SURVLY METHODOLOGY

A short one page survey was created by the researcher with input from the Festival
organizers as to the information they needed to collect and their presumptions
regarding the Festival participants.

Nine trained volunteers distributed surveys on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at
each of the sites and specific events. No surveys were collected during the student
educational programming days. The volunteers were trained by the researcher who
supervised at all collection sites. Surveys were collected from volunteers and
counted every two hours to ensure that sample size was sufficient in relation to
festival attendance at the specific events within the given timeframes.

At the Downtown Ice Sculptures site and at the two concerts, volunteers roamed on
site and handed out surveys to participants. At the Festival Village, volunteers
distributed surveys at the entrance and in the eating area where participants were
seated. Surveys were handed out on a clipboard and the volunteer stayed nearby

to answer questions and collect completed surveys. Participants could decline to
participate.

Participants! were instructed to fill out only one survey per travel group and only
one survey for the course of the event. The survey was one page long and easily
completed in less than five minutes. They were encouraged to fill in all sections and
to estimate expenses to the best of their recollection. Each person in the travel
group completing the survey was given a coupon for a prize draw.

Participants % of total participants

Day Site surveyed at event
Friday Downtown - Ice Sculptures 120 20%
Friday Festival Village - Concert 66 36%

Saturday Festival Village 929 24%
Saturday Port Theatre - Concert 225 26%
Sunday Festival Village 597 35%

1,937 27%

' Surveys were only handed out to adults, however children were counted in the group
numbers.

iaimo Maple Sugar Festival 2004: A study of economic and non-economic impacts on the Nanaimo area 11