Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes - The Goodman ...

Appendix
Survey Methodology and Results
Survey design
The survey was posted on Edge Research’s web site on January 5, 2005. It contained 43 questions mostly in
the closed-ended format, as well as open-ended questions that would give respondents greater latitude with
their feedback. Questions ranged from the very specific (e.g., “How long is the average presentation you
attend?”) to the more subjective (e.g., “How often do you think you learn something valuable?”).
As noted earlier, respondents were asked not only to evaluate presentations they had attended, but those they
had given as well. Most of the questions asked about presentations observed were repeated in the section on
presentations given. Finally, we asked respondents to list the names of the best speakers they had seen, which
helped us find some of the experts who contributed their insights and recommendations to this book.
Respondents
To drive qualified respondents (i.e., full-time employees of nonprofits, foundations, government agencies or
educational institutions) to the web to complete the questionnaire, Cause Communications and I contacted
dozens of organizations that regularly communicate with this audience. We asked for their help publicizing
the online survey, and just about everyone we spoke with was willing to pitch in.
Statewide nonprofit associations in California, Florida, New York, and elsewhere sent e-mail alerts to
their affiliates or ran items in newsletters. The 10 foundations that funded this book were among the
nearly 30 philanthropies that used their networks to alert colleagues, grantees, and others. And too
many friends to name here helped get our message out via listservs that reached thousands in the public
interest community.
In just three months, this outreach generated 2,501 completed surveys. Respondents came from all
over the U.S.
27%
15% 27%
30%
SURVEY RESPONSE – BY REGION
pg. 79