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UNITED STATES D EPA RTM EN T O F L A B O R
Frances Perkins, Secretary
CH ILD R EN 'S B U R EA U
-
-
Katharine F. Lenroot, Chief
Statistical Measurement in Group W ork
A M anual on Statistical Records
for Use by Staff Members
By
Frances A dkins H all
Bureau Publication No. 248
United States
Government Printing Office
Washington : 1939
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.
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Price 15 cents
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CONTENTS
Page
Foreword__________________________________________________________
v
Introduction________________________________________________________
1
A. Purpose of manual___________________________________________
1
B. Need for manual_____________________________________________
1
Chapter I.— Scope and limitations of the manual_____________________
4
A. Scope o f manual.--------------------4
B. Specific limitations__________________________________________
4
C. Sources of material____________________________
6
D. Terminology__________________________________ _______ —------6
Chapter II.— Basic statistical data in group work and their definitions—
7
A. Statistical data relating to groups----------------------------------------7
B. Statistical data relating to individuals----------------------------------------10
C. Statistical data relating to families----------- . ---------------------------13
Chapter III.—The collection o f data in local agencies------------------------14
A. General observations_________________________________________
14
B. Basic forms_________________________________________________
17
Form I.—Application for Membership (or Temporary Reg
istration Card)________________________________________
18
23
Form II.— Registration Card (Permanent)----------------------Form III.— Group Record Face Sheet (or Group Registra
tion R ecord)__________________________________________
32
Form IV.—Group Roster Sheet (or Enrollment Blank)-----34
Form V.—Group Attendance Record (Detailed)--------------36
38
Form VI.— Group Attendance Record (Summary)-----------Form VII.—-Daily Attendance Record------------------------------40
Forms VIII and IX.— Monthly Summaries o f Attendance
and Membership______________________.________________
43
Form X.—Annual Summary o f Membership---------------------50
C. Supplementary form s_______________________________________
51
Forms XIa and Xlb.— Summary Records o f Individual At
tendance______________________________________________
51
Form XII.— Family Face Sheet------------------ .--------------------57
Chapter IV.— The use of statistical data by local agencies-----------------58
58
A. Use of statistical data relating to groups____________________
B. Use of statistical data relating to individuals---------------------------65
C. Use of attendance data___ ._________ ...----------------------------------67
D. Use of statistical data relating to families____________________
68
Chapter V.— Reporting statistics to community and national agencies—
69
A. Suggested data to be reported--------------------------------------------------69
B. Suggested report forms_______________________________________
72
Chapter VI.— Use of group-work statistics in community and national
planning_________________________________________________________
78
79
A. Use of statistical reports by community agencies---------------------B. Use of statistical reports by national agencies------------------------82
Appendixes__________________________________________________________
85
Appendix I.— Bibliography-----------------------------------------------------------85
Appendix II.—Instructions for Children’s Bureau Forms G -l and
G -2 _________________________ 1_______________________________
88
III
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Foreword
The volume o f social need which has accompanied urban develop
ment in the United States in the past half century has given rise
to an era o f voluntary effort in social work. The functions of
government have steadily expanded in the effort to keep pace with
the growing complexity of the cultural life. The functions of
public agencies have been recognized in such fields as defense,
safety, education, health, and, in later years, in economic affairs.
Private citizens have also joined forces in many types of voluntary
associations in recent decades, and through these associations the
contributions of group methods are increasingly being brought to
bear on problems in the social, educational, and recreational field.
However, the welfare of American youth may not safely be left
to promiscuous, partisan, or parochial effort by such groups.
Increasingly the welfare of youth requires improvement of methods
and of service if the resources o f the citizenry are to be applied
effectively to social need, whether through public or private efforts.
A sound factual basis is essential if adequate standards o f per
sonnel, program, and coverage are to emerge. The first step in
providing this factual basis is obviously the provision of compara
ble data by agencies and groups conducting programs in this field.
An important service can be rendered by government in sponsor
ing the effort to define units and methods for comparable record
keeping. Patterns for this type o f service by government have
already been set in many related fields. It is a welcome develop
ment that the Children’s Bureau o f the United States Department
o f Labor has conceived it to be an appropriate function to facilitate
the efforts o f private agencies in achieving an objective, factual
basis for their work.
Agencies sponsoring group-activity programs in the social, edu
cational, and recreational field are deeply indebted to Mrs. Frances
Adkins Hall for the ability, training, experience, and earnest effort
she has contributed to the preparation of a practical outline of the
information needed. Her devotion to the technical improvement
of record keeping in the field of social group work has been notable.
Certain more or less distinctive purposes may be found, pre
sumably, among the various organizations and agencies sponsoring
group activity. But there is also a wholehearted preoccupation
with constructive programs of character and citizenship training
among youth. Toward this primary objective the efforts of settle
ment houses, boys’ clubs, Y organizations, both Christian and
Hebrew, Scout organizations, Camp Fire and recreational groups
are directed with increasing cooperation and unity. It is not
assumed that the full scope of work in these various agencies can
be entirely comprehended in any novel plan o f record keeping. It
seems essential, however, that community agencies have, without
delay, the benefit of at least minimum data relating to constituency,
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VI
FOREWORD
participation, staff, and a few related items. It may be found, on
the basis of reliable facts of this type, that the area o f common
methods and even o f common objectives is larger than had been
supposed. In any case, experimentation for a period o f years with
the plan o f records proposed in “ Statistical Measurement in Group
Work” should further define the problem and enrich all related
effort.
The members o f the subcommittee on group-work reporting
procedures (o f the Children’s Bureau Advisory Committee on Cur
rent Statistics) have been happy to give counsel in the preparation
o f the manual. They have expressed the very real interest in
experimentation now to be found among many agencies sponsor
ing group activities in their programs. The subcommittee has
included authorized representatives o f the National Association
fo r the Study o f Group Work and the National EducationRecreation Council. The members of the subcommittee are:
Joseph P. Anderson, Pierce Atwater, Raymond Clapp, Grace
Coyle, Edna d’lssertelle, A. Wayne McMillen, E. D. Partridge,
Myra Smith, and Owen E. Pence, chairman.
Ow e n E. P ence.
The National Council o f the
Young Men’s Christian Association,
New York, N. Y.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
INTRODUCTION
A. PURPOSE OF MANUAL
This manual on statistical records for group-work agencies has
been prepared for the purpose of helping workers in the group-work
field to collect efficiently and to use effectively statistical data re
lated to their work. Stated more specifically, its purpose is three
fold: (1) To show group workers how to express numerically the
volume and kind of work done; (2) to provide executive and pro
fessional staff members, as well as secretarial and clerical workers,
with simple, practical suggestions for collecting statistics in their
own agencies; and (3) to help local and national agencies in the
group-work field and community organizations to use statistics in
planning and evaluating either their own work or work done in the
community. The manual does not provide a technical treatise on
statistics nor does it presume that its readers have knowledge of
complex mathematical formulas’. The kinds o f data available in
social work today neither require elaborate statistical refinement
nor depend upon such treatment for their usefulness.
Family welfare, medical social service, and other types of social
work have taken the lead in developing statistical recording for
their own fields. This work has included the determination o f units
of count, the definition o f these units, the construction o f statistical
record forms, and the preparation o f instructions for their use.
One o f the aims o f this manual is to apply and to adapt to group
work the principles and practices of statistical recording which
have already been developed and put into use in other types o f
social work.
B. NEED FOR MANUAL
In the fields of family welfare and relief, child care, and health
there are uniformly accepted statistical counts such as “ cases under
care,” “ patient days,” “ clinic visits” ; and for several years it has
been possible to collect uniform statistics on the volume o f service
given by agencies in these fields. Only very recently in group work
has any attempt been made to work out comparable units o f count,
so that enrollment, for example, would mean the same from agency
to agency. This has been due mainly to the complexity inherent
in group work and the variety of services performed by agencies in
this field.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
The past uncoordinated and sporadic attempts to develop objec
tive quantitative records have resulted in great confusion: The
same terms have been used to designate entirely different concepts;
classifications have not been uniform; and the bases for selection
o f items have been extremely varied. As a result, the present sta
tistical practices in the field differ so widely that in the apparently
simple matter o f attendance, one agency will count one person six
times whereas another agency giving the same service will record
only one attendance.1 It is clear, therefore, that if interagency
comparisons are to be made for community or national use, it is
necessary to develop records and practices that will yield uniform
data.
The problem o f uniform statistics for group work has already
provoked considerable thought and experimentation. There is now
a need to make known to the whole field the work that has been
done thus far in order that such work may be tested and evaluated
by other agencies in other situations. The process o f exchange and
criticism is vital to growth, but in the past much momentum has
been lost because channels by which this process could be carried
on were few. Although this manual does not cover in detail all
the work that has been done to date, it includes suggestions gath
ered from many sources and thus makes available some o f the
results o f earlier work.
Central financing and budgeting, and community planning, have
created a demand for service statistics in all fields o f social work.
Groups engaged in these activities are becoming increasingly aware
o f the need for factual material upon which to base their judg
ments. Factual material, however, has not always been forth
coming from agencies doing group work; and to meet this need
community chests and councils of social agencies have developed
locally their own systems o f service reports for this field. Dissatis
faction with these local reports has been one of the strongest
forces motivating the attempt to develop more adequate statistical
reports from group-work organizations. The problem is one that
needs to be attacked nationally rather than locally.
Another factor that has brought about a need for better service
statistics in group work has been the increase in public funds made
available for recreation. The private agency doing group work has
been challenged to demonstrate the need for its services in the face
o f mass recreation in much the same way that the private agency
in the case-work field has had to prove its value in the face o f mass
relief. Givers to community chests need facts and figures, as well
as appealing case stories, to convince them that they should con
tinue to support group work. Furthermore, the general public,
which provides the public money used for recreation and group
work, has a right to ask that the meaning and value of these activi
ties be made clear; and such interpretation is clearer when made in
quantitative as well as qualitative terms.
