Before you look at a single result, look at who answered. 31 responses may sound like a lot, but it matters how many families could have responded. The response rate is the number of responses divided by the number of families surveyed: 31 of 56, or 55%.

Check response rates for each group, too. At the sample center, 71% of pre-K families responded, but only 25% of infant and toddler families did. A low response rate in one group is a finding in itself. It means that group’s results may not represent those families, and it is worth asking why they didn’t respond. Perhaps the survey reached them at a busy time, or perhaps they doubt feedback makes a difference.