We have a 6 story multi-tenant downtown office building located in close proximity to public transportation. The building also has 4 levels of underground parking, where you can enter the garage elevator and bypass the lobby to go directly to each floor. We are trying to determine the best method of conducting the Option 3, Approach 2 random sampling of the building population by conducting in person surveys by “standing by the elevator” approach as discussed in previous threads and trying to determine the best approach in order for the survey to be statistically representative of the building population. If we stand in the lobby only, we will miss those that have parked in the garage and bypassed the lobby on their way to their floor. Has anyone had any experience with sampling such a building? Would it make sense to have one surveyor located at the entrance to the parking garage to survey cars as they drive through and one in the lobby to catch those coming through the front entrance to the main elevator bank ? Or would it be more appropriate to station surveyors at each level above the lobby and survey as occupants exit onto their respective floors? Any input is appreciated!
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
February 23, 2011 - 8:52 pm
Given that the different entrances serve people who are using different modes of transport, it seems important to include them both in the survey somehow. I think either of the approaches you outlined seem sound. My thought is that people might be less likely to toss the survey once they are in the building, rather than still in their cars. It's always a chore to gather everything from one's car to come inside.
Dan Ackerstein
PrincipalAckerstein Sustainability, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
819 thumbs up
February 23, 2011 - 10:00 pm
Just two quick notes on this
- You've correctly noted the key challenge with the 'elevator survey' approach; you have to be able to survey at all points of entry to the building to ensure you are getting commuters coming via various means. For this building, I think your idea of stationing surveyors at each level above the lobby as folks exit the elevators is a great one - it may require more folks than the alternative, but it solves the problem nicely. Unfortunately, rather than the convenient window where people are waiting for the elevator, you'll have to slow folks down on their way to their destinations - that could lead to more non-respondents. Also, take care to ensure that you balance the surveys per floor in representative fashion.
- Also to Tristan's comment - I want to just clarify that the elevator survey is rarely conducted with a form or hard copy survey; it is almost always verbal to minimize non-respondence.