Community Image Survey

A tool for educating and involving community members in planning.

Community Image Surveys

• The Community Image Survey
• A Tool for Livable Places
• How the Survey Works
• How the Survey Helps Create A More Livable Community
• How the Center Can Help

How the Survey Works

The Community Image Survey is often conducted at a public meeting or workshop organized to discuss some aspect of the land use and transportation planning process. Survey participants are given a few seconds to rate each of the 40 slides on a scale of -10 to +10 (with 0 being 'neutral') depending upon how much they like or dislike the image. They are assured ahead of time that there is no right or wrong answer. The quick pace of the survey seeks to gauge their initial, 'gut' reaction to the images that are presented.

The scores for each slide are then tallied to determine the group's average score - a quantified collective opinion - for each image. The images with the highest negative and highest positive averages indicate where there is the most consensus in the group. The slides are shown again, and the participants are told the average score for each slide. The group is asked why they rated the images the way they did - an activity which generates spontaneous, high-energy discussion and debate.

Participants learn more about the design details and characteristics that evoke strong reactions from their fellow residents. New factors are considered which may have been previously overlooked, and features with broad appeal or universal dislike are recognized by the group as a whole. The participants' responses can then be recorded for use in future planning efforts.

How the Survey Helps Create More Livable Communities >