The 2009 Quad Cities Poll

Survey Background Information

The 2009 Quad Cities Poll was a collaborative effort to obtain scientifically valid poll data on the attitudes of Quad Cities residents on a number of issues including quality of life, important issues facing the region, and effects of the national economic downturn on local residents.

In the Spring of 2009, a random sample of residents was derived from the counties that make up the Quad Cities (Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL) Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), proportionate to the size of each county in the MSA. The counties included Scott county in Iowa and Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry counties in Illinois. Residents of these counties were randomly selected proportionate to their size within the MSA.

Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of potential respondents were obtained from Survey Sampling, Inc. using a list-based sampling frame.

Approximately 10 percent (52) of the sampled respondents were interviewed over the telephone and the remaining members of the sample were mailed a self administered questionnaire. The main data collection yielded 530 completed questionnaires yielding a 33 percent response rate with a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.

Survey Findings

Respondents to this survey reflect the relative proportion of the populations in Scott, Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry Counties. A somewhat larger proportion of males and people with a four-year degree or higher responded to the poll.

Quad Cities’ residents are very positive about their quality of life. Sixty-six percent of residents reported that they believed that the quality of life in the region is better or much better than the U.S. as a whole. Eighty-four percent of the Quad Cities’ residents believe that the quality of life has been better or about the same for the past five years and 91 percent of the respondents predict that the quality of life will be better or about the same five years from now.

Respondents reported that they believe access to parks and recreation, better air quality, transportation to/from and in the region, and downtown revitalization are most important in the development of the region.

Almost half of the respondents (49 percent) indicated that they believe that economic concerns are among the top issues facing the Quad Cities today. Fifteen percent of respondents told us that infrastructural issues are of most concern to them and 10 percent of residents believe that tax-related issues are of most concern to them.

The majority (74 percent) of Quad Cities residents surveyed have been affected by the downturn in the national economy in some way. Over half of respondents indicated that they are buying fewer things and going out less; almost half (49 percent) also reported that they had lost all or part of their savings and/or investments. Over one third (38 percent) of Quad Cities residents polled also told us that they know someone who has lost a job as a result of the downturn in the national economy. Despite feeling the effects of the downturn, most residents are confident that they will recover from the downturn in the next year.

Data from the 2009 Quad Cities Poll clearly show that Quad Cities residents are positive about the region and its future. While many Quad Cities residents are feeling the effects of the national economic downturn, they are confident that they – and the region – will recover from it.