Survey Proposal
Having a discussion with people about the new 7cups app to collect data to help further benefit mental health and learn more about it, I was thinking about a survey located on the website perhaps on the "Path" section of the website to collect voluntary information.
You could implement a survey that asks the user questions based on a 1-10 rating system that the user could fill in once a week related to the information that you're looking for. Sometimes it's just easier to ask questions directly. Anonymous, of course.
Could have questions realted to mental health and ask them how they've been feeling over the past week and ask questions such as "On a scale of 1-10, has this website helped improve your mental health in the past week?" and "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the feeling of need to SH over the past week?" etc.
Remember that the questions would be anonymous in the survey making it easier for people to answer any questions given. It all just depends upon what questions you're looking to ba answered. The above questions are only examples as I don't know 100% what information you would be looking for.
I would most definitely partake in it and you could easily see the difference every week which would help you understand the health issues at hand. You could also insert a "select all that apply" section below which asks which areas of mental health they have difficulty with. You could also include an age range that the user selects so you have an idea of what age range it is affecting.
Just an idea. Not intending to cause offense or upset anyone with the above information.
What does anyone else think? Would you participate if something like this was available to you?
An interesting idea! However, a survey like this could only collect data from the kind of people who use the app and are not too upset about other stuff in their lives. So it would produce very biased data about mental health. People whose mental health is very bad will mostly not participate, and people whose mental health is very good will mostly not participate. For this reason I cannot see it being of much value. Personally, I would not participate.
@DipityEnigma
@RarelyCharlie Why would it only collect data from people who use the app? I'm using my PC right now and mostly use my PC. It wouldn't be limited to people who use the app. Personally, I think more people than what you assume would participate in the anonymous survey especially to get things out and get their point across and help those in need. I'm in a really bad place myself but I was still use it. I think it's unfair to speak on behalf of other people like that when you don't know what they would actually be willing to partake in.
Not meaning to cause offence with the above, just stating my opinion on the matter. :)
Oops, that was my mistake 
You wrote, "about the new 7cups app" and I misunderstood it.
A survey within 7 Cups could only collect data from people who use 7 Cups, just like a survey in a bus station could only collect data from people who visit the bus station.
I'm not speaking for other people. I'm speaking as a scientist and statistician about biased data.
@DipityEnigma
@RarelyCharlie You can work around the biased problems by asking questions that would counter-act the biased situation. :) For example: "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your mental health in general?" so they could be separated into separate categories; for example:
1 - 4 = Poor
5 - 7 = Average
8 - 10 = Excellent
So you could have these 3 categories for example that users statistics would go into first and foremost. It could be the first question that categorises the main subject. Then it could be followed by more specific questions. There are questions to counter-act the biased problem but I can't really give anymore of a suggestion than this at this point as I do not know what type of questions they're looking to get answered :)
It's more of a suggestion for them to take into consideration and work on based on any suggestions given if they wish to pursue this proposal.
What would you do differently in terms of this survey? What questions would you ask in order to counter-act the biased issues you mentioned?
You are right—we don't know what kind of questions they are looking to get answered. That makes it difficult to know exactly what kind of bias needs to be overcome, and how best to overcome it.
@DipityEnigma
@RarelyCharlie yes but as stated in my extended post, it isn't for us to decide the questions. It is really just a proposal and nothing more. It's up to the staff to make those decisions, not us. I'm sure they're more than capable of counter-acting any issues that may come up and make a successful survey. =)
@RarelyCharlie Just add, this would inevitably need some testing and work to make it a successful survey but as stated, the aim of the survey would need to be stated but as it seems be about mental health, it would need to start with something to categories the main goal of the survey.
There are many mental health survey's out there that are very successful so I'm well aware that is do-able from a non-biased perspective but not knowing the main goal of the survey that the staff would be aiming to achieve makes it difficult for me to personally but I wouldn't be the one creating the survey in the first place so it's not up to me how the survey pans out or the questions involved which is why I can't go into more detail.
But this proposal isn't about me creating the survey, it's just to pass on an idea that may benefit the users and the staff for the information that they're attempting to gather. =)
I'm confused as to the purpose of collecting the data.
Is it just for individual use? If so there already is the wellness quiz thing (the name is escaping me) - and I know there were plans to update that.
If it's to be used for the site, I worry about that promoting the stereotype that this site is for those who have mental illnesses only. There already seems to be that perception with some people.
@AffyAvo As I already stated, this is a proposal that can do with some work based on what the STAFF want from the survey itself and also as already stated, this is merely an example. I am not staff therefore I do no not know what exactly they will be looking for from the uses themselves. It is just a suggestion for the staffs consideration. They choose what they want from the survey, not me so asking me these questions is pointless as I obviously don't have an answer. Sorry if it seems a bit blunt but I have already mentioned all of what you stated previously.