1 2009 danville region social capital survey center for survey research a unit of the weldon cooper...

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2009 Danville RegionSocial Capital Survey2009 Danville RegionSocial Capital Survey

Center for Survey ResearchA Unit of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

University of Virginia

Center for Survey ResearchA Unit of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

University of Virginia

October 20, 2009

Center for Survey ResearchUniversity of VirginiaCenter for Survey ResearchUniversity of Virginia

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Report AuthorsReport Authors

Deborah L. RexrodeStaff Research Analyst

Thomas M. GuterbockDirector

Center for Survey Research


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Purpose of SurveyPurpose of Survey

• To measure how people feel about the region and their future in it

• To measure people’s attachment to their community

• To measure the region’s social capital• To gather baseline data to be compared to results

of future, bi-annual surveys


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Survey FeaturesSurvey Features• SPONSOR: Danville Regional Foundation

• n = 1,026

• Samples

• 3 geographic areas: City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Caswell County, NC

• Respondent selection within household

• CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing)

• Solid interviewer training and pretest

{RDD (random digit dialing) Listed Cell-Phone


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Survey AccuracySurvey Accuracy

• Margin of error: +/- 3.7%• Data weighted on gender, geographic

region, home ownership, and race.


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Age of Respondents by Phone Type

Age of Respondents by Phone Type

Reaching respondents by cell phone provides better coverage of young people, unmarried, renters, minorities, newcomers.

35.4%

35.7%

16.6%

9.0%

3.4%

11.0%

24.6%

24.6%

22.0%

17.8%

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4

Over 64

50-64

38-49

26-37

18-25

Landline Cell


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Survey TopicsSurvey Topics

• Overall quality of life in the Danville Region• Community Attachment• Civic Participation• Political Participation• People in the Economy• Children and Schools• Health Issues


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National, Regional, State andLocal Comparisons

National, Regional, State andLocal Comparisons

• An attempt was made in the design of this study to use comparable measures with other county, regional, state, and national studies.

• There is no single source of information to use in comparing these survey results with broader results.

• The report reflects some individual item comparisons where possible.


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Demographic ProfileDemographic Profile


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Geographic DistributionGeographic Distribution

9.5%

39.7%

50.8%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Caswell Co

City ofDanville

PittsylvaniaCo


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Age of RespondentsAge of Respondents

8.9%

13.7%

18.9%

33.3%

25.1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

18-25

26-37

38-49

50-64

65+


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EducationEducation

High School

Graduate29.2%

Some high

School16.7%

Ph.D.1.1%

Graduate Work8.2%4-Year

Degree11.3%

Some College33.6%


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Survey HighlightsSurvey Highlights

• Danville area residents rate their region fairly high for quality of life

• Danville area residents have a strong sense of community, social connectedness and religious involvement

• However, civic involvement lags somewhat behind averages elsewhere

• Many Danville area residents worry about their children’s future


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What is “Social Capital”What is “Social Capital”“By ‘social capital,’ I mean features of social life –

networks, norms, and trust – that enable participants to act together more effectively to pursue shared objectives.”

--Robert Putnam

“Social capital refers to our relations with one another…I use the term ‘civic engagement’ to refer to people’s connections with the life of their communities, not merely with politics.”

--James S. Coleman


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Quality of LifeQuality of Life

. . . and wanting to live

in the Danville Region


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Quality of LifeQuality of Life• Rated on a ten-point scale (10 = highest)

• Danville Region rating: 7.30

– Albemarle County (2008): 8.01

– Spotsylvania County (2007): 7.39

– Bedford County (2001) 7.80

– Prince William County (2009) 7.30


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Overall Quality of Life RatingsOverall Quality of Life Ratings

Middle27.1%

Best53.0%

Worst19.9%

Best (8-10) Middle (6-7) Worst (1-5)


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Overall Quality of Life Ratings by Geographic Region

Overall Quality of Life Ratings by Geographic Region

6.57

7.78

7.81

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Danville

PittsylvaniaCo

Caswell Co,NC

Mean


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Quality of LifeQuality of Life

• Overall rating of quality of life in the Danville Region of 7.30 is relatively high

• Residents of Pittsylvania County, VA and Caswell County, North Carolina rate the quality of life higher than those who live in Danville city.

