Life in Balance Focus Group Entry Survey
Life in Balance
Charles L. Kennedy
Senior Instructor
Department of Political Science
Penn State York
PUBLIC OPINION COURT FOCUS GROUP
A LIFE IN BALANCE
1. Would you say the overall level of public trust in corporate America is:
0% HIGH
21% MEDIUM
79% LOW
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
2. What do you think is the single most important trait or characteristic needed for a person to succeed in business today?
21% HONESTY
21% DETERMINATION
14% INTELLIGENCE
7% STONG ETHICS
7% GOOD CHARACTER
7% WORK HARD
7% ABILITY
7% CHARISMA
7% RUTHLESS
3. What would you say is the main reason you selected your current business or occupation?
29% MONEY/PAY
0% FAMILY BUSINESS
29% COMMUNITY/SOCIETAL GOOD
29% PERSONAL INTEREST
7% OTHER (Specify: ABILITY)
7% REFUSED/NO OPINION
4. How important do you think it is for a business person to balance his/her professional career with family life or recreational time?
79% VERY IMPORTANT
21% SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT
0% SOMEWHAT UNIMPORTANT
0% VERY UNIMPORTANT
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
5. Thinking of how you spend your own time, would you say you spend TOO MUCH, ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT, or TOO LITTLE time on business or professional activities?
29% TOO MUCH
36% ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT
36% TOO LITTLE
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
6. Thinking of how you spend your own time, would you say you spend TOO MUCH, ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT, or TOO LITTLE time on family or personal recreational activities?
14% TOO MUCH
43% ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT
43% TOO LITTLE
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
7. Do you think it is MORE, ABOUT THE SAME, or LESS difficult to balance business/career demands with family and leisure time activities than it was ten years ago?
36% SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT
21% SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT
14% ABOUT THE SAME
7% SOMEWHAT LESS DIFFICULT
14% SIGNIFCIANT LESS DIFFICULT
7% REFUSED/NO OPINION
8. Do you belong to a “service” club or organization (IE; Rotary, Lions, Kiwanias)?
29% YES
71% NO
0% REFUSED
9. How many hours per week to you dedicate to performing volunteer or community service activities?
79% None
21% 1 – 2
0% 2 – 5
0% 5 – 10
0% 10 – 15
0% 15 – 20
0% Over 20
0% REFUSED
10. Do you belong to any sort of a professional or trade organization?
43% YES
57% NO
0% REFUSED
11. Do you regularly attend church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious services?
29% YES
71% NO
0% REFUSED
12. Do you serve in any volunteer capacity at your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious institution?
7% YES
93% NO
0% REFUSED
13. Do you now or have you ever served as an adult leader for youth activities (ie: sports coach, scout leader)?
43% YES
57% NO
0% REFUSED
14. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is how much money a person makes.”
7% STRONGLY AGREE
36% SOMEWHAT AGREE
14% SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
43% STRONGLY DISAGREE
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
15. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is what others think of you.”
14% STRONGLY AGREE
29% SOMEWHAT AGREE
36% SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
21% STRONGY DISAGREE
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
16. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is what a person does to help others.”
43% STRONGLY AGREE
36% SOMEWHAT AGREE
21% SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
0% STRONGLY DISAGREE
0% REFUSED/NO OPINION
17. On a scale of one to five – with one being the most important, and five being the least important – please rate for us the following qualities you might consider to be essential to succeed in business:
1.38 Honesty
1.38 Hard Working
1.46 Integrity/Ethical
1.62 Strong Moral Character
1.69 Knowledgable/Smart
1.77 Leadership Ability
1.85 Plays by the Rules
1.92 Respect Others
2.0 Self Assured/Confident
2.54 Entrepreneurial/Takes Risks
2.85 Creative/Innovative
4.15 Challenges Authority
_____ Other (Specify: ___________)
18. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality needed to succeed in business today?
7% Formal Education
21% Previous Job Experience
0% Marital Status
0% Quality of References
64% Enthusiasm/Work Ethic
7% Other (Specify: INTELLIGENCE)
19. Does your business (or place of employment) have a written “code of ethics,” or other official policy governing employee conduct?
64% YES
21% NO
7% DON’T KNOW
7% REFUSED/NO OPINION
20. Has your business (or place of employment) ever conducted seminars, or offered any formal instruction to employees on the subject of business ethics?
50% YES
36% NO
7% DON’T KNOW
7% REFUSED/NO OPINION
21. Does your business (or place of employment) have in place any formal review process to ensure that managers and employees are operating in a legal and ethical manner?
21% YES
57% NO
7% DON’T KNOW
14% REFUSED/NO OPINION
1. Are you a:
57% MALE
43% FEMALE
2. What is your age group?
29% 18 – 30
14% 30 – 40
36% 40 – 50
21% 50 – 65
0% Over 65
3. In what category would you place your income for the past year?
14% Under $20,000
21% $20,000 – $30,000
29% $30,000 – $50,000
29% $50,000 – $75,000
0% $75,000 – $100,000
0% Over $100,000
4. Are you a:
29% REPUBLICAN
36% DEMOCRAT
36% INDEPENDENT
0% NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE
5. How would you describe your religious affiliation”
36% PROTESTANT
29% CATHOLIC
7% JEWISH
7% CHRISTIAN
21% NO RESPONSE
6. What is the highest level of education you have completed:?
0% SECONDARY EDUCATION
14% HIGH SCHOOL
7% POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATE
64% FOUR YEAR-DEGREE
14% GRADUATE DEGREE