{"id":25881,"date":"2005-08-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-08-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2005\/08\/25\/science-of-surveys\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:28:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:28:57","slug":"science-of-surveys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/science-of-surveys\/","title":{"rendered":"The Science of Surveys"},"content":{"rendered":"

To be most effective, a survey requires careful planning and analysis.<\/p>\n\t\t

Surveys provide not only comments on where to improve but also two uplifting results: what your people gained from your sermons, and representative feedback. Representative comments—from a cross-section of church people—help keep you from placing undue weight on the scathing individual comment that comes to every pastor from time to time.<\/p>\n\t\t

To get started, I recommend a written, one-page, anonymous survey focused on a specific sermon. It is easiest for people to respond to something concrete, such as this morning's sermon. And you will gain specific feedback. Here is a sample survey. (An actual survey would allow space for answers.)<\/p>\n\t\t

Sermon survey<\/h2>\n\t\t

The pastor is seeking feedback from people within the congregation. Please take a minute or two right now to complete this survey. Thank you.<\/p>\n\t\t

1. Overall, how would you rate today's sermon?<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Excellent<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tGood<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tFair<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tPoor<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t

2. How would you compare today's sermon to most of the pastor's sermons?<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Better<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tAbout the same<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tPoorer<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t

If today's sermon seemed better or poorer than usual, why?<\/p>\n\t\t

3. What are the main points<\/em> you remember from today's sermon?<\/p>\n\t\t

4. What, if anything, did you gain<\/em> from the sermon?<\/p>\n\t\t

5. What, if anything, did you think was weak<\/em> about the sermon?<\/p>\n\t\t

6. Do you think today's sermon will change your life in any concrete way? (For example, change an attitude, cause you to do anything differently, and so on)<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Definitely yes<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tProbably yes<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tMaybe<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tProbably not<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t

If yes, what do you think will change?<\/p>\n\t\t

7. If you could tell the pastor one positive thing about his\/her sermons, what would it be?<\/p>\n\t\t

8. If you could give the pastor one suggestion about sermon content or delivery, what would it be?<\/p>\n\t\t

9. Please add any other comments you may have about today's sermon or other sermons.<\/p>\n\t\t

10. Are you: Male____ Female____<\/p>\n\t\t

11. Your age: Under 30____ 3049____ 50 or over____<\/p>\n\t\t

12. How long have you attended this church?<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Less than 1 year<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t13 years<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tMore than 3years<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t

Suggested procedures<\/h2>\n\t\t

Number of surveys<\/h2>\n\t\t

Regardless of the size of your church, fewer than twenty returns may not be enough feedback, and more than fifty per Sunday is not necessary to get representative opinions. You won't get every survey back, so pass out 25 to 50.<\/p>\n\t\t

Distribution<\/h2>\n\t\t

Pick one or more personable and trustworthy people to distribute the survey.<\/p>\n\t\t

I suggest these people approach individuals as they leave the sanctuary, asking them if they would like to help the pastor by taking a few minutes to complete a survey on today's sermon. (It will be most accurate and helpful if people complete the survey right away<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\t\t

The persons should hand them out to a mix of young and old, men and women, leaders and non-leaders, and new and long-term members. The survey distributors can personally collect the surveys or tell people where to place them. A cardboard box nearby marked Surveys<\/em> would ensure anonymity.<\/p>\n\t\t

The distributors should thank people for their time.<\/p>\n\t\t

It's possible that a few people may not be honest or fair, so I recommend surveying a cross section of church members on at least three or four Sundays.<\/p>\n\t\t

Tabulating and analyzing the results<\/h2>\n\t\t

While you may want to just read through all the survey forms, tabulating the answers gives you a better understanding of what the feedback really means. You will see what percentage of your respondents felt positively or negatively about the sermon.<\/p>\n\t\t

Some tips:<\/p>\n\t\t