1 In some organizations an individual is counted only once— that is, when he comes in the
door— although he may take a shower, go for a swim, play ping-pong in the game room, go to
a club meeting, attend a brief meeting of a house-council committee, and end the evening by
joining in the community singing in the auditorium. I f he attended another organization and
took part in the same activities, he would be counted in connection with each activity.
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INTRODUCTION
3
Lastly, group workers themselves have expressed a desire for a
practical guide that will help them to fill out the ever more numer
ous and complex statistical reports. Some organizations want
guidance in developing and perfecting their own systems of record
keeping, whereas others feel a need to understand the reports they
are asked to make by community and national agencies.
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Chapter L— Scope and Lim itations o f
the Manual
A. SCOPE OF MANUAL
In presenting a manual on statistical records it should be made
clear that these records deal exclusively with objective measures of
volume and type o f service. The fact that the manual is thus lim
ited to quantitative data does not imply a lack of recognition of the
importance o f qualitative records. Such records as detailed narra
tive accounts of group meetings, supervisors’ observations, leaders’
judgments of individual members are all essential to the develop
ment of group work and deserve to be treated in a separate publi
cation devoted to discussion of qualitative data. It is recognized
also that there is much to be said concerning the interrelation of
quantitative and qualitative data and the numerous ways in which
they supplement each other, but a thoroughgoing treatment of this
subject is outside the scope of this type o f manual. Therefore, the
manual is limited to those aspects of group work that can be
measured objectively; that is, counted or subjected to statistical
methods. For example, counting the number of people who are
watching a play or taking part in a game is within the scope of this
manual; it is not concerned with whether the play or game is good
or bad.
B. SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS
Because agencies doing group work perf 9rm many varied serv
ices it is necessary to make some specific limitations in regard to
the types o f work to which the material contained in this manual
will apply. These limitations are rather difficult to define, however,
because to date no clear statement o f those functions which are
peculiar to group work has been made. Health services, vocational
counseling, day nurseries, residence facilities, shower baths, and
family-consultation bureaus are all means of attaining the allinclusive objective of helping individuals to make better social
adjustments. But in order to avoid confusing the reader with a
mass of detail, certain types of services and records have been arbi
trarily excluded. These are: Employment, health, case-work, resi
dence, day-nursery, and room-registry services; use of institutional
facilities such as the dining room and the barber shop; and financial
and administrative records such as those that deal exclusively
with payment of fees, building control (particularly in the gymna
sium, swimming pool, locker room, or game room), and records
dealing entirely with the program of activities. Formal courses of
4
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SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
5
instruction for which recognized academic credit is given and for
mal religious services of a sectarian character are also excluded.
For the purposes of this manual group work may be defined as “ an
educational process, emphasizing first the development and social
adjustment of an individual through voluntary group association;
and secondly, the use of this association as a means of furthering
other socially desirable ends.” 1
Although it is hoped that this manual will be of value to staff
members and volunteers in all types of agencies doing group work,
it is specifically addressed to those in private agencies. City depart
ments o f recreation and other public organizations in this field are
confronted with problems in record keeping o f extensive and widely
distributed facilities where great numbers of people spend their
leisure time, many not associated with groups or only with large
and less definitely organized groups than are encountered in the
usual private agency. Discussion of records for this type of pro
gram falls outside the scope o f this manual. Nevertheless, those
who work in public agencies should find much o f the material con
tained herein applicable to their work.
What then is included in the category o f “ private agencies doing
group work” ? That in itself is a problem, because the group-work
field as a whole has not been defined. Certain types o f agencies are
generally accepted as belonging to this group, such as: Settlements,
associations (Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s
Christian Association, Young Men’s Hebrew Association, Young
Women’s Hebrew Association), Boy Scouts o f America, Girl Scouts,
Inc., Camp Fire Girls, Inc., and community centers (including Jew
ish community centers and other community centers not part o f a
public recreation program). In addition, several religious organiza
tions carry on work similar to that of the organizations mentioned,
but because o f their sectarian auspices these agencies are not al
ways considered as part of the community resources in group work.
The same is true of other organizations which have a nationality or
political basis but which in any given community may be doing work
sufficiently broad in scope to be classified with other private agen
cies engaged in group work. As yet no national association has set
up standards for the entire field o f group work which could be used
as a guide for determining which agencies should come within the
scope o f this manual.2
Although summer camps are definitely recognized as a form o f
group-work service, two reasons have made it advisable to omit
them from the present discussion. In the first place, their work is
done under conditions vastly different from those o f the town agen
cies in this field— conditions so different that the basic statistical
data are not comparable. In the second place, their work is of suffi
cient volume and importance to deserve treatment in a separate
publication.
1 Newstetter, W . I . : W hat Is Social Group Work ? Proceedings of the National Conference of
Social W ork, 1935 (Chicago, 1935), p, 291. A more specific definition is given by Henry M.
Busch in Leadership in Group Work, p. 1 : “ Group work commonly connotes an educational
process carried on in leisure time under the auspices of a social agency for the purpose of aiding
individuals in a group to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes, or to conduct activities that
are constructively recreational in character.”
a The National Association for the Study of Group Work has recently been organized and will
doubtless be concerned with such a project as its work develops.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
C. SOURCES OF MATERIAL
The material for this manual has been drawn from the experience
of local com m u n ities in developing forms for statistical reports
from agencies in the group-work field; the report forms used by
national organizations for data from their local units; records kept
in individual agencies throughout the country; and, to a very large
extent, the experience o f the Children’s Bureau o f the United
States Department of Labor in its attempt to add group-work re
ports to those fields of social work included in its social-statistics
project.
D. TERMINOLOGY
For the sake o f uniformity or brevity the following terms will be
used in this manual with the restricted meanings indicated below:
Records.— Forms on which statistical data are kept in an indi
vidual agency.
Reports.— Forms on which statistical data are furnished to a
central agency, either community or national.
Community agency.— A community chest, council of social agen
cies, or other agency in a local community which is made up of
representatives from individual social agencies.
National agency.— An organization sponsoring group-work serv
ices which has local units throughout the country or in which it is
possible for organizations in local communities to take out member
ship. An example o f the first type is the Girl Scouts, Inc., and of
the second, Boys’ Clubs o f America.
Group-work agency.— An agency which is performing service
within the scope of the group-work field. This term will be used for
the sake o f brevity, although its lack of precision is recognized.
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Chapter IL— Basic Statistical Data in Group
W ork and Their Definitions
Uniform definitions of basic terms are essential before uniform
records or reports can be developed. A t present such terms as en
rollment, registration, and physical activity are used with varying
connotations in different agencies. One o f the purposes o f this
chapter is to suggest definitions o f the terms which appear on
records and reports.
The nature o f the data that can be treated statistically will be
considered first. In group work, as in other types o f social work,
certain statistical data are characteristic o f the field. As groupwork agencies deal primarily with individuals associated in some
kind of group, the two basic units of count are groups and the indi
viduals who make up those groups. ^ In addition some group-work
agencies have a special field of activity relating to families, making
in those agencies a third major division, namely, that of family
units. Other agencies doing group work have separately organized
departments for case-work services and for help with individual
problems; this, however, is a special service that does not come
within the scope o f this manual.
A. STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO GROUPS
Groups in any agency may be counted and classified in the
following ways:
1. Number.
The count of groups in an agency at any given time is one o f the
most important forms of statistical data. It is essential to know
the total number of group units into which the work o f an agency
may be divided.
2. Sex of members.
Groups for both boys and girls or men and women are usually
designated by the term “ mixed group.” There has been some use
of the term “ coeducational” for such groups, although this usage
is not general.
3. Age of members.
Most agencies have established some sort o f age divisions in
their own organizations. At present there is wide variation both
as to the terminology used and the ages included in any one sub
division. Because organizations differ so widely it is not possible
or even desirable to set up a classification that will meet all needs,
but the following is suggested:
7
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
8
a. For settlem ents:
(1) Preschool— under 5 years of age.
(2) Primary— 5 to 8 years.
(3) Junior— 9 to 14 years.
(4) Intermediate— 15 to 18 years.
(5 ) >Senior— 19 to 25 years.
(6) Adult— over 25 years.1
b. F or associations and boys* clubs:
(1) Junior— under 16 years o f age.
(2) Senior— 16 years o f age and over.2
c. F or scouting organizations and Camp F ire Girls: *
(1) Junior— children younger than those admitted to the
regular program of the organization.
(2) Regular4— children included in the program for which
the organization was originally designed.
(3) Senior— young persons older than those admitted to
the regular program.
(4) Adult— men and women affiliated with the organiza
tion in positions o f leadership or community responsibility.
4.
Size o f group or number o f members.
This classification is based on simple counting. In the case of
groups with definite enrollment the number of members is con
sidered as the number on the roster ; in the case o f groups without
definite enrollment the number of members is considered as the
average number of persons attending the group session.
5.
Duration.
This term is used to denote the length of time that a group has
been in existence.
6. Frequency of meeting.
This refers to the scheduling of groups; that is, whether they
are scheduled to meet daily, weekly, monthly, or at some other in
terval o f time. A group that is scheduled to meet five times a week,
Monday through Friday, is considered as meeting daily.
7. Regularity o f attendance o f members.
By means o f attendance records it is possible to classify groups
according to the percentage o f members present at each meeting.
The following standard is suggested:
a. Very regular— 75 percent or more of the members present.
b. Regular— from 50 to 75 percent of the members present.
c. Irregular— less than 50 percent of the members present.
