User Survey

William Chrisman High School

Background:User surveys are issued after occupancy of a building has been well-es tablished. The purpose of a user survey is to determine the occupants' ability to perform tasks efficiently. This is important because the performance of a building is measured not only by the cost efficiency but also by the usability of the building.
User surveys are generally location-specific. They include questions about distinctive features of the building in question, such as elevators or lobbies. Questions commonly include the user's satisfaction of lighting, heating and cooling, noise, and space.

Most surveys are modelled upon a scale. The survey may ask for a response based upon a "terrible to terrific" scale, or use similar wording. Questions and scales need to be worded in an unbiased manner in order to receive accurate resp onses.

The delivery of user surveys is critical to the outcome of the study. The surveys must be distributed so that responses represent a known cross section of the user population. Time of day, week, and year may also affect a user's responses.

The survey used at William Chrisman High School is modelled after a Canadian office building survey. Questions were modified to accommodate this school setting. Two survey were issued at the school. One was circulated to all students and facult y (teachers) in the building. Another was given to staff (Office and maintenance support). The survey were anonymous, but users were asked to provide information on their user status (whether they were a student, faculty, or staff member) and what space within the building they were commenting upon.

User were asked to evaluate temperature, lighting, work space, and noise levels. They evaluated the heating and cooling system with regard to temperature levels and ventilation comfort. Questions ab out lighting rated levels of brightness and glare. Users were asked to comment on the amount of noise in their workspace, and where they were coming from. They were also able to comment on the amount of space in their work area, the arrangement of their workspace, and the layout of the building. The results of these questions were used to determine the feelings of students, faculty, and staff about the newly installed computerized heating and cooling system, and the cost-efficient lighting.

The questions were in scale form; users were asked to rate their responses from one to five. At the end of the questoinaire, a comment space was provided.

The survey was issued to the entire school at one time. This was done during the middle of the week, during late morning hours. The late morning was chosen to ensure that late arriving workers and students could participate. The survey was issued during the middle of the week when occupants were less likely to be out of the building. Also, this is a time when issues encroaching from issues outside the school would not affect the responses. -SP