Introduction to Assessment Methods: Surveys, Interviews, and Focus Groups

          This workshop focuses on how to create and conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups. Using interactive activities and lecture, this workshop will discuss common features of these three tools, including... [ view full abstract ]

          This workshop focuses on how to create and conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups. Using interactive activities and lecture, this workshop will discuss common features of these three tools, including informed consent, biases, invitations to participate, scope, and sampling size.

            The workshop will then split the remaining time between surveys and interviews & focus groups. Survey specific topics will include key features to writing good survey questions, including response choices, format, demographic questions, and examples of question types. The section specific to interviews and focus groups includes discussion of the utility triangle, question writing, question asking, group dynamics, interview strategies, recording, and location. Participants will be provided with a workbook of activities to guide through the workshop as well as being a resource for future use of these tools.

            Participants are encouraged to bring one or two assessment projects where these three tools may be of use. The intent is to provide participants with solid ideas and understandings they can use the next day in library assessment. While this workshop is intended for those wishing to learn how to use these assessment tools, all are invited to improve their skill set and to share their expertise and experience.