1 The age for adults should be especially adjusted to fit the needs o f individual organizations;
for example, the members of a mothers’ club might be young women of 20 or 21, and such a
group would be considered adult rather than senior.
8 The Young Women’s Christian Association and the Young Men’s Christian Association use
18 years as the dividing line.
.
■All of these classifications have been carefully worked out by the Boy Scouts of America,
Girl Scouts, Inc., and Camp Fire Girls, Inc. Each organization has its own terminology and exact
age limits, but the terms given here are an attempt to secure a common designation for pro
grams designed for similar age groups.
„ , . ..
„ „
.
.. . . . .
,
4 Logically the term for this would be “ intermediate,” but the following historical develop
ment occurred: (1) A program was planned for early adolescents, (2) a separate program for
younger children was added as a “ feeder” to the first program, and (3) a third program for
older adolescents was developed. In this connection see Report o f the Girl Scout Program Study,
by Charles H . Young (Girl Scouts, Inc., New York, N . Y ., 1937).
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BASIC STATISTICAL DATA AND DEFINITIONS
9
8. Leadership of groups.
Leadership o f groups may be classified as follows (classifications
are not mutually exclusive):
a. According to training:
(1 )
' Trained— in receipt of recognized professional train
ing for the type o f service rendered.6
(2) Untrained— lacking professional or special training.
b. According to pay status in the agency:
(1) Paid staff member—a person employed by the agency
in a professional capacity.
(2) Volunteer— a lay or professional person who gives
service to an agency but receives no payment.
(3) Worker paid by outside funds— a person assigned to
an agency but paid from other than agency funds.6
9. Activity.
In classifying groups according to the type o f activity, the clas
sification may be general or specific.
a. General:
(1) Educational.
(2) Social.
(3) Recreational.
(4) Athletic or physical.
Although these terms cannot be defined exactly, it is not yet pos
sible to avoid their use entirely in describing group activities.7
b. Specific.— Groups may be classified according to the particu
lar activity in which the group engages, such as dancing, music,
games, sewing, and business meetings. These terms are more ex
act than those given under section a above, but in order to cover
all the activities carried on in group-work agencies a very long
list would have to be included.
10. Type o f facilities used.
Groups may be classified according to the kind of facilities used
during their meetings, such a s:
a. Gymnasium.
b. Swimming pool.
c. Game room.
d. Playground.
e. Domestic-science room.
f. Little theater.
11. Type o f enrollment.
A group may have:
a. Definite enrollment.— The same persons may be expected to
attend and participate in each session of the group.
b. No definite enrollment.— The group may be open to a rela
tively large number of persons who may come and go as they
choose and are not expected to attend all sessions o f the group.
8 Some agencies make a distinction between general training for social work, especially group
Work, in a recognized school of social work and_ specialized training— either training for such
service as kindergarten or art work or training given by the agency in local or national training
courses.
•This classification refers especially to workers on Government projects such as those of the
Works Progress Administration.
7 As an example of the use of modifications of these terms on a statistical report, see section
A of Form V III (U . S. Children’s Bureau Form G—1 ), pp. 46—47. On this form the terms have
been modified in order to lessen confusion.
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10
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
12. Type o f scheduling.
Groups may be included in an agency’s program a s :
a. Regularly scheduled.— Scheduled to meet at intervals of a
month or less.
b. Special event.— A group which is a complete unit in itself
and is not part o f a series or a continuous program.
c. Casual.— A group which has no definite plan or program and
for which no special provision is made on the agency’s schedule.
13. Type o f group organization.
Among groups that are regularly scheduled and have definite
enrollment it is possible to recognize certain distinguishing char
acteristics by means of which their types o f organization can be
differentiated. The following types of group organization have
been isolated:
a. Club.— A group o f persons bound together by personal and
social ties, in which the membership is determined by the group
itself. Clubs, like teams and special-interest groups (see c and d
below ), will normally meet for longer periods of time than classes.
b. Class.— A group of persons who meet together on a regular
schedule for the acquisition o f specific knowledge, the exercise of
individual skills, or participation in a specific educational activity.
Control o f the group is vested in a teacher.
c. Team (athletic).— A group organized for participation in
contests or for demonstration purposes in activities involving phys
ical prowess or skill and meeting at regularly scheduled inter
vals for special training or practice.
d. Special-interest group.— A group in which the interest cen
ters in the activity and not in personal association; whatever
instruction is given is informal and does not involve a teacherpupil relationship.
e. Intergroup committees and councils.— Groups that are made
up o f representatives from two or more groups or from the general
membership of the agency.
/. Group organized under a national program.— A group organ
ized under the agency’s auspices as part of a recognized national
program.
B. STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO INDIVIDUALS
In considering statistics related to individuals attending a groupwork agency there are two major types of data: (1) Identifying
information concerning the individual, and (2) data which show
the relationship between the individual and the agency.
1. Identifying information concerning the individual.
a. Sex.
b. Age.— The same classifications can be used for individuals as
are suggested for groups. Thus a child belonging to a club classi
fied as a “ junior” group will be known in the agency as a “ junior.” 8
8 Occasionally an individual is older or younger than the average age of the group to which
he belongs. He is usually classified on the basis of the group, not on his chronological age.
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BASIC STATISTICAL DATA AND DEFINITIONS
11
c. School and grade.— This classification obviously refers only
to those individuals o f school age.
d. Occupation.— Occupation classifications tend to be very com
plicated and cumbersome. Agencies can usually work out a sim
ple scheme adapted to their needs.9 Attention is called to the dis
tinction between occupation and industry; that is, between the kind
o f work done and the place of employment. Both types o f data
may be useful.
e. Religious affiliation.— For most purposes the general cate
gories of “ Protestant,” “ Catholic,” “ Jewish,” and “ Other” are suf
ficient without breaking these categories down into denominations
and sects.
/. Nationality background.— This classification is one o f the
most difficult to divide into categories. The object o f the classifi
cation is to determine what the origin o f an individual is— for
example, Polish, Irish, or Italian— in order to know what cultural
forces may influence his behavior patterns. Classification by
country of birth is not especially significant for persons in their
twenties or younger, because of the falling off o f immigration
during and after the World W ar; nor for older foreign-born per
sons because of post-war changes in European geography. Classi
fication by nationality and also by mother tongue is too complicated
and too much influenced by accidental factors to be very reliable.
g. Occupation of parents.— This classification applies to the par
ents of children and young persons in an agency’s clientele. It is
unnecessary to classify adult members according to the occupation
of their parents. As is indicated under item Id, “ occupation” is
distinct from “ place of employment.”
h. Economic status.— Although it is difficult to obtain detailed
information on the economic status o f the clientele o f a group-work
agency, it may be possible to make some general classifications such
as: Lower-income group, medium-income group, and higherincome group. For agencies located in areas in which a large
percentage of the population is on relief, the classifications “ relief”
and “ nonrelief” may be sufficient.
2. Data which show relationship between the individual and the agency.
a. Number o f individuals.— As is the case with groups, it is
essential to know how many units— in this case, individuals— are
affiliated with the agency at any given time.
b. Type o f agency affiliation.— The following categories are not
mutually exclusive but serve to show various ways in which an
individual’s affiliation with an agency may be expressed. An indi
vidual may at any given time have several types o f agency affilia
tion depending on his relationship to various groups.
(1) Member— an individual who has qualified fo r member
ship in an organization according to one or more of the fol
lowing criteria:
(a) By payment of a membership fee.
(b ) By attendance at three sessions o f a group that
meets weekly.10
• The classifications used by the U . S. Bureau of the Census may be helpful in suggesting items.
10 Fewer attendances may be required for groups that meet fortnightly or monthly.
143554°—39------2
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12
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
(c) By belonging to a group admitted into member
ship in the agency. .
(d) By signifying, in accordance with the agency’s
policies, a desire to belong. (This usually entails signing
a pledge or declaration of intention to become a member.)
A member may b e :
A registered member— one who has a card in the gen
eral agency file and is thus a part o f the organization as
a whole rather than of any specified group.
An enrolled member— one who is entered on the roll of
a particular group but does not become a registered mem
ber o f the agency until one of the conditions o f member
ship listed above has been fulfilled.
(2) Participant— an individual who takes part in some
activity. He may or may not be a member of the agency.
(3) Spectator— an individual who is present at an activity
but does not take an active part. He also may or may not be
a member of the organization as suggested above.
(4) Visitor— an individual who attends an activity but is
not an enrolled member of the group.
(5) Attendant— a blanket term for an individual who is
present in any capacity at one session o f one activity or
group.11
(6) Regular attendant— an individual who has been pres
ent at 50 percent or more o f the sessions of a group in any
given period of tim e; that is, in a quarter, a half-year, or a
year.
c. Duration o f agency affiliation or tenure.— Individuals may
be classified according to the length of time they have been affili
ated with an agency.
d. Geographic distribution o f individuals.— Addresses o f indi
viduals will indicate the geographic area from which they come.
Such areas may be (1) blocks, (2) streets, (3) political subdivi
sions, such as wards, precincts, or census tracts, (4) neighbor
hoods, (5) communities, or (6) districts set up by the agency itself.
e. Summary classifications.— The individual’s relationship to
the agency may be summarized in the following ways. The first
three of these classifications supply the most primary data in group
work.
(1) Attendance— an aggregate figuie which indicates for
any given period of time, such as a day, a week, or a month,
the total number of persons present at the activities o f an
agency. The same individual may be counted more than once.
(2) Enrollment— the number o f persons whose names have
been entered upon a roll or roster as indicating their interest
in participating in the activities o f a given group. Enroll
ment data, therefore, usually refer to a particular group, but
they may be compiled for the agency as a whole. In this case
the figures may involve duplications because the same indi
vidual may enroll in more than one group.
ii Not to be confused with a person employed as doorkeeper or locker-room supervisor.
