Introduction to the Portland Insights Survey

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The Portland Insights Survey was conducted between October 17, 2022 and January 10, 2023. At the conclusion of data collection, 5,290 completed surveys provided a rich dataset to help the City understand the sentiments and opinions of its community members.

Who conducted the survey?

The 2022 Portland Insights survey was an effort by the Portland City Budget Office, in partnership with the Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) at Portland State University (PSU), to assess community perceptions and needs in the city of Portland, Oregon.

What is the purpose of the survey?

The three primary goals were to:

to develop a better understanding of Portlanders’ perception of city government and its services from members from a wide range of communities and neighborhoods, with special attention given to ensure representation of traditionally underrepresented populations, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC);
incorporate this information into an evaluation of the ability of City programs and services to meet the needs of a diverse population; and
to inform the city’s budget development, policy making, and performance management processes in an effort to create more equitable, informed administrative processes.

What does the survey cover?

Representatives from City bureaus, elected officials, and community representatives collaborated to develop the survey questions through an iterative process over nine months. This rigorous development process ensured that the survey covers the most important questions that these stakeholders, who come from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, care about. The comprehensive survey covers a wide range of topics from the biggest challenge the City is facing, to ways to improve communications between the City and community members.

How could participants take the survey?

Participants could take the survey on paper, online, or via the phone. The survey was made available in the most frequently spoken languages in Portland, including:

Who was eligible to take the survey?

The survey aims to capture the sentiments of and was made available to people who are 16 years or older, and who either currently live in Portland, or have moved out of Portland within the last five years.