FY 2008 Projects included ...
PROJECT OVERLAPPING FY 2008 AND FY 2009 (COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 2009): Illinois Motorist Survey
For the eighth consecutive year (2001 through 2008), the SRO has conducted a Motorist Public Opinion Survey for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The 2008 survey included mailing 3,800 questionnaires to randomly-selected households throughout Illinois. This year's survey had a cooperation rate of almost 40 percent.
Topics in this year's survey included: licensed drivers' satisfaction with Illinois state roads and interstates and with IDOT in general (overall job; ratings on selected characteristics; general trust); awareness and use of IDOT's 800 number and website; amount and effectiveness of traffic safety activities; and awareness of a proposed capital improvement program as well as opinions regarding its priorities and ways of funding it.
The Department of Transportation uses the annual Illinois Motorist Survey to inform its strategic planning, decision-making and assessment activities.
COMPLETED IN LATE JUNE / EARLY JULY (2008): Survey relating to Seat Belts and DUI for Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety
Starting after Memorial Day of 2008, SRO conducted a telephone survey of the Illinois public about behaviors and attitudes relating to seat belt usage and "DUI." This survey is conducted for the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.
It is at the same time the second-part of a pre/post campaign survey combination that began with a survey prior to Memorial Day -- and the first part of a pre/post campaign survey combination that will conclude with a survey to be conducted after Labor Day.
COMPLETED IN EARLY JUNE (2008): John Wood Community College Household Telephone Survey
In May through early June of 2008, SRO conducted a telephone survey of households within the John Wood Community College district regarding services and courses offered by John Wood Community College. The main location of JWCC is Quincy, Illinois.
COMPLETED IN MARCH (2008): Sangamon County Business Economic Outlook Survey
Working in cooperation with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, SRO is working with partners in the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership (CSPL) and the Center for Entrepreneurship, within the College of Business and Management, in conducting a biannual survey of a sample of Sangamon County businesses. The general purpose of the survey is to solicit business opinions and perceptions about the future performance of the local Sangamon County economy.
The inaugural survey was conducted in late February through mid-March of 2008. Results of the survey were introduced at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce's annual Economic Outlook Breakfast.
COMPLETED IN DECEMBER (2007): Telephone Survey on Seat Belt-Related Attitudes and Behaviors
In December of 2007, SRO completed a telephone survey of the Illinois public in targeted downstate and Chicago areas about behaviors and attitudes relating to seat belt usage. This survey occurred after a Thanksgiving holiday media and enforcement campaign focused on seat belt usage. An earlier survey was conducted before the campaign. Results of these surveys have been presented in two reports (one for targeted downstate counties; another for the Chicago targeted areas) to the Division of Traffic Safety, Illinois Department of Transportation.
COMPLETED IN OCTOBER (2007): Statewide Telephone Survey on Radon
In October of 2007, SRO completed a statewide telephone survey about the public's awareness of radon and behaviors relating to radon. This survey was the complement to an earlier survey on radon awareness and behaviors that was conducted prior to a radon public service announcement campaign. Tables summarizing the results were sent to the project director, Dr. Sharron LaFollette, Associate Professor, Public Health. The public service announcements for the project were produced by the Center's Office of Electronic Media.
The public service announcements and the survey project were funded by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
COMPLETED IN SEPETEMBER (2007): Statewide Telephone Survey on Selected Driving Behaviors and Attitudes
During September 2007, SRO conducted a statewide telephone survey on selected driving behaviors and attitudes for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The particular focus was on attitudes and behaviors related to DUI. Seat belt-related behaviors and attitudes were also explored. The findings were presented in a report to the IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER (2007): Statewide Survey on Geographic and Political Party Identifications, Presidential Primary Preferences, and the Needs of Illinois Residents who have Disabilities
In early September 2007, SRO completed a statewide survey of the Illinois public, having interviewed just over 1,000 randomly-selected respondents. The major topics on the survey were: geographic identification(s); political party identification; preferences for the 2008 presidential primary; and the needs of Illinois residents who have a disability.
The questions relating to Illinois residents with a disability were included as part of the Statewide Independent Living Council Needs Survey Project (see below).
RESULTS RELATING TO PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PREFERENCES: Obama and Giuliani Lead in Illinois (August 2007 survey)
Heading into the Fall of 2007, Illinois Senator Barack Obama holds a commanding lead over New York Senator Hillary Clinton as the choice for the 2008 Democratic nomination among potential Illinois primary voters. On the Republican side, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani holds a narrower but still sizeable lead, with more candidates on his heels. These are the results of a statewide survey of randomly-selected Illinois households conducted from late July through early September by the UIS Survey Research Office.
A summary of the Fall 2007 Illinois presidential preference results can be found here. (4 pages; pdf)
Illinois Fall 2007 Democratic presidential nomination preference tables can be found here. (2 pages; pdf)
Illinois Fall 2007 Republican presidential nomination preference tables can be found here. (2 pages; pdf)
Presentation at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) -- Nov. 5, 2007
Richard Schuldt, Director of UIS/SRO, gave a presentation regarding the Illinois public's attitudes toward -- and involvement in -- state government and politics to LLCC's Academy for Lifelong Learning and a class on State and Local Politics at the LLCC Trutter Center.
The focus of the presentation was a summary of the results which were also presented at the June 2007 Forum on State Government and Citizen Involvement, sponsored by the Center for State Policy and Leadership (see below). In his presentation, Schuldt also covered topics relating to how surveys are conducted.
See the PowerPoint slideshow of Schuldt's presentation at LLCC here.
Click here for a 14-page handout of the presentation in Acrobat pdf format.
OVERLAPPING FY 2007 AND FY 2008: Assessment Surveys for Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois
In 2007, the SRO conducted a survey of the needs of people with disabilities in Illinois for the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois. This project included surveying consumers of the 23 independent living centers that are located in Illinois as well as surveying non-consumer residents of Illinois.