Survey Report: The Personal, the Social, and the Political

Dear Respondents:

I very much appreciate you responding to the survey. Thanks very much!

Please consider completing the seven-question follow up survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/55QPNJQ

After tabulating and reviewing the responses to “The Personal, the Social, and the Political: A Survey,” it seems we have an experienced, knowledgeable group of individuals who can learn from one another about how to describe and structure group activities that enable participants to deepen and improve their personal growth, community building, and political action.

So I very much hope that a good number of you will share your knowledge and opinions so we can move forward. We urgently need to: 1) strengthen our skills as social-change activists, and; 2) figure out how to encourage others to do the same.

In particular, I hope that those of you who reported that you are already engaged in such group activities will inform the rest of us about how you organize your activities and what you do.

I am particularly interested in communicating more with those who said they are or might be interested in gathering “at least once a month with close, trusted friends to share a meal, socialize informally, and hear what others have to say about the kind of questions posed in this survey.”

Toward this end, I’ve created a new survey with open-ended questions about these issues. If you can, please complete this survey so we can better understand what other people are doing and how they are doing it. To complete the survey, click here

I’m also inviting a few people who did not respond to the survey but who are very interested in the subject. Feel free to invite others yourself.

In reviewing the 58 responses, the following elements stand out in my mind:
1. Overall, having done similar surveys in the past, I’m impressed with the level of interest. I’ve received more responses than with any other survey I’ve distributed, everyone completed the entire survey, and almost everyone answered every question.
2. 97% said they had tried to “become a better human being” in the last month. (So it seems that most people do relate to that particular phrase, to which some people object.)
3. 77% said they had tried to help improve a social institution, organization, or informal community of friends in the last month.
4. 78% said they had engaged in an effort to impact public policy in the last month.
5. The percentages concerning future plans for each of those three areas were similar.
6. 90% believe that efforts in each of those three areas can reinforce and strengthen efforts in the other two areas.
7. Concerning whether the respondents would “like to gather at least once a month with close, trusted friends to share a meal, socialize informally, and hear what others have to say about the kind of questions posed in this survey,” 53% said Yes, 21% said No, and 26% said Not Sure.
8. Concerning interest in participating in an online discussion and/or a video call about these questions, 36% said Yes, 38% said No, and 26% said Not Sure. So we have 36 respondents who might participate, and 21 who are definitely interested
9. 81% said they want to receive a report on the responses.

A Word document reporting on all of the responses, including all comments and the names of those respondents who authorized me to identify them, is attached. I’d be interested to know if different elements stand out to you.

Following are the totals for each question.

1. Do you have close friends with whom you: • Feel free to be yourself • Have fun • Express deep feelings • Listen carefully • Give and receive support • Get to know each other • Share happiness • Discuss the meaning of life • Evaluate what’s right and what’s wrong • Help each other become better human beings • And consider how to improve social institutions and governmental policies?
Yes 96.5% 55
No 3.5% 2
Not sure 0.0% 0
Comment 9
answered question 57
skipped question 1

2. If you do have those kind of close friends, do you occasionally gather as a group to engage in those kind of activities together?
Yes 72.4% 42
No 25.9% 15
Not sure 1.7% 1
Comment 12
answered question 58
skipped question 0

3. In the last month, have you, in one way or another, tried to become a better human being?
Yes 96.6% 56
No 0.0% 0
Not sure 3.4% 2
Comment 5
answered question 58
skipped question 0

4. During the next month, do you plan to try to become a better human being?
Yes 91.4% 53
No 0.0% 0
Not sure 8.6% 5
Comment 4
answered question 58
skipped question 0

5. In the last month, have you tried to help improve a social institution (or organization), such as a spiritual community, your child’s school, a neighborhood center, or an informal community of friends?
Yes 77.2% 44
No 15.8% 9
Not sure 7.0% 4
Comment 7
answered question 57
skipped question 1

6. During the next month, do you plan to help improve a social institution or informal community?
Yes 77.6% 45
No 5.2% 3
Not sure 17.2% 10
Comment 8
answered question 58
skipped question 0

7. In the last month, have you engaged in an effort to impact public policy?
Yes 77.6% 45
No 20.7% 12
Not sure 1.7% 1
Comment 11
answered question 58
skipped question 0

8. During the next month, do you plan to engage in an effort to impact public policy?
Yes 74.1% 43
No 8.6% 5
Not sure 17.2% 10
Comment 7
answered question 58
skipped question 0

9. Do you believe that efforts in each of those three areas – personal growth, community building, and political action – can reinforce and strengthen efforts in the other two areas?
Yes 89.7% 52
No 3.4% 2
Not sure 6.9% 4
answered question 58 58
skipped question skipped question 0 0

10. Would you like to gather at least once a month with close, trusted friends to share a meal, socialize informally, and hear what others have to say about the kind of questions posed in this survey?
Yes 53.4% 31
No 20.7% 12
Not sure 25.9% 15
Comment 13
answered question 58
skipped question 0

11. Would you be interested in participating in an online discussion and/or a video call about these questions with others who answer this survey?
Yes 36.2% 21
No 37.9% 22
Not sure 25.9% 15
Comment 7
answered question 58
skipped question 0
12. Would you like to receive a report on the results of this survey?
Yes 80.7% 46
No 15.8% 9
Not sure 3.5% 2
Comment 3
answered question 57
skipped question 1

13. May we identify you as the author of your comments?
Yes 60.3% 35
No 32.8% 19
Not sure 6.9% 4
answered question 58
question 0

14. What is your name and email address? We won’t share your email address.
answered question 48
skipped question 10

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