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BASIC STATISTICAL DATA AND DEFINITIONS
13
(3) Membership— the unduplicated count of registered
members in an agency at any given time.
A fourth general classification is in use in some agencies, namely:
(4) Program or group-work hour— 1 hour spent in the
agency by one individual. Thus, a club of six members which
meets for 2 hours has a total o f 12 group-work or program
hours.
Although this attempt to measure group work in terms o f hours
has attained considerable popularity, its usefulness does not seem
to have been demonstrated. A more valuable procedure is to
relate attendance figures to the types o f group organization, which
will give a picture of the kind of group experience and a rough
approximation o f the amount of time spent in the organization.
This will spare the agency the burdensome task o f collecting
detailed data on the number of hours each person has been present.
C. STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO FAMILIES
In agencies which place special emphasis on dealing with family
groups the following data are basic:
1. Number of families.
2. Size o f families.
3. Length o f time affiliated with the agency.
The date o f the first association o f any member of the family
is the base from which this is generally reckoned. In addition it
is possible to classify families according to the identifying infor
mation concerning the head o f the family, as, for example, nation
ality background (see item If, p. 11), occupation, and religious
affiliation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Chapter III.—The Collection o f Data in
Local A gencies
In this chapter the minimum essentials for record keeping in a
group-work agency will be discussed; that is, the maintenance of
records which will give the data that agencies require in evaluating
their own work and of those which are necessary for reports to
community and national agencies. The recording needs o f groupwork agencies vary widely— the small settlement operating in a
remodeled dwelling will have very different problems from those
of the large city-wide organization with a dozen branches. It is
not possible to describe here all the records which will be needed
by all types of agencies, but it is hoped that a discussion o f gen
eral principles will enable organizations to adapt for their own
uses the material presented on the following pages.
In all record systems the keynote should be simplicity. One of
the aims of this chapter, therefore, is to discuss the simplest means
possible o f collecting data. The elaboration of the records and
recording processes may be left to the individual agency once the
essentials are understood and incorporated.
The importance o f a unified system of records cannot be stressed
too strongly; each type of record should gear into the record sys
tem of the agency as a whole and thus avoid the confusion and
duplication which result when each department sets up its own
records independent of the rest o f the organization. Unification
will also minimize the tendency to emphasize unduly certain types
of records and to omit other types that are equally important.
A. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Before proceeding to the discussion of individual record forms
a few general principles should be pointed out.
1. Responsibility for records.
Definite responsibility for records should be given to the staff
as part o f its work. The saying, “ What’s everybody’s business is
nobody’s business” applies particularly to records. According to
the principles of good agency administration the ultimate respon
sibility must rest with the executive; immediate responsibility
should be delegated to the various staff members and necessary
allowance made in their time schedules. In general, leaders of
groups should be responsible for the records that pertain to their
groups, heads of departments for their departmental records, and
so on. The final compilation o f agency reports should be the work
of one person, preferably a well-qualified clerical worker. The
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THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
15
professional staff should be encouraged to take an interest in the
records and should not feel that statistical recording is merely a
matter of clerical routine and therefore of slight concern. On the
other hand, sufficient help should be available (at least as far as
the agency is able to furnish it) so that professional staff members
may be spared the routine work of checking, filing, tabulating, and
other work which can be done by the clerical staff. With a little
planning and cooperation the burden o f the work on records can
be so distributed that no one will have to carry an undue share.
2. Use of standard filing equipment.
In planning a record system standard filing equipment, both
forms and filing cases, will prove more efficient and in the end more
economical. Odd sizes o f paper placed carelessly in any paste
board box are not satisfactory. The standard sizes for cards are:
3 by 5 inches, 4 by 6 inches, 5 by 8 inches; and for paper: 8^ by
11 inches and 8 V2 by 13 inches. Cards and paper in these sizes
can be obtained directly from any stationer or office-supply house,
whereas other sizes have to be cut to order and are likely to be
higher in price. Filing cases and cabinets in various materials
from lightweight cardboard to heavy fireproof steel are available
in the standard sizes. There are also special visible-index sys
tems, but these will probably be found useful only to organizations
in which the volume o f work is large enough to warrant the extra
expenditure for printing and special equipment.
3. Use of materials and equipment o f good quality.
A plea should be made also for obtaining equipment and mate
rials o f good quality. It is usually found that the cheapest mer
chandise is the most expensive in the long run. Social agencies
especially have a tendency to be “ penny wise and pound foolish”
in the matter o f office equipment. Record forms that are to be
used by staff workers and agency members throughout the year
should be sufficiently durable to stand the strain of constant han
dling. Filing cases and cabinets should be sturdy, preferably of
steel, and those that contain confidential records should be equipped
with locks.
4. Convenient placing o f filing equipment.
Equipment containing records should be placed so that those
who need to have ready access to the records may be afforded it.
On the other hand, confidential records and other material not
intended to be available to the general membership should not be
placed where they are likely to arouse curiosity or become a source
of temptation. Provision should be made for a convenient place
to receive such records as daily or weekly attendance counts. A
volunteer leader should not be expected, after a strenuous session
with a group, to walk up several flights of stairs to turn in a record
to a supervisor when the record could just as well be left near the
front door on the way out. A little attention to convenience may
stimulate greater interest in records on the part of those who are
expected to keep and use them.
5. Planning the record forms.
In planning the forms to be used for statistical records, partic
ular attention should be paid to the format. Forms should be
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
large enough to contain all the items without crowding and small
enough to make the record compact. As has been suggested, all
forms should be on paper or cards of standard size.
The choice of color should be carefully considered. Dark colors
should be avoided, as it is difficult to see the printing or writing
on them. A complicated system whereby different colors denote
various classifications o f data tends to be confusing; three or four
colors are all that can be used effectively. Colors chosen for this
purpose should be sufficiently different to be readily distinguish
able. Certain light shades are easily confused as, for example,
light green and light blue, buff and yellow, salmon and orange.
Items should be conveniently and logically arranged. The first
and most conspicuous item should be “ name,” and in the case of
records for individuals, “ address” should be in close juxtaposition,
with “ telephone number” nearby. Plenty o f space should be
allowed for typing or handwriting; it is annoying to the person
making out the record to be cramped for space, and moreover, the
efficiency with which such a record can be used is lessened if the
material is too crowded to be legible. As far as possible the items
should be arranged in an order that will facilitate tabulating. If
the information is to be entered on the form in handwriting, lines
should be provided for the replies to each item. If, however, all
entries are to be made on a typewriter, the lines may be omitted
from the form. Wherever practical the items should be so
arranged that the reply may be checked ( V ) •
The wording of a record form should be clear and concise. The
use o f terms that may be interpreted in more than one way should
be avoided. Questions should be so phrased that the answers will
be in definite quantitative terms in order to avoid such replies as
“ some,” “ much,” “ little,” and so forth. If it is desirable to have
an entry for a particular item made in some special order, this
should be indicated on the form. For example, the item for
“ name” should be arranged as follows to assure that surnames
will always be entered first:
(Last)
(First)
One o f the most important factors in planning record forms is
the method of processing. The three most satisfactory methods
in use at present are mimeographing, printing, and pianographing
(or other photographic printing process). Mimeographing is the
least expensive and for that reason is particularly good for experi
mental forms or any kind of record in which there may be frequent
changes. The disadvantage of this type of processing is that
less material can be put on a given size o f card or sheet. Printing
is always satisfactory, but is likely to be expensive. The photo
graphic processes such as pianographing are being used increas
ingly and with great satisfaction. The fact that copy can be
reduced to a much smaller size is a further advantage. On forms
requiring the- reproduction of a large number o f lines the photo
graphic processes will prove less costly than printing but a great
deal o f care must be taken in preparing the original copy for
photographing.
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THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
17
B. BASIC FORMS
In order to guide agencies in planning their forms and to utilize
the results o f some o f the experimental work that has been done
to date, sample forms are presented here to show the minimum
essentials of a simple, coordinated record system. Emphasis has
been placed on the essential items because experience has shown
that agencies can usually add items desired for their own use, but
frequently do so at the expense of essential material. The exam
ples given on the following pages are intended only as skeleton
forms which include the fundamental items; other items may be
added as agencies see fit.
Ten basic forms are presented. The procedures, the names of
the suggested forms, and the numbers assigned to the forms in this
manual are listed below:
Procedure
1.
Name of form
Individual application for membership or temporary registration.
Form number
I. o, b, e.
(See pp. 20-22.)
Application for Membership (or
Temporary Registration Card).
2. Individual registration.
Registration Card (permanent).
3. Group registration.
Group Record Face Sheet (or
Group Registration Record).
m.
4. Group enrollment.
Group Roster Sheet
ment Blank).
IV . (See p. 85.)
5. Group attendance.
Group Attendance Record (de
tailed) .
Group Attendance Record (sum
mary) .
(or Enroll
6. Agency daily attendance.
Daily Attendance Record.
7. Agency monthly summary of
attendance and membership.
Monthly Summaries of Attendance
and Membership.
8. Agency annual summary
membership make-up.
Annual Summary of Membership.
of
II. a, b, e.
(See pp. 26-81.)
(See p. 88.)
V . (See p. 87.)
V I. (See p. 88.)
V II. (See p. 42.)
V III. (See pp. 46-47.)
IX . (See pp. 48-49.)
X . (See p. 50.)
In presenting the material on each form the following order will
be used: (1) Essential items, (2) the sample form, (3) expla
nation of certain items on form, (4) size o f form and type of proc
essing, (5) material and color, (6) when filled out, (7) by whom
filled out, (8) how filed, and (9) comments and further sugges
tions. The essential items discussed under (1) are among those
appearing on the form for the purpose of obtaining information.