• Long-time residents are concerned about the quality of life in the Danville Region in the future


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Community AttachmentCommunity Attachment


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Neighbors You KnowNeighbors You Know

17%

22%

12%

4%

24.4%

21.1%

9.9%

5.9%

45%

38.8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

11 or more

6 to 10

3 to 5

1 or 2

None

AARP Danville


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Safety at Home and in SchoolsSafety at Home and in Schools

98.3% 86.9%

1.6%

13.1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Home Schools

Safe Unsafe


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Community Attachment IndexCommunity Attachment Index• Relatives who live within driving distance

• Relatives who live within walking distance

• How important it is to feel a part of the community

• How often you feel a sense of belonging or membership in the community

• How much you feel at home in the area where you live

• How much you feel you have a lot in common with the people in your community

• How much you care what others think of your actions

• How important it is to live in this particular area


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• Overall average score was 4.15.– Compared to the AARP national study: 4.20.

• People who answered “yes” or “strongly agree” for six or more of the variables in the index gave higher ratings for the overall quality of life in the Danville Region.


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• Residents of the Danville Region have a strong sense of community, feel a sense of belonging, and feel it is important to live in this area

• Residents of the Danville Region feel they have an impact in making their community a better place to live

• Some residents expressed concern for safety in shopping areas

• The level of community attachment is at parity with national averages.


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Civic ParticipationCivic Participation


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Religious Service AttendanceReligious Service Attendance

42.2%

18.6%

39.2%

12.8%

28.8%

58.4%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Less thanmonthly or

never

Once ortwice amonth

Every weekor almost

every week

GSS Danville


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Strongest Membership in Community OrganizationsStrongest Membership in Community Organizations

• Religious organizations (69%)• Hobby and recreation groups (24%)• School support groups (24%)• Organizations for older adults (24%)

Higher than the AARP national study.


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Lower Memberships in Community Organizations

Lower Memberships in Community Organizations

• Labor unions (6.6%)• Professional and trade organizations (23%)• Neighborhood associations (12.6%)

Lower than the AARP national study.


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Volunteer HoursVolunteer Hours

Lower volunteering hours than national average

Higher involvement in churches and religious organizations.

Lower involvement in foundations, fraternal associations, business organizations, community action organizations, and housing associations.

7.0%

8.0%

22.0%

21.0%

23.0%

12.0%

4.2%

5.1%

12.6%

21.4%

30.1%

26.6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

More than 40hours

21-40 hours

11-20 hours

6-10 hours

3-5 hours

2 hours or less

AARP Danville


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Civic SkillsCivic Skills

16.9%

17.3%

17.9%

23.9%

0% 25% 50%

Presentations

Officers

Wrote a letter

Lead a meeting

Percent

Officer percentages:Social Benchmark – 19.5%AARP – 26%NWAF – 33%


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Civic InvolvementCivic Involvement

• Actively involved in religious organizations• Support school activities• Only a small percentage participate to the level of

acquiring civic skills• Volunteering: less than national averages• Results indicate the need for programs in the area

that directly foster leadership and civic involvement


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Political ParticipationPolitical Participation


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Participation in Political Activities

Participation in Political Activities

14.4%

30.5%

3.4%

21.6%

31.8%

0% 25% 50%

Worked to solvestate andnationalproblems

Worked to solvecommunityproblems

Protests,boycotts

Politicalcampaigns

Petitions

Percent


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Trust in GovernmentTrust in Government

