Assessing the Usefulness of PD&R Research Products

To ensure that PD&R's research products are meeting the needs of our stakeholders, partners, and constituents, from time to time we conduct a “reality check” to determine how well we’re answering the Big Questions that come to light as a result of major changes in national and local housing markets, economic conditions, and the resulting effects on how and where Americans live. The results can be found in a new study that examines the extent of customer satisfaction with PD&R’s research products, which we’re pleased to share with you today.

Three surveys were conducted, asking visitors to the HUDUSER website, members of this HUD USER News eList, and a sample of individuals who ordered PD&R products from the HUD USER Clearinghouse a series of questions designed to measure overall customer satisfaction with PD&R’s research products. These surveys were structured to provide a detailed and accurate assessment of our publications, data sets, and periodicals, as well as our means of online delivery. Level-of-Satisfaction questions regarding the usefulness and organization of the publications, the data, and the quality of the reports were included. Researchers also obtained information on the most frequently downloaded products, the most common search phrases used, and the websites referring the most traffic to www.huduser.gov. Data on the number of publications sent, work affiliation, and the most frequently ordered publications and data sets were tabulated. As always, the privacy of individual respondents was carefully protected.