The document summarizes the results of the 2015 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey on residents' perceptions of quality of life in the Atlanta region. The survey was conducted by Kennesaw State University and asked 26 questions of over 5,000 residents across 13 counties. It included new questions on civic involvement and engagement. The summary provides comparisons to survey results from 2013 and 2014 and highlights regional findings as well as new questions added in 2015 related to infrastructure, safety, affordability, elderly support and civic participation.
The U.S. Budget and Economic Outlook (Presentation)
Metro Atlanta Speaks 2015 Summary Slides
1. 2015
How Atlantans Perceive
Their Quality-of-Life
Summary of Regional Results
(with Comparisons between Years
where applicable/ available )
October, 2015
2. 2015
The Metro Atlanta Speaks (MAS) public opinion survey is now in its third year. The purpose of the survey is the
gathering of opinions on how the 10-county Atlanta region rates in terms of key quality-of-life issues like
transportation, education, the economy, civic engagement, the arts and aging in the Atlanta region.
The 2015 MAS was conducted by A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research at Kennesaw State
University (KSU). The 2015 survey asked 26 questions of 5,200 residents in a 13-county area, with results
significant down to the county-level. In 2015, the survey added questions on civic involvement and engagement.
The 2014 MAS was conducted by The Schapiro Group, and asked 25 questions of 4,200 residents in a 10-county
area, and was also significant down to the county-level. The 2013 instrument, conducted by KSU, asked 21
questions of 2,100 voting-age residents, and was significant only at the regional (overall 10-county) level. Each of
the surveys was done with phone calls, implementing a random-digit-dialing (RDD) methodology.
While each year’s survey provides a point-in-time understanding of how residents perceive the quality-of-life in
metro Atlanta, the true value of the effort is and will be in understanding how perceptions do or don’t change over
time. ARC will seek to, with its community partners, continue this survey annually to build such a “longitudinal”
database of opinion shifts at the regional and county level.
This summary focus on regional results and topline county data. Regional survey margin of error for the 2015
instrument is +_ 1.7% percentage points (from 2.1%) at the 95 percent confidence level. Data to come will detail
county-level results and such results crosstabulated by demographics of respondents.
For questions about MAS, contact Jim Skinner at jskinner@atlantaregional.com or 404-463-3317.
Metro Atlanta Speaks-Background
5. 2015
71%
17%
9%
3%
70%
22%
7%
1%
71%
20%
7%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Very important
Somewhat important
Not important at all
Don't Know
2015 2014 2013
Importance of Public Transit--MAS Response Comparison
2015/2014/2013
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys
6. 2015
41%
30%
22%
3%
5%
42%
28%
21%
5%
4%
44%
31%
16%
5%
4%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Expand public transit
Improve roads/
highways
Develop communities
live close to work
Do nothing
Don't Know
2015 2014 2013
Best Way to Fix Traffic--MAS Response Comparison
2015/2014/2013
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys
10. 2015
19%
57%
23%
1%
17%
57%
24%
2%
17%
55%
27%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Move to
different
neighborhood
Stay where
you are now
Move away
from metro
Atlanta
Don't Know
2015
2014
2013
If You Could Move, Where Would You Move?: MAS Response
Comparison: 2015/2014/2013
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys
13. 2015
12%
15%
20%
25%
15%
1%
12%
26%
21%
16%
10%
16%
2%
8%
18%
26%
21%
10%
16%
1%
7%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Transportation
Housing
Financial
resources
Having to
move*
Locating other
services
Other
Don't Know
2015
2014
2013
Greatest Challenge to Growing Old: MAS Response Comparison:
2015/2014/2013
* Wording of answer choice changed 2013-2014 Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys
14. 2015
14%
51%
35%
0%
16%
48%
35%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Very involved
Somewhat involved
Not at all involved
Don't Know
2015 2014
How Involved Are You in Your Community?: MAS 2014 and 2015
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys
17. 2015
28%
31%
39%
3%
29%
24%
43%
4%
35%
14%
48%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Better in 3-4 years
Worse in 3-4 years
About the same
Don't Know
2015
2014
2013
Assessment of Future Conditions: MAS Response Comparison
2015/2014/2013
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys