Public Participation

The Town of Matthews conducted a survey to determine citizen perceptions, attitudes, needs and expectations. This year, the survey was on-line between February 1 and March 10, 2013. The Town took considerable effort to inform residents about the survey and the response rate was 323. However, 27 respondents were not Matthew residents and they were excluded from the analysis.
Given the 295 valid responses statistically valid within ± 5.5%.

The Town of Matthews conducted a survey to determine citizen perceptions, attitudes, needs and expectations. This year, the survey was on-line, between the first week of November thru the first week of December 2010. The Town took considerable effort to inform residents about the survey and the response rate was exceptionally good. The Town provided news releases to over 30 media outlets, on their website, blast email, Facebook and Twitter. In 2008, when the survey was done by mail, there was a response of 342. This year there were 486 respondents. 465 (95.7% answered on the internet and 21 (4.3%) used printed copies that were made available at the library and Town Hall. However, 51 respondents indicated that they did not live in Matthews, giving a Town resident response of 397. In addition, the sample also over-represented the proportion of known white residents and under-represented those with incomes under $35,000 and over $200,000. These factors are controlled statistically when appropriate and given the size of the response rate there is a 95% confidence that the results are within ± 4%.