ments, questionnaires and individual interviews are the most common techniques used in survey research in order to ensure the collection of standardized information in a way that will provide quantifiable results. However, there are also some pitfalls which must be avoided when using Internet survey method (O’Leary, 2009, Dillman et al., 2008). The survey questions should be well designed and easy to understand, because the respondents do not have the opportunity to clarify the meaning of questions. Additionally, the questions should be relevant, and the respondents must be willing to answer in order to generate trustworthy data that leads to credible results and conclusions.
Email or web based surveys allow coverage of a wide geographical area with relatively low costs. In addition, Internet surveys allow the participants to choose answer the questions on their own time, which can increase response rates (Babbie, 2010). In this research, an online survey was distributed to local governments in the Phoenix metropolitan area by email, where the same questionnaire was mailed to a number of city employees working in community development and human and social service departments, who completed the survey at their convenience.
Survey Instrument
The survey instrument developed for this study was divided into three major parts: general (background) information about municipality, adaptive capacities, and adaptive strategies (as described in Chapter 3). The survey was made up of 30 questions (see Appendix F), including both closed and open question formats grouped according to the themes shown in Figure 4.2.
Figure. 4.2 Survey instrument structure. Source: own compilation
The first part of the survey collected general information about the city that the respondent works for, including available statistical data and the respondent’s understanding of local poverty. The second section asked several questions aimed at measuring the adaptive capacities of the metropolitan area: information and skills, economic resources, organizations and infrastructure, institutions, and civic engagement. The aim of this section was to determine which of the adaptive capacities are represented within local governments and the communities that they serve. All closed questions were structured as "yes" or "no" questions, with an additional option for "I do not know," in case the person filling out the survey was not aware of the situation. Such approach easily identifies which elements of adaptive capacities exist in particular cities.
As "successful adaptation requires a recognition of the necessity to adapt, knowledge about available options, the capacity to assess them, and the ability to implement the most suitable ones" (Fankhauser et al., 1999), the questions in the information and skills section aim to determine the presence of information resources and qualified employees that can play a key role in adaptation to increased financial insecurity among seniors and the resultant need for resources and services among the aging population. The finance section of the survey investigates the amount of money that the local government devotes to addressing issues faced by the aging population, or if it receives additional funding from outside sources. Next, the organizations and infrastructure section of the survey asks about social infrastructure, a subset of the infrastructure sector that typically includes assets that accommodate social services. These questions look at a variety of organizations that often serve aging populations at the local level. The institutions and civic engagement survey section focuses on opportunities for social involvement. This is related to the aging population’s participation in collective activities, which reinforces social capital and social norms. In this section, the survey asked about groups such as advisory councils can advocate for the rights and interests of the aging population, providing additional attention to these issues.
The third part of the survey deals with adaptive actions that local governments may take to address the growing aging and impoverished population within their communities. This includes a question about the kind of strategies and actions that the city is using to address this increased need for services. In addition, this part of the survey provides a list of potential programs and services that a local government may offer for the elderly, allowing survey participants to mark any which are currently in use. Data collected from these questions will provide an understanding about the kind of programs that local governments are aware of right now, and where possible gaps exist.
Sampling of respondents
Researchers must carefully choose the target population from which they wish to collect data, and use a sampling strategy to select a representative data sample from that population. The
survey was conducted among municipalities within the census-defined Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As there is no clear information about how many organizations are working with older adults within the area, local municipalities were chosen as community representatives that should be aware of both the demographic trends that this study is investigating, and the available governmental and non-governmental resources that form local support networks. The survey was forwarded to all 22 municipalities within the Phoenix MSA that have a population of more then 10,000 people where 90 percent of the metropolitan population is located.
Unincorporated areas are regions of land that are not governed by a local municipal corporation, but instead is administered as part of larger administrative divisions, such as a township, parish, borough, county, city, canton, state, province, or country. In the Phoenix MSA, there are eight unincorporated communities with populations of more then 10,000 inhabitants. These communities were excluded from the targeted group for survey research as they represent a completely different type of community and governmental organization.
