What are windshield and walking surveys? ___Windshield surveys are systematic observations made from a moving vehicle ___Walking surveys are systematic observations made on foot Why would you conduct windshield or walking surveys? ___Windshield or walking surveys give an objective view of the community ___They can be adapted to community-based participatory research, inviting community participation ___They may allow you to see assets that community members take for granted or don’t see ___They can be the easiest and quickest way to get an overview of the entire community ___They allow clear comparisons among different parts of a community ___They can be very useful in understanding specific aspects of a community ___They give you a “feel” for the community When should you conduct windshield or walking surveys? ___When you conduct a survey depends on your purpose in doing so ___If the information you’re gathering is geographic or physical – where things are located, what housing is like – then the survey can be conducted any time ___If you want to understand how people use the community, you have to conduct your survey at times – perhaps a number of different times – when they’re likely to be engaged in the activities you’re interested in ___You may have to do a number of surveys at different times of the day, week, and/or year to find out what you want to know Who should conduct windshield and walking surveys? ___A small urban neighborhood or rural village might be adequately surveyed in one day by a single person ___A large city might require several days by several teams of observers ___If you’re engaged in participatory research, you might organize observers in teams, each of which has representatives of different ages, cultures, ethnicities, income levels, community sectors (business, government, health and community services), etc. ___Consider safety when assigning particular people to particular neighborhoods, and when deciding whether individuals or teams should conduct the survey How do you conduct windshield and walking surveys? General guidelines for both windshield and walking surveys ___Determine who will conduct the survey ___Decide on the questions you want your survey to answer ___Decide on the areas you’ll include in your survey ___Decide when you’ll conduct your survey ___Train the people who are going to conduct the survey in the following strategies: Get well acquainted with your questions, the purpose of the survey, and what you’re looking for Make and use a checklist to ensure that you address all of your questions, and observe all the areas you want to Try to be unobtrusive Carry identification Take notes as you go along If you’re working in teams, assign roles Discuss your findings as you go Pay attention to safety ___What to examine in a general community assessment survey: Housing Other buildings Public spaces Parks Culture and entertainment Streetscape Street use Commercial activity Signs Industry Land use Infrastructure Public transportation Traffic Environmental quality Race/ethnicity Faith communities Health services Community and public services Community safety Public schools Higher education Political activity Community organizations Media Differences among neighborhoods or areas of the community The “feel” of the community Guidelines for a windshield survey ___Use a map ___If you can, try to use a team of at least two ___Drive at a moderate speed, and avoid unexpected actions ___Drive both on major and minor streets, particularly in residential neighborhoods ___Pull over at regular intervals to make and compare notes ___Try to be inconspicuous Guidelines for a walking survey ___Study a map beforehand, or do a drive-through so you’ll know where you’re going ___Again, it can be helpful to work in teams ___If you want to experience the community, take part in everyday activities ___Go inside public buildings and cultural institutions ___Sit down in a quiet place to take notes ___Sometimes, the best survey can be a combination of walking and driving ___Analyze what you’ve seen and decide how to use the information
