Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive Plan9.5 Community Survey9.5.1 IntroductionA community survey was mailed to 1,000 randomly selected Westerly households during the earlyautumn of 2007. In order to ensure that representative samples of Westerly households received thesurvey, the survey distribution methodology was customized to fit Westerly’s unique situation. Formost of the town, the normal survey distribution methodology was employed: the consultantpurchased addresses from a list broker and, having determined the number of surveys to be mailed,divided the number of addresses provided by the number to be mailed to find the proportion ofaddresses from that area of town to be used.Another methodology was employed for the area south of Shore Road until it meets with Route 1and east from there, south of Route 1. Addresses for these surveys were provided by the Westerlyassessor’s office and the identical methodology was employed to determine the proportion of thoseaddresses that would be mailed surveys and to ensure random distribution. This methodology ofusing two sources of addresses for the same random mailing was justified by the need to ensure thata fair representation of all Westerly households was offered the opportunity to respond to thesurvey, including renters and – because there is such a high proportion of them – seasonal residents.The community survey is the only scientifically executed element of the entire public input programfor the Comprehensive Plan. In Westerly, of the 1,000 surveys distributed, 37 were returnedundelivered and 329 completed useable surveys were received. This results in a margin of error of4.44 at a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that the responses received are reliable, plus orminus the margin of error, 95 percent of the time. Margin of error comes into play when results arevery close together. For example, if there was a result to a question that showed one opinion closerthan 4.4 points from a differing opinion, no conclusion can be drawn because the responses arewithin the margin of error. These same results yield a 5.5 margin of error at the 99 percent level ofconfidence. Again, no conclusions could be drawn from the results of any questions withdifferences closer than 5.5 points from one another.Although the survey is statistically reliable and was scientifically distributed, it is important tounderstand that the population answering the survey may not be representative of the totalpopulation of Westerly. Survey respondents tended to be older, better educated and wealthier thanthe population as a whole. They also tended to be home owners rather than renters. They are,however, representative of the population as a whole to an extent, and although the exercise is notperfect, the result yields an important and informative barometer of local attitudes.The purpose of the community survey was to gather information about these local attitudes in astatistically reliable way. It is the broadest reaching of the public input techniques, covering moretopics and questions than any of the other input techniques. The community survey also serves toreinforce the results of other public input techniques, serving to help ensure that the ComprehensivePlan accurately reflects the aspirations of the community.9.5.2 Digest of ResultsRespondents to the survey felt the town has a strong sense of identity and sense of community.Among respondents to the survey, 77 percent agreed or strongly agreed that Westerly has a strongsense of identity and 71 percent agreed or strongly agreed that they felt a sense of community inpeter j. smith & company, inc. 144