After thousands of citizen ideas with IDEA GATHERINGS... COMMUNITY CHOICES... WORK GROUP STRATEGIES... and even, the LAST CALL Questionnaire – we now have the results of the very first “AT RANDOM” community survey that tested many different perspectives among 665 citizens, chosen completely at-random from the Town's census database.
This survey is a scientifically-valid and defensible tool for gathering public input on key issues related to the comprehensive Master Plan process. Information collected at the IDEA GATHERING Meetings and similar community exercises were used to create the survey design. This survey provides a “go-ahead” signal for certain concepts... some tweaking for other concepts... and a “back-to-the-drawing-boards” signal for still others.

Here are survey analysis documents:

• Click Here to download a copy of the Community Survey Draft Report (PDF 326kb)
   
• Click Here to download a copy of Community Survey Questions Displayed in Chart Form (PDF 4.2MB)
   
• Click Here Preference Ratings Arranged Numerically (PDF 60kb)
   
• Click Here to download a copy of Preference Levels Arranged by Question (PDF 84kb)

Here are the preliminary survey results:

• Click Here to download a copy of the at-random
  survey results (PDF 157kb)
   
• Click Here to download a copy of related comments from the at-random survey participants (PDF 234kb)
   
• Click Here to download a copy of the at-random
  survey questions (PDF 436kb)

Background

A randomly-selected, representative cross section of approximately 1000 members of Amherst’s diverse population were asked to validate or invalidate the conclusions reached in the planning process to date. The survey could be a go-forward signal for some features of the process; and it could redirect other features.

The survey collected information from a broad cross-section of community residents in order to help clarify the community's preferences and priorities in a clear and quantifiable manner.