• Find out what is already known, and what relevant surveys are being done or planned elsewhere. This will avoid duplication, and will help establish what you need to find out from your survey.
• Talk to locals with strong views and local knowledge to sharpen the focus of the questions.
• Survey writing is a skill that improves with practice and feedback, so seek expert advice on the pitfalls and requirements of survey writing, but rely on your own understanding of the issue or topic.
• Preliminary investigations, e.g. focus groups or interviews with people on a 'convenience' basis (outside the Town Hall, or in a shopping centre), can help to develop some of the issues/range of questions needed.
• Determine how the information is to be obtained. Surveys can be done by asking people questions though the mail (see Questionnaires) or in personal interviews, or by a combination of methods.
• Select your target audience. How will you sample them? What stratas of the society or organisation do you need to reach? How will you ensure that your survey gives a representation of the ideas of the group?
• Draft the questionnaire or interview guide.
• Trial this with a pilot study to ensure the answers will give you the information you wanted. (Check readability and clarity of questions).
• Undertake the survey.
• Collate and analyse the results.
• Write a report and make available to those surveyed, to appropriate authorities, and to the media. If the report is lengthy and/or detailed, provide a synopsis of the key points.