linda g. shook and virginia e. o’leary. big data
TRANSCRIPT
Many Ways to Skin A Cat:Measuring OLLI’s Successes
Linda G. Shook and Virginia E. O’Leary
Big Data
Little Data
In a member led, member driven organization like OLLI, how do you know what your membership wants?
Many of us in leadership positions think we know because we have strong opinions and they often coincide with those of the others we know best.
BUT….
An N of 2 won’t do!
Surveying the membership is the only way to really know for sure.
The OLLI at Auburn StoryIn the beginning there were the opinions of
the members of the OLLI Board.
Then, at a Board meeting in October during an intense discussion of ways to raise funds..
OLLI’s PartnerDr. Malissa Clark and her class of 7 doctoral
students enrolled in a course entitled Research Methods for Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
OLLI at Auburn as ClientBrief history
Purpose of the survey
Question domains
Content CategoriesDemographics
GenderAgeEducation
Comfort with technology
Years living in the Auburn area
Experiences with OLLI
Attitudes toward OLLI Fundraising
Ways members learned about OLLIAttendance at OLLI functions by type,
academic or socialReasons for considering withdrawing from
membership
Curriculum and ServicesSatisfactionUse of OLLI benefits
DraftsOriginal 105 questions
Pared to 45 questions
Reviewed by the OLLI Director, Linda Shook, and me
Final review for content by the Board
PretestsPretest of the internet version for time and
wording20 OLLI members randomly selected
Pretest of the hard copy version for time and wording5 convenience sample of OLLI members
Survey AdministrationAcross 2 weeks with a reminder at day 10
Paper surveys available at the OLLI desk during classes
OLLI at Auburn Membership Surveywww.olliatauburn.org
CrosstabsGenderMember status (academic or general)Length of OLLI affiliationPrevious career historyPrevious careerEducational backgroundMarital status
Content AnalysesThe ended questions included in the survey
were content analyzed.
Analyses
The students analyzed the survey with input from me regarding crosstabs of interest.
ResultsThe students presented the results to the
Board at a meeting called for that purpose.
Linda Shook, DirectorOLLI at Auburn
Worked with non profit groups.
B. A., Public Relations, University of Alabama.
M.Ed., Adult Education, Auburn University.
The Survey is Available at:http://www.olliatauburn.org/documents/OLLI
%20Exec%20Membership%20Survey%20Report_FINAL%20June%202013.pdf
Win-WinOLLI at Auburn has data on which to base
decisions for the next couple of years.Dr. Clark was able to teach survey research
methods in real time.The students were able to work with an
actual client and can now claim to have done survey work on their resumes when they go to look for jobs.
The university has an illustration of the contribution of OLLI at Auburn to its academic mission.
Partnering with Academic UnitsEnhances OLLI’s relevance to the broader
campus community.
Provides a platform of inter generational collaboration that benefits both.
As Director of OLLI at Auburn The value of surveys for data to enhance our
programs.
The importance of using empirical data to make decisions.
The utility of forging partnerships with the academic side of the University which deepens our roots within our host institution.
New Data Collection EffortsSurvey of OLLI faculty.
Attrition Survey.
Preferences for social events.
There are many ways to skin a cat using survey methodology.
Michael Cheang a faculty member in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa will now tell us about their OLLI curricular content analysis.
Thank You