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Like last year, a separate version of the survey was used with each respondent group to capture feedback concerning common topics across all groups, as well as issues specific to a given group. Therefore, the length of each survey differed from group to group, although no survey exceeded more than seventy questions or items.

A three-point response scale, plus a Don't Know/Not Applicable point, was used in the instruments. The decision was made based on research into the discrimination power of such scales, as well as the literature based item search. Anchor wording for each point was made flexible to accommodate the variety of items.

The specific anchors for each point included:

• Favorable: Yes/Mostly Agree/Almost Always
• Neutral: Sometimes/Maybe
• Unfavorable: No/Mostly Disagree/Almost Never

Each survey was designed to yield scores (based on responses) for categories of items. The categories are an accumulation of responses to one or more specific items. Some of the factors were based on the same items for each of the four surveys, and are referred to as "common factors." Other categories of items were specific to a group (e.g., students), and are described as "group specific factors".

• Common Factors As was mentioned above, each survey was designed to obtain a common set of climate data for comparative purposes. A total of twenty five items were included in each version of the climate surveys that asked respondents to provide their perceptions on six separate categories or "common" factors, including:

                       Discipline and Rules
                       Safety
                       Attachment to Teachers
                       Attachment to School
                       Student Influence
                       Respect

• Group Specific Factors Each version of the survey also included items specific to a given respondent group. Like the common questions, the group specific items were also categorized into factors. The categories of group specific factors included:

STUDENTS:               PARENTS:                               STAFF:
Self-Esteem             Achievement Expectations               Job Satisfaction
School Rewards          Curriculum/Activities/Programs         Personal Development/Planning
Punishment              Teacher/Student Relations              Personal Safety
                        School/Parent/Community Relations      Achievement Expectations
                                                               Support for Teachers
                                                               Parent Involvement
                                                               Administrative Leadership
                                                               Curriculum/Activities/Programs

• School Specific Items As was mentioned above, one purpose of the 2001 Climate Survey was to afford schools an opportunity to include school specific questions in the survey, up to a total of ten (10) items.

Updated: September 12, 2005
Author: Joshua Roy jroy@madison.k12.wi.us
Webmaster: Webmaster webmaster@madison.k12.wi.us
 
 
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