COMPASS II-2.0 Methodology

The main goal of the COMPASS II-2.0 project was to follow-up on data gathered in the 2003 COMPASS II project. To this end, both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were engaged including a survey of residents, a survey of key informants, interviews with local experts, focus groups, and a review of social, economic and environmental indicator data.

Resident Survey

Residents were surveyed in three modalities: telephone, on-line, and in-person.

The telephone survey was completed with 413 randomly selected households in Tompkins County. The sample was purchased from a sampling company and included residential white pages listings of households in the Tompkins County area. A letter explaining the project was sent to each household prior to being called. Calls began on February 8, 2009 and proceeded through April 2, 2009.

The online survey was completed with 412 Tompkins County residents. The link to the survey was distributed widely through various list-serves, the Ithaca Journal, county libraries, and through community partners. The survey gathered responses from April 16, 2009 through May 18, 2009.

In order to ensure that the survey sample was representative of Tompkins County's population, 164 in-person surveys were completed at various sites across the county where lower-income and younger residents were likely to be. Surveys were conducted at food pantries, soup kitchens, the Department of Social Services, Youth Outreach, and the Red Cross shelter. Surveying started April 27, 2009 and continued through May 19, 2009.

Key Informant Survey

The sample for key informant survey represents a wide scope of individuals in the county. The sample included the Community Partnership Committee of the COMPASS II-2.0 project, respondents from the 2003 COMPASS II key informant survey, and other individuals identified by these two groups as being suitable participants in the survey. Key informants were mailed a hard-copy of the survey and were also offered the opportunity to complete the survey online. Surveying started March 11, 2009 and ended June 8, 2009. 105 surveys were completed.

The Scale

Throughout both the key informant and resident surveys, respondents were asked to rank specific issues on a scale of 1-4 where 1 was not a problem at all and 4 was a major problem. Throughout the website, when an issue is described as being a critical problem, it can be assumed that the issue was ranked as either a 3 or 4 by the reported percentage of respondents.

Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups

Interviews with experts in the community and focus groups with key populations were conducted around each topic area. The interviews and focus groups provided qualitative information to provide context to survey data and to assist in the identification of appropriate indicators and information on resources and assets in the community.

Indicator Information

A comprehensive review of relevant, available data for each topic area was conducted.

Click here to view the COMPASS II-2.0 Demographics.