Most of the time34.2%

Never/ almost never5.9%

Only some of the time54.2% Just

about always5.6%

“Only some of the time”Social Benchmark – 46.5%

AARP – 41%


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People in the EconomyPeople in the Economy


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EmploymentEmployment

Full-time43.2%

Not employed

5.5%

Other4.8%

Part-time8.8%

Retired24.6%

Disabled7.7%

Temp not employed

5.4%


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Perceptions of WorkPerceptions of Work

90.4%

94.9%

86.4%

93.2%

92.0%

74.7%

55.6%

71.5%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Use skills

Interesting work

Feel appreciated

See connection with benefits

Personal accomplishment

Opportunities to learn new skills

Opportunities for advancement

Fair compensation

Percent


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Special Training—for what?Special Training—for what?

21.3%

27.7%

37.6%

13.4%

0% 25% 50%

Other

Changejobs

To improvejob

Required byjob

Percent

64% of employed respondents said they would be likely to take special training.

This graph shows the reasons why.


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Economic SituationEconomic Situation

• More than 50% of respondents have been affected by the economic downturn

• A significant number of residents are currently unemployed, temporarily laid off or disabled, and only working part-time.

• Most employed residents derive meaning from their work and feel a sense of accomplishment

• A significant number are working more than 40 hours a week and holding more than one job


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Children and SchoolsChildren and Schools


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Stay or Go?What is Best for Children

Stay or Go?What is Best for Children

Better to leave69.8%

Better to stay

19.5%

Depends8.8%No

difference 1.9%

Q: “When a child from the Danville region is ready to leave home, do you think it would be better for them to stay in the Danville region or move to some other area to live?”


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Rating of SchoolsRating of SchoolsGotten worse22.2% Gotten

better31.9%

About the same

46.0%


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Challenges for Children and Youth

Challenges for Children and Youth

6.2%

19.5%

49.3%

4.1%

2.8%

10.5%

26.8%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Lack of parentalinvolvement

Lack of recreationalactivities

No jobs

Dropping out of school

Teen pregnancy

Gangs

Drugs

Percent


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Schools and ChildrenSchools and Children

• More than three-fourths of respondents said that the Danville Region is a good place to raise children

• Nearly 70% said when a child is ready to leave home, it is better for them to move away

• Most respondents send their children to public schools.

• The biggest challenge affecting children and youth is the lack of jobs


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Health IssuesHealth Issues


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Overall Health StatusOverall Health Status

Very good36.7%

Excellent16.5%

Poor6.2%Fair

11.9%

Good28.6%


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Overall Health ComparisonsOverall Health Comparisons

13.0%

26.0%

61.0%

12.7%

28.5%

58.8%

18.1%

28.6%

53.3%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Fair or poor

Good

Excellent orvery good

Percent

NHIS BRFSS Danville


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Vigorous activity for children:how often?

Vigorous activity for children:how often?

Once or twice a week14.7%

3 or more times a week68.6%

Never8.2%Occasion

8.5%


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TV Watching by ChildrenTV Watching by Children

1-2 hours46.4%

Less than 1 hour9.1%

5 or more hours21.3%

3-5 hours 23.2%


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SummarySummary


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Overall ResultsOverall Results• Residents have a strong sense of connectedness

evidenced by the neighbors they know• Residents are not as involved in community and

civic organizations• Residents are less likely to be taking leadership

positions and getting involved in the community• Residents have concern for safety in schools, and

worry about the future of their children• But ratings for overall quality of life are favorable


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What does social capital looklike in the Danville Region?

What does social capital looklike in the Danville Region?

• Overall the level of social capital is fairly strong in terms of:– Community Attachment

– Social Connectedness

– Religious Involvement

• However, the Danville Region is in need of development in areas of civic engagement

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2009 Danville RegionSocial Capital Survey2009 Danville RegionSocial Capital SurveyFor further information please contact:

Thomas M. [email protected]

October 20, 2009

1 2009 danville region social capital survey center for survey research a unit of the weldon cooper...

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