First, check out this list of SSBOS Best Practices from some top 2024 affiliates!

Tips from Columbus-Phenix Russell

• Prepare early: Generate your SSBOS Roster in advance, filtered by the SSBOS age range.  Print one copy for each location, and filter it to girls at that location.

• Strategize survey days: Schedule surveys on high-attendance days to maximize participation.

• Incentivize participation: Offering small rewards like candy or snacks can boost completion rates.

• Track progress: Ensure the proctor marks completed surveys on the printed roster.

• Plan make-up days: Schedule 1-2 make-up days for any remaining participants.

Tips from Greater Miami: 

• Make surveying girls a habit: we survey our participants regularly to check their understanding of content and to gather feedback about their experience. This helps us normalize surveys so they don't feel like a test, but rather an opportunity to give their input!

• Frame surveys as a leadership opportunity: Aligned with #1, we remind girls that sometimes being a leader means analyzing what is or isn't working, and providing feedback on that as specifically and honestly as possible. That's the culture we set around our other surveys and it increases overall buy-in.

• Have each site schedule their administration: We've opted to administer surveys in person during programming. We found that on the facilitator end, having them schedule the day and time that they will administer SSBOS increases their accountability. It gets put into their lesson plan and our organizational calendar, and is added as an item for our check-in that week.   

• Have facilitators lead students through each question together: We started doing this with all of our surveys. The facilitator will read the question and explain any confusing wording. Students can ask clarifying questions about the question, so that everyone has a similar understanding. This also reduces the likelihood of students rushing through, since everyone is moving at the same pace. 

• Incentivize participation: Since surveys aren't always thrilling, we try to balance something fun that they look forward to right after. 

If you have difficulty downloading these documents for use- please email Research@girlsinc.org for a direct copy!