On all forms identifying data such as name and address o f the
organization using the form, the name of the form, form number,
date printed or processed would, o f course, appear.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form I.—APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
(or Temporary Registration Card)
1. Essential items:
Name.
Address.
Telephone number.
Date of application.
Date of birth.
Place of birth.
School and grade.
Occupational data (firm or employer and job).
Names of parents (or spouse).
Activities desired.
Membership in other organizations.
2. The sample form.
Three sample forms are given: for children, for young people, and for
adults.1 The significant differences in these forms are that the child’s form
assumes that he is in school and that he lives with his family; the young
person’s form is almost the same as the child’s form except for the suggested
item, “ Do you live with your fam ily?” ; and the adult’s form omits all refer
ence to age and name of parents, but asks for “ Name o f spouse” and “ Number
of children.”
3. Explanation o f certain items on form.
Form la CFor children):
Item 5, A ge.— Age at time o f application.
Item 10, Grade.— The entry should be the grade attended at the time
of application. If the child is not in school, the entry should be
the highest grade completed at the time o f application.
Item 16, To what other organizations do you belong?— Under this
item should be entered the names of organizations or groups, other
than the registering agency, to which the individual belongs or with
which he is affiliated. Agencies will differ in the amount of detail
requested under this item.
....
,
.
.
, ,
Application received by.— Every application should be signed by a
staff member who should take responsibility for the accuracy of
the information given.
4. Size o f form and type of processing.
8 by 5 inches, if mimeographed; 6 by 4 inches, if planographed; 5 by 3 inches,
or 6 by 4 inches, if printed.
5. Material and color.
Mediumweight paper, 20-pound bond, or lightweight, 100-pound cardboard,
in white (or any color not used for permanent cards).
6. When filled out.
The application should be filled out the first time the individual comes to
the agency and expresses a desire to belong. In organizations that require
the payment of a fee in order to join, the application should be filled out when
the fee is paid or when arrangements for paying are made.
7. By whom filled out.
This will vary according to the physical lay-out and the administrative
practices of the agency. If there is a reception or information desk at the
entrance, the worker in charge of that desk should fill out the application
forms; otherwise the group leader, the department head, or someone appointed
by the’ latter should be responsible for these forms. It is sometimes possible to
use volunteers for this work. It is not recommended that children under 14
years of age fill out their own cards.
1 In ^resenting these form's it is assumed that the children’ s form will be used for children of
grammar-school age, the young people’s form for persons over grammar-school age hut under
21 years of age, and the adults’ form for persons over 21 years of age.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
19
8. How filed.
The record cards should be filed alphabetically by surname in a separate
file drawer (or cabinet) located either in the central office or in departmental
offices. The cards should be checked against the agency’s master file to see
whether the individual has been registered previously. If an agency has a
general registration at the beginning of the program year, it is not necessary
to keep these application cards longer than the current year. When a per
manent registration card (Form II, pp. 26-31) is made out, the temporary reg
istration card or application for membership (Form I, pp. 20-22) should be
either destroyed or attached to the permanent record. When temporary cards
are used the permanent record cards need not be made out until an individual
shows definite indication of remaining active in the organization; this prac
tice will vary with age of members and type of group organization, and each
agency may work out its own procedure.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
An item for age is suggested because it is useful for quick reference. It
also serves as a check on the accuracy of the data given for “ date of birth.”
Organizations dealing with young persons may want to know the “ highest
grade completed” as this may help them to plan their educational groups.
In large industrial centers many young persons do not live with their fam
ilies, ana information in regard to the land of place in which they live, that
is, hotel, boarding house, with friends, and so forth, may be of value in organ
izing social activities. This item was not included in the list o f essential data,
but some agencies may find it useful.
Adults are often reticent about giving information in regard to their ages
and therefore items on “ date of birth” or “ age” are usually omitted from their
records. The item “ number of children” is not essential, but it is often desir
able to have this information. Sometimes it is helpful to subdivide this infor
mation into “ children under 18” and “ children 18 and over.”
An agency which desires its membership to sign a pledge can place such
a statement on the back of the application form or on a section which may be
detached and retained by the individual.
Another item which may be added is one on “ interests” which may serve
to suggest activities to be added to the program*
If membership fees are paid, it is recommended that such records be kept
on separate forms because it is better administrative procedure to separate
the financial from the statistical records.
Although the use of Form I is highly recommended, it is not a prime requi
site o f a recording system. This record can be used effectively in several
ways. It serves to keep the membership records clear of persons who are
active in the agency for only a short time. It provides enough identifying
information to clear with the social-service exchange, other agencies, or, in
the case o f highly departmentalized organizations, with other departments.
Through use o f such a form, it is possible to determine at an early date those
individuals who need group-work service, but who require special attention
before they will participate in activities.
This record also provides a means of following up persons who come to an
agency for only a short time and then drop out. It may thus be useful to
agencies in indicating a potential source of membership.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
to
o
(Name of Organization)
A p p lica tion f o r M em bersh ip
2. Date of application--------------- ----------(Mo- »a. Yr.)
(First)
3. Address_____________________________
...........................
4. Date of birth__________________
(Mo. Da. Yr.)
5. A ge--------------------
_______
7. Place of birth..............................-
8. Sex: M. — F. —
6. Phone number______________________
.........................................
_______________________
11. If working, firm or employer-------------13. Name of father or guardian--------------
10. Grade ____________
12. J ob _______ __________________
........
14. Name of mother.................. — ------- --------------- -----------
...................
Application received b y ---------------------------------------------------
15. What activities do you want to jo in ? ..
16. To what other organizations do you belong?
Form la (For children)
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
______
1. Name_______________________________
(Last)
(Name of Organization)
Application for Membership
(Last)
(First)
3. Address
(Mo.
4. Date of birth__________________
(Mo.
6. Phone number____________________________
Da.
Da.
Y r.)
5. A g e _____________
Yr.)
7. Place of birth_________________
8. Sex: M____F_____
9. School ___________________________________
10. Grade------------
If not in school,
11.
highest grade completed______
12. If working, firm or employer______________
___________________
13. J o b ____________________________
14. Do you live with your fa m ily ?____________
15. If not, with whom?
16. Name of father or guardian______________
17. Name of mother__
18. Address of parents______________________
19. What activities do you want to join ? _____
20. To what other organizations do you belong ?
21. Remarks
Application received by
Form lb (For young people)
APPLICATIO N FOR MEMBERSHIP
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
2. Date of application
1. Name...
(Name of Organization)
Application for Membership
(Last)
(Mo.
( First)
Da.
Y r.)
3. Address___________________________
4. Place of birth..........._........ ................
5. Phone number_____________________
6. Sex: M_______________ F.....................
7. If working, firm or em ployer______
8. J o b ________________________________
9. Name of spouse____________________
10. Number of children____ ___________
11. What activities do you want to join?
12. To what other organizations do you belong?
13. Remarks
Application received by
Form Ic (For adults)
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
2. Date of application_________________
1. Name_____________________________
THE COLLECTION OP DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
23
Form II.— REGISTRATION CARD (Permanent)
1. Essential items:
Name.
Address.
Telephone number.
Dates of registration, first and present.
Date of birth.
Place of birth.
Sex.
School and grade.
Occupational data (firm or employer and job).
Name of parents (or spouse).
Place of birth of parents (list separately).
Nationality background of parents (list separately).
Occupational data for parents.
Agency affiliations.
Membership in other organizations.
2. The sample form.
The same basic registration card should be used by the entire agency. It
may be necessary to make some modification of the forms to be used for chil
dren, young persons, and adults.
3. Explanation of certain items on form.
Form Ila (For children) :
Item 9, Date o f first registration.— This item indicates the first time
the individual was registered in the agency.
Item 15c, Descent.— This refers to nationality background of the reg
istrant— Polish, Italian, Croatian, and so forth.
4. Size o f form and type of processing.
8 by 5 inches, if mimeographed; 6 by 4 inches, if planographed; 5 by 3
inches, or 6 by 4 inches, if printed.
5. Material and color.
A heavyweight cardboard, 120- or 130-pound. For organizations serving
children and adults, it is suggested that one color be used for boys’ records,
one for girls’, and a third color for adults’. Blue, pink, and yellow are recom
mended. An organization in which the memberslup is composed of only one
sex might use two colors to denote age divisions.
6. When filled out.
This card should be filled out when the individual is admitted to membership
in the organization. Because different policies regarding membership are
in force in different agencies, it is not possible to make a detailed statement
of procedure. It is recommended, however, that in the case of groups that
meet weekly an individual should be registered on this form at his fourth
attendance. An exception to this procedure may be made in the case of
agencies that use the temporary registration card. In these agencies the tem
porary card can be transferred to the permanent file and can be replaced
within a reasonable time by a permanent card.
7. By whom filled out.
This will depend on the agency’s resources and lay-out o f physical plant.
If the groups are small, it is recommended that the leader be responsible to
his immediate supervisor for the preparation of these records. If a great deal
of registration has to be done at one time, department heads may send special
workers (staff or volunteer) to the various groups to take care o f the registra
tion. In small organizations registration may be handled at a central regis
tration desk; in large organizations, at departmental offices.
