Obtaining and Using Feedback from Participants

What do we mean by feedback from participants? Feedback from participants consists of reactions to, opinions about, and/or information on what you do from those to whom it’s offered or who benefit from it. Feedback may be: Positive, negative, or neutral. Objective or subjective. Enhanced by knowledge of community history, personalities and relationships, culture, etc. Limited by lack of knowledge, information, or understanding. Solicited or unsolicited. Direct or indirect.

Why do you need feedback from participants? It’s part of being customer-centered. It gives you tools to improve your program. It allows you to respond to changes in the community, the population, or the situation. It can give you information about the history of the community, the history of your issue in the community, or the history of your population. It can inform you about personalities and relationships in the community and/or the population you’re working with.

Why do you need feedback from participants? (cont.) It can tell you when your methods or approach aren’t working. It can tell you when you’re treating people in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, angry, or otherwise disrespected. It can help you deal with what’s important to participants, even though that may not be your major goal. It can assure that your objectives make as much sense for participants as they do for you.

Who are participants that can offer feedback? Adults and teens with no intellectual, psychological, or social barriers. People with mental illness. Children. At-risk or troubled youth. Developmentally delayed or retarded teens and adults. Speakers of other than the majority language. People who have left the program.

When might you ask for feedback from participants? Before you begin an effort (PLAN). As you develop a program, initiative, or intervention (DO). Before you implement your plan (CHECK). While the work progresses and in evaluating it (ACT). In making adjustments and starting the cycle again (ANALYZE).

How do you obtain feedback from participants? You use one or more methods of asking for feedback: Surveys. Individual interviews. Small group interviews and focus groups. Town meeting or whole-program format meetings. Journals. You try to increase your chances of getting good feedback by: Guaranteeing anonymity. Explaining why you need feedback, and how you’ll use it. Being clear about exactly what kind of feedback you want. Sharing the results with participants.

How do you obtain feedback from participants? Use it to understand the needs of the community. Use it to respond to changes in the situation of participants, the community, the political climate, etc. Use it to improve your program by responding to the need for change in attitudes, methods, content, etc. Use it to create or strengthen an organizational culture that encourages and welcomes feedback, and uses it well.