Yearbook Survey Assignment

BACKGROUND: Much of the look of this year's yearbook will rely on quick reads that give the reader EXTRA information beyond the standard "Photo and Caption" pages that we have relied on in the past. To accomplish these, we need to be out in the school community getting ideas, opinions and numbers. This assignment is designed to allow students to put together useful surveys and questionnaires to gather information for their pages.

ASSIGNMENT: Each student will create survey questionnaire to gather information about a page that they have been assigned. This survey will contain AT LEAST FIVE questions. These questions should be of a "Select One" or "List" variety, NOT a "Yes" or "No" question. The questions should try to get information regarding the BEHIND THE SCENES of ONE OF YOUR UPCOMING YEARBOOK PAGES. Your questions should be fun, pertinent and thought provoking.

EXAMPLE: Homecoming week is almost upon us and we need LOTS of information regarding homecoming activities. Here is a table of some BAD questions and some GOOD questions to ask on a Homecoming Survey:

Bad Homecoming Survey Question Good Homecoming Survey Question
Are you going to be going to the Homecoming Dance?

On Saturday of Homecoming Week will you be:

  1. Going to the Homecoming Dance.
  2. Staying home and watching movies.
  3. Going out with friends.
  4. Other, list:_________________
Do you like Homecoming Week?

What is your favorite Homecoming Week Activity?

  1. Spirit Week Dress up Days.
  2. Float building.
  3. Decorating.
  4. Powder Puff and Hot Stuff.
  5. Bonfire.
  6. The Parade.
  7. The Football and Volleyball Games.
  8. King and Queen announcement.
  9. The Dance.
Are you on any Homecoming Committees?

The school has been talking about cancelling some of the Homecoming Activities, such as Dress Up Days and the Parade. How important are these events to your High School experience?

  1. Very important, they are the essence of being in High School.
  2. Kind of important. What kind of school doesn't have dress up days for Homecoming?
  3. Not Very Important: I don't reallyl care either way.
  4. Totally unimportant: I dislike homecoming immensely.
Have you bought your Homecoming Dance Dress/Tux already?

How much money, including dress up costumes, Hot Stuff uniforms, Homecoming Dance outfits, flowers, dinners, photographs, etc., do you think you will spend during Homecoming Week?

  1. 0 dollars.
  2. 1-10 dollars.
  3. 11-50 dollars.
  4. 51-100 dollars.
  5. 100-200 dollars.
  6. Over 200 dollars.

CHECKING YOUR SURVEY: Please have Mr. B. check your survey before you give it to any students or staff. A poorly worded survey makes the yearbook staff look extremely unprofessional.

OTHER SURVEY TOOLS: There are a number of other survey tools available. Yearbookavenue.com has a "Survey" tool, Facebook allows for creation of surveys. If a students wishes to try to use these tools, they can do so, but please have Mr. B. check your survey before using it.

GIVING OUT YOUR SURVEY: Please LIST or DESCRIBE specifically who you will be giving your survey to. Think about the population that you wish to reach for information for your page.

A good survey has to reach a certain portion of the students in the school or in the target population or it is seen as an "invalid" survey. We should be talking to AT LEAST 20 percent of the students in the school on each general survey. This would be 50 students. Try to make sure that you are surveying a good cross section of the student body, not just the "kids in 7th Period Math."

If you need a more specific population, such as "AP Students", "New Teachers" or "Members of FFA", adjust your numbers accordingly. In these smaller population sizes, we should be attempting to survey EVERYONE.

We do NOT need to give out tons of surveys to students all at once. I would like to give out a few Homecoming Surveys this week, if possible. Other surveys will be given out over the next month or so. I would like to get the school population USED TO the idea of answering questions for yearbook!

GRADING: Please have your survey questions completed and handed into Mr. B. for "checking" by Friday. Once the survey questions are PERFECT, I will give you a grade for the assignment. This will be worth 100 points.