8. How filed.
Registration cards should be filed alphabetically by surname. It is abso
lutely essential that there be a central or master file o f an agency’s member
ship in order to keep an unduplicated count o f the members and to make it
possible to ascertain quickly an individual’s group affiliation. In a small
organization with a central office that is easily accessible to all departments
the registration cards themselves can be used for the master file. One person,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
24
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
preferably a clerk, can be detailed to take care o f the file—putting in the
new cards, checking duplications, and making whatever adjustments are nec
essary from day to day. In a larger organization in which it is desirable
that departments or other units keep their own files, the master file will have
to be made up of either duplicates of the registration cards or a master card
containing minimum information that will serve as an index to the more com
plete cards in the other files. A good procedure is to have the departments
do their own r e g i s t e r i n g and then send the original registration cards to the
central office. Here a clerk copies on a blank 3- by 5-inch card the most
essential information, including the member’s name, the department in which
registered, his address, date of birth, date o f registration, father’s and
mother’s names, and his agency affiliation, as follows:
Jones, Thomas
Young men’s department
2456 W. 35th St.
May 20,1923
October 15,1938
Ralph C. Jones
Mary Marshall Jones
Manual training class
Gold Key Club
The original registration card is then stamped with the date on which the
master card is put into the file and the same date is stamped on the master
card opposite the name of the group. The department thus has a check that
the registration card has been copied and properly entered in the master file.
If another department or administrative unit registers the same individual,
a second entry will be made on the master card and the original registration
card will be returned to the second department. Only one master card is made
out for a member and used from year to year, but it is put into the current or
active file for another year only if a registration card is sent up from a depart
ment. At the end of the program year the master file is closed and a new
one begun for the next year.
The procedure for agencies in which membership expires 1 year from the
date o f registration may be slightly different, especially if a membership fee
is required. In that case the payments are usually taken care o f at the central
office, and a notice is sent to the respective departments. It may also be
necessary to have a second file in which the membership is arranged according
to the date of registration, and in such case space for the date o f registra
tion should be provided toward the top of the master card to allow for ready
filing. The records of members who do not reregister on time may be placed
in a pending file and if an individual does not reregister after a reasonable
length o f time, his card should be put in the closed file
9. Comments and further suggestions.
The registration card is one o f the most important basic statistical records
and great care should be taken in its development and use.
, The following items may be useful in certain situations: “ Marital status”
m the case o f agencies having a large adult program; “ Race” when the agency
deals with mixed racial groups; “ Highest grade completed” if the agency has
a large educational program; “ Religious affiliation” in the case o f mixed cul
tural groups or of agencies having a religious interest. Some agencies may
want to enter the payment of dues on the card, but it is preferable to keep
a separate financial^ record. In cities where there are census-tract divisions,
space for that item is very desirable. Lastly, if an agency assigns a registra
tion or serial number to each record, that number should be entered in a con
spicuous place. Supplementary data for various departments can be obtained
on separate records or by additions to this card.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
25
Whether a new card should be made out each year or the card should be
planned for several years is largely a matter for decision of the individual
agency. It has been found that more accurate data are obtained by having
a new card made out annually, but a card designed for a 5-year period gives a
more complete record o f the individual and his relationship to the agency and
theoretically should save considerable time and effort. If the card is to be
used for several years, there should be ample space for recording those data
which may change frequently, such as address, school, grade, employer, and
agency affiliation. The master card suggested on page 24 is one way of keep
ing a long-time record even though a new registration card is filled out every
year.
The suggested form for the reverse side of the registration card is designed
for a 5-year card, but can be used also on a 1-year card.
It should be emphasized that a registration card is not intended to be a
complete individual record but rather a summary o f and an index to such
records where they exist. Much of the material agencies now put on regis
tration cards should be reserved for more detailed individual records.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
to
os
1. Name
(Last)
2. Date o f registration________________
( First)
(Mo.
3. Address
4. Date o f birth__________________
(Mo.
Da.
Y r.)
Y r.)
7. Sex: M____F.
9. Date of first registration
(Mo.
10. Number of brothers and sisters____________
11. School________________________________
13. If working, firm or employer_________________________________________________
Da.
Y r.)
12. Grade
14. J o b ______________________
15. Data regarding parents (if not living with parents, give data regarding guardian):
a. Name
b. Place of birth
e. Descent
Father.............
Mother.............
16. Agency affiliations ______________
17. Membership in other organizations
Filled out by
(Name of Organization)
Registration Card
Form Ila (For children)
REGISTRATION CARD
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
d. Place of employment
e. Job
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
6. Place of birth_________________
8. Phone number
Da.
5. A ge__________
RECORD OF ACTIVITY
ear
A
c t iv it y
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
143564o—39-
Y
Form lia (For children)
REGISTRATION CARD (reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
to
<1
to
00
1. Name
(Last)
2. Date of registration
(First)
(Mo.
3. Address
4. Date o f birth________________
(Mo.
Da.
Y r.)
7. Sex : M____F. __
9. Date of first registration_____________________
(Mo.
10. Number of brothers and sisters____________
13.
Y r.)
11. School_________________________________
I f not in school, highest
If working, firm
or employer_______________________________________
grade completed----------- 14.
15.
Da? ” ~Yr\j
12. Grade
j 0b
16. Data regarding parents (if not living with parents, give data regarding guardian):
a. Name
b. Place of birth
c. Descent
Father........ .
Mother.............
17. Agency affiliations_______________
18. Membership in other organizations
----------------
Filled out by
(Name of Organization)
Registration Card
Form lib (For young people)
REGISTRATION CARD
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
d.
Place of employment
e. Job
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
6. Place of birth_______________
8. Phone number-------------------------------------------------------------
Da.
5. A ge___________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
03
O
1. Name
_______
(Last)
(First)
3. Address .....
(Mo.
--------------------------
9. If working, firm or employer _....
8. Descent
------------------- ---------------------------------
10. Job ________ _______________________
d. I f working, firm or employer____ -------------------------------------------------------------______
13. Membership in other organizations
(Name of Organization)
Registration Card
Form Ile (For adults)
REGISTRATION CARD
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Y r.)
_____
11. Data regarding spouse: a. Name____ -------------- -----------------------6. Place of birth ___ _
12. Agency affiliations
Da.
5. Sex: M_____ F.........
____a. Descent ...
e. J ob ___________________________
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
7. Place of birth__________________ ____ —........ —-------------
4. Phone No_____ ___ __________
RECORD OF ACTIVITY
Y
ear
A
c t iv it y
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
Form He (For adults)
REGISTRATION CARD (reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
05
32
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form III.—GROUP RECORD FACE SHEET (or Group Registration Record)
1. Essential items:
Name of group.
Type of group organization.
Age group.
Sex of members.
Date of filling out record.
Date o f original formation of group.
Type of (or reason for) formation.
Day and time of meeting.
Place o f meeting.
Data regarding leader (or leaders), including—
а. Name.
б. Address.
c. Telephone number.
d. Staff member or volunteer (pay status in agency).
e. Date of assuming charge.
Data regarding officers (if any), including—
а. Name.
б. Address.
c. Telephone number.
d. Date o f assuming charge.
Group affiliations within the agency and with outside organizations.
2. The sample form (see p. 33).
3. Explanation of certain items on form.
Item 2. Type o f group organization.— The classifications in this item are
clubs, classes, teams, special-interest groups, intergroup committees and coun
cils, groups organized under national programs (see p. 10) and groups without
definite enrollment.
Item 3. A ge group.— This refers to the classifications listed on page 8.
Item 7. Type o f formation.— The classifications for this item are gang or
natural group, interest group, nucleus (small group to which other members
may be added), formed group (members selected by staff workers).
Item 11. Group affiliations within the agency.— This refers to membership
o f the group in such intrahouse activities as “ house council,” “ junior council,”
or other groups composed of representatives of two or more groups meeting
in the agency.
Item 12. Group affiliations with outside organizations.— This refers to such
organizations as interagency athletic leagues, intersettlement councils, and
youth organizations.
4. Size of form and type of processing.
8% by 11 inches, mimeographed or planographed.
5. Material and color.
Heavyweight paper 24- or 28-pound ledger, white, if planographed; on spe
cial mimeograph paper, if mimeographed.
6. When filled out.
This record should be made out each year within 1 month after the group
begins to meet.
7. By whom filled out.
This record should be filled out by the leader of the group, and checked by
the supervisor or departmental head.
8. How filed.
The group registration record should be filed with the narrative record of
the group, if there is one; if not, it should be placed in a folder together with
any other material about the group. It is suggested that groups be given
code or serial numbers and that the records be filed numerically. Otherwise
they should be filed according to sex and age groups or according to day and
time of meeting. Alphabetical filing is generally unsatisfactory because
groups are likely to change their names frequently and this causes confusion
when referring to them. Whether these records are filed in the central office
or in departmental offices will depend on the facilities of the organization.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
33
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
9.
Comments and further suggestions.
The face sheet or group registration record is the best means for keeping
together in one place pertinent information about a group; that is, informa
tion which changes relatively little during the year. It furnishes the basic
data from which analyses of groups may be prepared periodically and will be
found very useful by the agency in making any evaluation of its groups.
Other items for administrative purposes or for qualitative study o f the
group may be added to this form. It is recommended that items such as
activities desired by the group and other material that relates only to the pro
gram be kept separately.
(Name o f Organization)
Group Record Face Sheet
1. Name o f group______________________________________
2. Type of group organization___________________________
3. Age group-----------------------------------
4. Sex of members
5. Day and time o f meeting_____________________________
6. Place of meeting____________________________________
7. Type of formation ________________
8. D ate__________
9. Data regarding leader:
a. Name
b. Address
e. Tele
phone
number
d. Staff
e. Date of
member or assuming
volunteer
charge
10. Data regarding officers:
a. Name
b. Address
e. Telephone
11. Group affiliations within the agency___________
12. Group affiliations with outside organizations___
Date record filled ou t_______
Form III
GROUP RECORD FACE SHEET
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
number
d. Date of
assuming
charge
34
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form IV.—GROUP ROSTER SHEET (or Enrollment Blank)
1. Essential items:
Name o f group.
Name of leader.
Data for each member—
Name and address.
Date of enrollment.
Date o f birth.
School or occupation.
Date of leaving for those who drop out.
2. The sample form (see p. 35).
3. Explanation of certain items on form.
Date o f enrollment.— Under date of enrollment enter in red the date of
leaving for those who drop out.
