Most Important Types of School Surveys are given below:
1. School Appraisal:
Appraisal of different aspects of a school or school system is an essential part of school surveys. It is a form of evaluation or scaling according to subjective values. It is concerned with administrative provisions and practices of an educational institution and the educational attainments of its pupils. It aims at an evaluation of all the conditions and outcomes in a school system.
Besides checklists, rating scales, or score-cards, the researcher frequently employs other types of evidence, such as academic achievement and checklists for evaluating schools in such areas as English, physical education, agriculture, industrial arts, health and home economics, social studies, pupil activity projects, guidance, school staff and administration, library service, etc. have been prepared and used.
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2. Status Studies:
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These are undertaken for determining the personal and professional status of teachers and other school officials. These may be a part of a school survey, or form a subject for independent study. Studies to investigate the problems of selection and placement of teachers, their work load, their status in relation to the service conditions, health, law, supply and demand, etc. All provide useful subjects for research. In addition to questionnaires and schedules, official records are also utilized in status studies.
3. Financial Studies:
The problem relating to the financial position of a school in terms of the sources of finance, the items of expenditure, the deficit, expenditure per student and salaries of teachers are important aspects of school studies. Official records are the main sources for providing data. Questionnaires are employed by the researchers.
4. Curriculum Studies:
The analysis of the existing curriculum in a school system and its comparison with the one existing elsewhere may be a part of a school survey. It may also be taken as an independent study. The curriculum analysis usually includes an analysis of the principles on which the curriculum is based, the needs of the pupils and the community it fulfils, and its limitations. Questionnaires, schedules and checklists are generally employed in these studies.
5. Building surveys:
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Surveys of school buildings are undertaken to gather information about their sites and location, the accommodation they provide and the arrangements they have for various classes, subjects, activities or staff. They provide information about the condition as regards their maintenance and cleanliness, and the improvements or expansions they stand in need of.
According to Harris (1960), the building survey of a school system consists essentially of three steps: (a) the determination of building facilities needed (b) an assessment of the existing and possible sources to accommodate the needs; (c) specific recommendations as to new structures, their general sizes, functions, and location, and renovations of existing structures. Building studies may form a part of comprehensive school surveys or they may be independent in nature. Questionnaire, checklist, score-card or observations are usually employed as tools for collecting data in such studies.