Create Your Survey Here

 

To create a survey using the Community Services Outcomes Tree (CSOT), please fill in the boxes below.

Please note:

  • This survey template is designed to collect data via self-report of consumers of community services. It is intended to be used at the end of, or at a set time after, the delivery of services.
  • This set of survey questions is designed for adults. Alternate data collection questions and methods should be used for children.
  • You can modify the content of each box or choose to discard any question/section if you do not wish for it to appear in your survey.

Once you have completed the sections below you can download a Word copy of the full survey. If you are wanting to use an online platform for data collection you can generate a version that is compatible with Survey Monkey, Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics. Scroll to the bottom of this page for more details on how each platform works.

If you would prefer a blank Word version of the template, you can download it by clicking on this link.

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Community Services Outcomes Tree Survey

The service name appears at various locations in the survey questions. The name that is entered here will be used instead of the "[Name of service]" placeholders that appear at those locations.

2. Survey Introduction

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You may choose to include a short survey introduction at the beginning of the survey. The introduction can help to explain the purpose of the survey and how long it may take participants to complete.

3. Outcomes

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Please select the outcomes you would like to include in your survey.

To do this, click on the link below to take you to the outcomes tree to explore and identify which outcomes you would like for your survey. You can then add one outcome at a time by clicking on 'add outcome to survey' button.

If you have already selected an outcome from the outcomes tree, you will see a button entitled 'remove outcome from survey' at the bottom of its page. Click on that button to remove the outcome from the survey.

You can repeat the process by clicking on the link to return you to the outcomes tree to continue to add/remove further outcomes as you wish.

Click on this link to select your outcomes.

The outcomes question is the first question asked in the survey

In the survey, the outcomes question is followed by a table listing each of the outcomes you have selected. Respondents will be able to select one of the following six options for each outcome:

  • Got a lot better
  • Got a bit better
  • No change
  • Got a bit worse
  • Got a lot worse
  • Not relevant to me

4. Outcome Descriptors

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It can be helpful to include a short descriptor of the outcomes so respondents clearly understand what the outcome is.

In the boxes below is a pre-filled descriptor for each of the outcomes you have selected. You may choose to use this descriptor or modify it to suit the particular context of your service/programme. If you do not think the outcome you have chosen requires a descriptor you may leave the box blank.

5. Biggest Change in Respondent's Life

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Consumers have indicated that they often prefer to tell their story of change not tick boxes. This qualitative question allows respondents to tell their story of change. This can provide important and illuminating detail about services and programmes.

6. Contribution of the Service/Programme to the Achievement of Your Outcomes

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It can be difficult to establish clear causality between outcomes and specific services/programmes, particularly as consumers may be engaging with a range of services/programmes and/or receive supports such as assistance from family. As a result, this question aims to capture a sense of the contribution made by the service/programme without claiming clear and definite attribution.

7. Main Thing Done by the Service/Programme to Help Achieve Outcomes

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This question aims to capture consumer perspectives on the key aspects or components of the service/programme that helped in the achievement of their outcomes.

8. Barriers to Outcomes

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This question:

  • helps identify barriers to outcomes. This can assist in service design and delivery or other change actions (e.g. advocacy)
  • recognises that not all outcomes are achievable without systemic or other changes.

Below the barriers question, a table of example barriers can be included. Please select from the list below the barriers that are appropriate to your cohort.

In the box below, please list any additional barriers that the service/program would like to include in the survey. Add each additional barrier on a new line.

9. Biggest Barrier Preventing Positive Change

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This qualitative question allows consumers to tell the story of the main barrier which has prevented positive change. This can provide important and illuminating detail about the life contexts of consumers and the socio structural barriers faced.

10. Service Improvement

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This question aims to identify suggestions for service improvement.

11. Anything Else?

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This question ensures that consumers have the opportunity to report all of the information that they believe to be important about their interaction with the service/programme.

12. Demographic Questions

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Services/Programmes may choose to ask a range of demographic questions. Please select from the list below any demographic question you would like included in your survey.

In the box below, please list any demographic questions that the service/program would to include in the survey. Add each additional question on a new line.

13. Survey Conclusion

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The service/program may choose to include a concluding message at the end of the survey.

You have now designed your survey. Please see below for information about downloading options.

Export Auto-Filled Short Survey

Notes about the various types of exports:

  • Word document survey exports include all questions and other items of text such as introduction and conclusion that you choose to include. They also include any page breaks you specify in the form below.
  • Qualtrics survey exports also include all chosen questions, text elements and page breaks in a specially encoded text file that can be imported into a Qualtrics survey.
  • Survey Monkey survey exports only include the questions you choose and are exported as text that you will need to copy and paste into a Survey Monkey survey.
  • Microsoft Forms survey exports also include only your questions, but are exported as a Word document that can be imported into an MS Forms form.
  • Please note: these online platforms are continually updating so the functionality offered may be different to what is suggested here.

     

    Tips for capturing data using the CSOT

    Now that you have created your survey, here are a few tips to support you in capturing data:

    • You might like to offer a variety of ways through which people can complete the survey (for example, online, in-person, or over the phone). If using the phone option, a ‘script’ should be developed so that all surveys are administered consistently.
    • Some participants may need assistance to complete the survey. This should be someone that participants feel comfortable with.
    • Consider using other methods of data collection such as interviews or image-assisted discussion that can supplement this survey. Community service users have told us they sometimes prefer these methods.
    • You should ensure that the survey is administered ethically. At a minimum, this means:

    o    gaining informed consent
    o    ensuring the anonymity of research participants
    o    participants are aware of how data will be collected, stored and analysed
    o    participants are aware of the purpose of the survey
    o    participants feel comfortable in the environment in which they complete the survey, and with anyone who supports them to complete the survey

    • Capturing outcomes data is only one part of the process. You will also need to think about how to record, analyse, share and use the data that you collect.