Tracking & Tracking & Evaluation Behavior Evaluation Behavior ChangeChangeLaurie GustafsonLaurie Gustafson

Community POWER Grantee OrientationCommunity POWER Grantee Orientation

October 4, 2011October 4, 2011

What do we mean by behavior change? Help your audience make meaningful and

long-lasting behavior changes. Community-based social marketing (CBSM)

has been shown to be very effective at bringing about behavior change.

Community POWER survey questions based on CBSM theory—turning awareness into action.

Why it’s Important to Track Why it’s Important to Track Behavior ChangeBehavior Change

See the impact of your work and assess which See the impact of your work and assess which programming is most successful.programming is most successful.

Allows SWMCB to see the impact of your work Allows SWMCB to see the impact of your work and encourages sustainability of the program.and encourages sustainability of the program.

Gives you a tool for showing impact to others. Gives you a tool for showing impact to others. Funders and programming partners often look Funders and programming partners often look for evidence that your initiatives are having the for evidence that your initiatives are having the desired outcome.desired outcome.

Community POWER Final Community POWER Final ReportReportFinal Reports: Due October 15, 2011Final Reports: Due October 15, 2011 Describe how the surveys were administeredDescribe how the surveys were administered Report the number of surveys sent/administeredReport the number of surveys sent/administered Report the number of surveys returnedReport the number of surveys returned Detail the responses you received using actual Detail the responses you received using actual

numbers, not percentagesnumbers, not percentages Report how many total individuals responded that Report how many total individuals responded that

they had positively changed they had positively changed at least oneat least one behavior behavior due to the project? (e.g. marked a ‘yes’)due to the project? (e.g. marked a ‘yes’)

Share written commentsShare written comments

Survey Questions:Survey Questions:About the QuestionsAbout the Questions

Survey contains 19 questionsSurvey contains 19 questions

Questions cover Reuse, Toxicity Reduction, Questions cover Reuse, Toxicity Reduction, Recycling, Reducing and CompostingRecycling, Reducing and Composting

Two part questions: Behavior Changed because of involvement in program

Survey Questions:Survey Questions:Choosing the Right Choosing the Right Questions to AskQuestions to Ask

Only those questions that relate to the content of what people Only those questions that relate to the content of what people learned through your Community POWER project should be learned through your Community POWER project should be used. used.

If some of the questions do not relate to your project, remove If some of the questions do not relate to your project, remove those from your survey or questionnaire. those from your survey or questionnaire.

Choose 4-8 questions for up to a one page survey. Do not Choose 4-8 questions for up to a one page survey. Do not use more than 10 questions.use more than 10 questions.

Survey Questions:Survey Questions:When to Administer the When to Administer the QuestionsQuestions

Pre-tests are optionalPre-tests are optional

Post-tests are requiredPost-tests are required

Administer surveys 2-6 months after a person Administer surveys 2-6 months after a person participates in your program or educational participates in your program or educational experienceexperience

Survey Questions:Survey Questions:Customizing the Questions Customizing the Questions & Survey& Survey The wording of the questions should not be altered.The wording of the questions should not be altered. Logos and the name of your program, project, or workshop Logos and the name of your program, project, or workshop

can be inserted throughout the survey. can be inserted throughout the survey. You may insert Community POWER questions into an You may insert Community POWER questions into an

existing survey or pair them with other questions you design. existing survey or pair them with other questions you design. We do not recommend asking more than 10 total questions in We do not recommend asking more than 10 total questions in one survey.one survey.

Ask the respondent’s level of experience with the program Ask the respondent’s level of experience with the program (days or hours of participation, for example) as well as other (days or hours of participation, for example) as well as other background information.background information.

Survey Questions:Survey Questions:How to Administer the How to Administer the QuestionsQuestions

Written surveysWritten surveys

On-line surveysOn-line surveys

Interview format (over the phone or in-person)Interview format (over the phone or in-person)

TipsTips List your results with actual numbers; NOT List your results with actual numbers; NOT

percentages.percentages. Track all brochures ordered and distributed.Track all brochures ordered and distributed. Count attendance at workshops and events.Count attendance at workshops and events. Offer incentives for people to make a behavior Offer incentives for people to make a behavior

change and to return surveys.change and to return surveys. Track circulation (e-newsletters, newspaper articles, Track circulation (e-newsletters, newspaper articles,

newsletter articles, and other related outreach tools).newsletter articles, and other related outreach tools). Offer pledges to motivate behavior change.Offer pledges to motivate behavior change.

Resources

The Psychology of Sustainable Behavior: Tips for empowering people to take environmentally positive action http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/publications/p-ee1-01.pdf

Questions?Questions?