4. Size o f form and type o f processing.
8 ^ by 11 inches, printed or mimeographed.
5. Material and color.
Heavyweight paper, 20- or 24-pound bond, white.
6. When filled out.
This record should be filled out each year as soon as possible after the mem
bers are registered.
7. By whom filled out.
The roster should be filled out by the group leader and checked by the super
visor or departmental head.
8. How filed.
The roster sheets should be filed with the group registration records.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
The purpose of a roster sheet is to provide a record o f the membership in a
group as long as the group remains intact. It differs from an attendance
record in that it gives only the date of entry and date of leaving of each mem
ber and does not give any of the detailed data on attendance. The record
furnishes more detail on the individual members than it is possible to include
in a group attendance record.
As an additional item it is suggested that the registration or serial numbers
o f the individual members be entered on the form if such numbers are included
on the agency’s registration card. This serves as a check to indicate whether
or not a member is registered and furnishes a ready reference to the registra
tion card. It is important to check periodically to see that all members
included on the roster sheet have been registered in the agency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
(Name of Organization)
Group Roster Sheet
Name of group
Name of leader
Date of enroll
ment*
Name and address of members
1
Date of birth
School or occupation
_____
9
.
______
S*
4
R
______ __________
0
7,
-
......
8........................................... ......
Q,
in,
11
19.
is
_____
* Enter in red underneath the date of enrollment the date that members are dropped.
Form IV
GROUP R OSTER SH E ET
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
35
36
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form V.—GROUP ATTENDANCE RECORD (Detailed)
1. Essential items:
Name of group.
Type o f group.
Leader’s name, address, and telephone number.
Day and time of meeting.
Place of meeting.
Department or branch.
Name, address, and telephone number of each member.
Space for recording attendance at each meeting.
Total number of members at each meeting.
Total number o f visitors at each meeting.
2. The sample form (see p. 37).
3. Explanation of certain items on form;
Type o f group.—This item refers to the division o f groups into “ clubs,”
“ classes,” “ teams,” and so forth. For examples of types o f groups see Form
VIII (pp. 46-47) and the discussion on page 10.
Total members.— This item refers to the total number o f enrolled members
each meeting.
Visitors.— In this item should be entered the number o f persons in attend
ance who are not enrolled members o f the group.
4. Size o f form and type o f processing.
Not larger than 11 Vt by 9% inches, in order to fit into a standard letter-size
filing cabinet, nor smaller than 11 by 8% inches; printed or planographed.
5. Material and color.
A heavyweight manila, 140- or 160-pound, or similar tough material.
6. When filled out.
This record should be made out as soon as possible after the first meeting
of the group. The attendance data should be entered at every meeting.
7. By whom filled out.
The group leader should be directly responsible for filling out this record
and keeping it up to date. Even though the actual entries are made by a
member of the group, the leader should make periodic checks to see that the
data are properly filled in.
8. How filed.
Group attendance records should be filed according to the days on which
the groups meet. In order to afford easy access to the records, they should
be kept in the office of the supervisor immediately responsible for the groups
to which the records refer.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
The group attendance record is one of the most essential and important sta
tistical records. It is designed for groups with definite enrollment. This
record provides a convenient means of recording attendance data from week
to week and facilitates analyses o f these data.
There should be space for approximately 20 names on one card and the
record should cover 1 program year (or period if groups are organized for
shorter units of time). Instead of having the names o f the months printed,
a more flexible record results if the column headings are left blank and the
names of the months are filled in as needed. The reverse side o f the form
may be prepared for reporting attendance for an additional 6-month period.
When prospective members attend the group meetings, their names should
be written on the record in pencil or on a separate sheet and clipped to the
card. When they become regularly enrolled members their names should be
entered permanently.
Space for recording that dues have been paid may be added as suggested on
the sample form.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(Name of Organisation)
Group Attendance Record
Year------------------------ - Day and time of meeting------------------- Place of meeting____________ Department or branch
Name of group---------------- Type of group----------------- Name of leader___________ Address________ .... Phone No.
A ddresses
an d
P hone N os .
Dues
paid
Dues
paid
Dues
paid
Dues
paid
Dues
paid
Dues
paid
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
N a v e s or M embers
T otal M embers
V isitors
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Form V
GROUP A T T E N D A N C E R ECO R D (detailed)
oo
38
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form VI.— GROUP ATTENDANCE RECORD (Summary)
1. Essential items :
Name of group.
Classification or type of group.
Name of leader (or person responsible for group).
Date of meeting.
Total attendance (subdivided into participants and spectators when
breakdown is significant).
2. The sample form.
G roup A
Date of meeting__________________
R e c o r d (Name o f organization)
ttendance
1. Name o f group_______________________ 2. Class_______
3. Name of leader________________________________________
4. Total attendance_______________________________________
а. Participants_______________________________________
б. Spectators ________________________________________
5. Remarks_____________________________________
Form V I
GROUP A T T E N D A N C E RECORD (summary)
3. Items on form are self-explanatory.
4. Size o f form and type of processing.
5 by 3 inches, printed or mimeographed.
5. Material and color.
Lightweight cardboard, 100-pound, of a color that will not be confused with
other records.
6. When filled out.
Immediately after each group meeting.
7. By whom filled out.
The record should be filled out by the person responsible for the group.
8. How filed.
If possible, attendance data on these records should be posted on the daily
attendance record (see Form VII, p. 42) immediately after the group meets.
The records should be filed by date in either the central or the departmental
offices. A t the end of the month a fter the monthly report has been compiled,
these records may be destroyed as all data, by that time, should have been
included in the monthly report. It is important, however, that the records
be saved until the compilation is completed and checked in order that any
inaccuracies may be corrected from the original data.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
This is an essential record in cases where it is neither possible nor desir
able to record the attendance o f individual members in a group. This form
is intended for groups without definite enrollment, either regularly scheduled
or special events.
A modification of this form may be used for groups with definite enroll
ment. In this case the record serves as an intermediate step for the pur
pose o f posting the data from the group attendance record onto the daily
attendance sheet. If such a record is used, the total attendance should be
subdivided into the attendance for members and visitors and an item added
for enrollment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
39
It is also desirable to have a similar form, possibly of a different color to
permit easy identification, on which the attendance of group activities con
ducted jointly with other agencies and of groups of outside agencies using
the reporting agency’s facilities can be recorded. On such a form the two
subdivisions of item 4 (see sample form, p. 38), “ Total attendance” should be
changed to read: “ a. Agency members, b. All other persons.”
Collection of these data is often difficult because the groups may be large
and there is not always efficient administrative machinery for counting and
recording the attendance. The following suggestions have been gathered
from agency practices in the past and may be helpful:
(1) Attendance of groups which meet in a theater or an auditorium may
usually be counted in relation to a known seating capacity.
(2) In the case of special events in which admission is by ticket, the col
lected tickets may serve as a means of counting the attendance. (This may
not always be entirely accurate.)
(3) A count of attendance on playgrounds is often very difficult to obtain
with any degree of accuracy. The best procedure at present is to take a
count at the time of the probable maximum attendance during each period
(morning, afternoon, and evening) that the playground is open. I f the groups
are very large, this count may have to be an estimate. Attendance at special
events on a playground will usually have to be estimated as the crowds are so
large that it is impossible to obtain an accurate count.
(4) Groups which use gymnasiums, swimming pools, game rooms, art
studios, and the like, can be counted: (a) by the person in charge if the attend
ance is small and remains stable throughout the session; (6) by asking the
members to sign a slip posted at the entrance or other convenient place;
(c) by an attendant* at the door or by locker or basket clerks. Objections,
to the third method on the ground that it is too formal and “ institutional” can
be avoided by attention to the spirit in which it is done.
(5) Library attendance should be the count of borrowers and readers and
not of circulation. Various methods for obtaining attendance in libraries
and reading rooms may be used: (a ) Signing at the door; (6) a tally sheet
kept by some one in charge; and (c) for a library used largely by adults, a
slip deposited in a conveniently placed box.
It is strongly recommended that this form be filled out and turned in to
the proper office daily and not allowed to accumulate over a period o f time.
It has been the experience of many agencies that when records are called for
at the end of the month the original data have been lost or misplaced. As a
result, workers try to fill in the items from memory—a procedure which may
result in the collection of inaccurate data.
> 2 “ Attendant” used in this sense means a person employed to look after a locker room or the
like. This usage should not be confused with that in ch. II, p. 12.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
40
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form VII.— DAILY ATTENDANCE RECORD
1. Essential items:
Name o f organization.
Month and year.
Name of each activity.
Classification for each activity.
Sex and age groups.
Space for attendance for each activity each day of the month.
Total sessions and total attendance for each activity.
2. The sample form (see p. 42).
3. Explanation o f certain items on form.
Name o f activity.— Enter in this column the name of each separately organ
ized group or activity which is used as the unit in the attendance counts.
Classification.— This column should be used to indicate the type o f group,
as “ club,” “ class,” “ team,” and so forth. For an example o f types o f groups
see Form VIII (Children’s Bureau Form G -l, pp. 46-47) and the discussion
on pajge 10. I f Form VIII is in use by the agency as a monthly summary, it
will simplify the process o f using Form VII to use the numbers given to each
item on Form VIII (for example, la for clubs, lc for teams, and so forth)
instead of entering the classification name.
Sex.— I f both sexes are represented in a group, use the term “ mixed” (M x).
A ge.— This column refers to the age-group classifications; suggested sub
divisions are found on page 8.
4. Size of form and type o f processing.
22 by 17 inches, planographed (17 by 11 inches is sufficiently large for use
in smaller agencies).
5. Material and color.
Heavyweight paper, 32- or 36-pound, ledger white.
6. When filled out.
The posting should be done daily.
after the close of the month.