Ultimately, the limited sample size used in this research allowed direct contact with each municipally via phone to identify the most relevant contact within the local government to send the online survey to via email.
Data Collection
Data collection was conducted in several steps in order to obtain the best possible response rate. Dillman et al. (2008) suggest using a system of five compatible contacts in order to maximize response rate, as follows.
1. The first step is a pre-notice letter that is sent to the respondent a few days prior to the actual questionnaire. It notes that a questionnaire for an important survey will arrive in a few days, and that the person’s response will be greatly appreciated. Given the limited sample size of this particular research, each of the 22 municipalities was contacted via phone to identify the most relevant person to fill out the survey. For some municipalities, this process was straightforward because there was information on their official web pages about people working with the local aging population. These municipalities provide services for the elderly through social services departments, recreation departments, or have information about a municipal senior center. Some people were reached directly, some – through their assistants and secretaries.
2. Next, a questionnaire mailing should be sent that includes a detailed cover letter explaining why a response is important. Subjects are most likely to answer a survey if they understand its usefulness, it is not time consuming, it is aesthetically pleasing and legible, and it is presented as an ethical piece of research. After potential respondents were identified, self-completion surveys were sent out through electronic mail using an online Google form survey service. Detailed information about the research, and an
official invitation letter for participation in the research provided by research institution (see Appendix A) were included.
3. Mailed surveys always require a second or third mailing to obtain a higher return rate. A reminder email was sent to nonrespondents a few days to a week after the questionnaire, noting that the completed questionnaire has not yet been received and politely reminding that it should be returned soon.
4. A replacement questionnaire can be sent to nonrespondents two to four weeks after the previous questionnaire mailing. It indicates that the person’s completed questionnaire has not yet been received, and urges a response.
5. Finally, a last contact made by a different mode of delivery of request of participation should be made two to four weeks after the previous mailing. In this research, some local governments were contacted again in order to find another person who would participate in the research. In some cases, experts who participated in interviews later were asked to fill out the survey, if no representative of their organization had done so previously.
Following these five steps, the final response rate was 54.5 percent. Since the original sample of potential respondents was limited, as discussed previously, a higher response rate was desired. However, responses were received from municipalities with a range of population sizes that were located throughout the Phoenix MSA (Figure 4.3). All principal cities, except city of Tempe, and other cities with larger population participated in the survey.
Municipalities with smaller populations were less active in the online survey research, but some municipalities provided responses.
Data Analysis
Analysis of the survey response data involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches, since the survey included both open and closed questions. For this research, the quantitative approach presents descriptive statistics for one variable. Tables and graphs are presented in the following results chapter to support the argumentation.
It is not possible to apply the quantitative approach of analysis to the data that resulted from the several open-ended questions in the survey. In the literature, the quantitative approach for the analysis of open-ended questions is based on developing categories to code data by identifying patterns and trends in respondents’ answers. However, since the survey included a limited number of open-ended questions, such detailed analysis was not necessary. Information received through answers to these questions was used during the development of result chapters when respondents’ input provided support for the argumentation.
ResearchDesignandMethodology
Organization Phoenix Mesa Chandler Scottsdale Glendale Gilbert Peoria Surprise Avondale Apache Junction Fountain Hills Coolidge Principal cities Municipalities with larger population Municipalities with smaller population
Population 1,473,639 447,002 241,096 221,283 230,047 215,683 157,152 118,784 76,872 36,181 22,812 11,785
Percent 65+ 8.7% 15.2%, 8.3%, 20.5% 9.3% 6.9% 14.4% 19.9% 6.6% 26.9% 27.9% 12.3%
Figure. 4.3 Local municipalities participated in online survey with representation of their total population and percent of people with age 65 and older. Source: own compilation; table of own compilation based on U.S. Census Bureau, 2013b