FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joanne Vega, Strategic Research Associates
(509) 324-4272
news@strategicresearch.net
View the full .pdf research report here
SPOKANE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY
Spokane, WA (February 20, 2013) – Research results released today from an Omnibus survey by Strategic Research Associates, a local full-service market research company, has shed light on the community’s view of who is responsible for addressing the graduation rates of high school students in Spokane County.
Each fall Strategic Research Associates conducts a multi-sponsor Omnibus survey, a public opinion poll sponsored by multiple organizations to collect data on a wide variety of topics during the same telephone survey. Participants of the Fall 2012 survey have asked to remain anonymous. Strategic Research Associates also takes this opportunity to question community members about key issues which may be of significance to the Greater Spokane community. The questions are only sponsored by Strategic Research Associates, no third party influenced the development of the questions sponsored by Strategic Research Associates.
Between November 6 and November 27, 2012, adult residents ages 18 and older of Spokane County were interviewed by telephone. To determine the sample for this survey, households were randomly selected through known landline and cell phone numbers using random-digit-dialing. For each known number, one adult from each household was selected for an interview. During survey fielding, the total sample was closely managed to ensure no market segment was over or under sampled in the final survey population.
Respondents were then asked to share their opinions as to whom they feel is responsible for ensuring high graduation rates within our community after being presented with the following statement, “The current graduation rate for high school students in Spokane County is 80%, slightly above the statewide average of 78%.” Participants were then asked whether or not they considered a graduation rate of 80% to be acceptable. Approximately one in three (35%) answered yes. This percentage varied significantly by age, parental status, and household income. Those aged 18 to 34, those without minor children, the less highly educated, and the less affluent were more likely than others to indicate a graduation rate of 80% was acceptable.
Participants were asked to indicate if they felt parents, schools, or the community should have the most responsibility to encourage the county’s students to finish high school. Among the three choices, most (71%) of the county’s adults answered “parents,” while the remaining 17% selected “schools” and 8% chose “the community.” More affluent and highly educated respondents, and those with children, tended to be more likely than others to name “parents” as the ones most responsible for ensuring graduation.
From these results, one can conclude that the average Spokane resident feels there is room to improve the graduation rate of local high school graduates, and that responsibility falls primarily with parents.
Graphical survey results are included. For more information regarding the results of this research, please feel free to contact Joanne Vega, Director, General Manager, Strategic Research Associates at (509) 324-4272, news@strategicresearch.net.
About Strategic Research Associates
Strategic Research Associates is a full-service independent market research firm specializing in qualitative and quantitative research located in Downtown Spokane. Since 1996, Strategic Research Associates has provided superior research results to a wide variety of clients nationwide ranging from public organizations, to consumer products manufacturers, to medical groups and beyond. Research conducted by Strategic Research Associates helps clients expose new ideas and findings about their markets, clients, and products to develop the most effective positioning, an optimally configured product, or the most compelling communication message. www.strategicresearch.net
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