Totals should be obtained within a week
7. By whom filled out.
It is strongly recommended that responsibility for this record be given to a
clerical worker. Such a worker should do the daily posting and the monthly
totaling. In some small agencies it is possible to have this record placed in
the central office where each group leader can enter the attendance for his
groups each day. When this is done, one member o f the staff should be
responsible for seeing that all entries are properly made and for preparing
the totals at the end of the month.
8. How filed.
The completed records should be filed in the central office according to year
and month.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
This is another basic record form, and its use is recommended fo r all
agencies, large or small.8 It provides a means o f compiling the monthly
attendance data for the agency as a whole. It has been found even in very
large agencies that the posting of the data can be done every day without
consuming an undue amount o f time, perhaps an hour a day for one worker.
The attendance data for this record should come from the group attendance
record either detailed (Form V, p. 37) or summary (Form VI, p. 38). Except
in small agencies it is recommended that Form VI be used, as suggested on
page 38, as an intermediate step between the detailed group attendance record
(Form V) and the daily attendance record (Form VII). If a definite place
* In some large agencies it may be desirable to post only the monthly totals by the classifica
tions as shown on Form V III (Children’s Bureau Form G -l, pp. 4 6 -4 7 ), instead of posting the
attendance data daily. Most agencies will find, however, that the record of daily attendance is
not only valuable but that it takes only a minimum amount of time to prepare and it can give
an excellent record o f an agency's work over a period of years.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
41
is provided for the Form VT records, the group leaders can turn them in imme
diately following their group meetings; the clerical worker in charge o f Form
VII can set aside a definite time each day for posting the data for the previous
day. The summary records (Form VI) may then be filed by date and at the
end of the month they will be available for checking any errors.
If the material on this record is arranged in relation to Form VIII (Chil
dren’s Bureau Form G—1, pp. 46—47), the latter can be more quickly and accu
rately filled out. As far as possible the groups should be listed in the order
of the classifications given on Form VIII. If this is done, the totals can be
posted directly without additional computations or rearrangement.
To assist in visualizing the use of Form VII the sample form (see p. 42) has
been partially filled in to show the recording for certain types o f regularly
scheduled' groups with definite enrollment. Additional lines may be used for
groups without definite enrollment, for special events, and for recording daily
counts pertaining to the items appearing in section D, “ Services to Individ
uals,” of Form VIII.
In. the sample form, for those groups with which visitors meet, a diagonal
line is drawn across the square provided for entering the attendance for each
day. In the upper triangle is entered the total attendance, and in the lower
triangle the attendance oi members (total attendance minus the count o f visi
tors). For those groups with which visitors do not meet, only the figure for
total attendance is entered. The same arrangement in regard to the count o f
total attendance and participants should be followed for the groups without
definite enrollment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Daily Attendance Record
Naue or Obqanuation .
M onth
op.
Y ear - Z £ £ f _
D ay o f M ontu
N a h e o r A c t iv it y
C lass.
S ex
1
_______
¿ Z i--7 Ì
2-
3
, / i
/
5
4
26
I|
27
28
29
30
31
SESSIONS
A t te n d an ce
/'
'jf-ctLrM
C A * /
___________
@£m£
ecu v —
f& y & É ^ P T r « ,-----------------
T o ta l
A ge
Q & Jr
CÌc£ i/1hJ a ìAJ
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A f
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D A IL Y A T T E N D A N C E R ECO R D
z
3
Wo
—
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
47
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2 2 6 /4 ‘6
920/6*7
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
43
Forms VIII and IX.— MONTHLY SUMMARIES OF ATTENDANCE AND
MEMBERSHIP
The only basic attendance summaries which are in general use and which
cut across community and agency lines are those included on the group-work
report forms, G—1 and G-2,4 developed by the Children’s Bureau, United States
Department of Labor. In this manual Form G -l is identified as Form VIII,
ana Form G-2 is identified as Form IX. Although these forms are intended
primarily as reports to be sent to a central or outside organization, they can
also be used by the agency as a summary record of activities for the month.
Paragraphs on (1) essential items, (3) explanation of certain items on form,
(4) size oi form and type of processing, (5) material and color, and (6) when
filled out, are omitted from the discussion of these printed forms.
2. The sample forms (see pp. 46-49).
In developing the group-work forms, the Children’s Bureau found that all
types of agencies could not be included on one report; it was necessary, there
fore, to prepare two forms. Of these, Form G—1 is designed for settlements,
associations, boys’ clubs, and other similar agencies. The other form, G-2,
is intended for local groups organized under national programs, including the
Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire Girls, Inc., and Girl Scouts, Inc. The dif
ferences between the two forms are due to differences in emphasis and admin
istrative procedures. The agencies that use Form G -l for the most part have
their own buildings and equipment and usually have a variety of types of
groups with overlapping membership. These agencies have comparatively
complete data on group activities but may have difiiculty in keeping agency
membership counts. The organizations using Form G-2 for the most part do
not have their own buildings and equipment and have relatively few types of
groups and little overlapping in membership. Membership records in these
agencies are accurate and detailed, but the records on group attendance for
the agency as a whole are generally incomplete.
7. By whom filled out.
The monthly summary should be compiled by the same clerical worker who
has charge of the daily attendance record or by some other staff member who
has been assigned responsibility for compiling this record. In either case it
should be carefully reviewed by the agency executive or someone appointed
by him.
8. How filed.
This form should be filed by year and month and kept in the central office.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
The Children’s Bureau forms are basic record and report forms and are not
all inclusive. They are intended to cover only group-work services and certain
selected items on services to individuals. Agencies that render additional
services and wish to record such data should do so on a supplementary form.
For those organizations that would like to provide for sex and age classifi
cations on their monthly summary, it is suggested that the same general form
be retained, but that the items pertaining to groups in section A be subdivided
to show sex and age classifications and that the items in section B be subdivided
to show the sex classifications of groups (see an adaptation of Form VIII, pp.
74-77). It may also be desirable to use a separate form for each department
in addition to the one for the agency as a whole.
Copies of the detailed instructions for filling out these forms are reproduced
in the appendix, pages 88-103. It may, however, be helpful to agencies to
have here some specific suggestions for filling out these monthly summaries.
4 These forms can be obtained from the Superintendent o f Documents, Washington, D. C.,
at a cost of $1 per hundred. The instructions are available for free distribution upon application
to the Children’s Bureau, U . S. Department of Labor, Washington, D . C.
143664°—39------ 1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
44
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Form VIII (Children’s Bureau Form G—1)
Section A. Regularly scheduled groups.
Item 1. Groups with definite enrollment.— The data for this item may be
taken directly from the daily attendance record (Form VII, p. 42). If the
groups are listed on Form VII in the order of the classifications given in this
item, that is, all clubs together, and then all classes, and so forth, the totals
can be computed very easily at the end of the month.
Item 2. Groups without definite enrollment.— The data for this item should
come directly from the daily attendance record (Form VII, p. 42). The
primary data will be those included in the summary record for group attend
ance (Form VI, p. 38) and can be transferred to the daily attendance sheet.
The figures for participants should be recorded on the daily attendance record
as suggested on page 41.
Section D. Services to individuals.
Provision may be made to obtain this material from the daily attendance
record (Form V II). Counts of the various services included can be posted
daily to the daily attendance record and then the monthly summary posted to
Form VIII. In some agencies it may be found desirable to have the workers
taking the counts submit only a monthly total, which can be posted directly to
Form VIII.
Section E. Unduplicated count o f members.
The figures for the unduplicated count of members should be taken directly
from the file of permanent registration cards (Form II) or from the master
file (see p. 24) in case the permanent record cards are left in the various
departments. There should always be a file for active members during the
current year. This may be kept in either o f two ways—to yield a net mem
bership count or a cumulative membership count.
For those agencies that wish to be able to obtain a net count o f members
at any given time it will be necessary to adopt a policy with regard to drop
ping members. Some agencies arbitrarily state that a member will be dropped
after three consecutive unexplained absences. In agencies that require the
payment of a membership fee, membership usually expires a year from the date
of payment of the fee. Therefore, if the membership is not renewed accord
ing to the agency’s regulations, the individual is dropped. For agencies that
have some such procedure for dropping inactive members it is possible to
know at any given time the number of active members, or in other words, the
net membership count.
A cumulative membership count may be kept by agencies that terminate all
memberships at the end of the program year. As members register, a cumu
lative count can be made by keeping a tally o f the cards added to the file.
At any given time the cumulative count of members can be obtained, but it
should be noted that this count will not reflect accurately the active member
ship because some persons will be included who may have moved away or may
have ceased for some other reason to be active members. The cumulative
count at the end o f the year represents the total number o f different members
active at any time during the year. The cumulative membership count is a
simpler figure to obtain than the net membership count, and is recommended,
therefore, for agencies that do not have the resources to keep the more detailed
record. A cumulative count should run only for a year, and it is important
that the files be cleared at the beginning of the program year.
Agencies that clear their files at the end of the year will record only items
8, 9, 9a, 96 (2), and 12 of Form VIII. For agencies that do not follow this
procedure, it will be necessary to record all items under section E of Form
VIII. The date of original registration should be on each card so that it can
be noted whether renewals are within the current year.
Metal flags or different colored cards may be used to mark the records of
members under 18 years of age.
Section F. Staff.
In a small agency the executive or office secretary can easily fill in the
data on staff, but in a large agency there should be a list or card index that
will classify each worker according to the requirements of this form. In the
case of part-time paid staff members there is usually some agreement as to the
amount of time for which the worker is engaged; that agreement should be
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE COLLECTION OP DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
45
used as the basis for this report, even though there are fluctuations from
month to month. It is usual procedure also for schools of social work to
assign students for a definite amount of field work, which is the amount of
time to be reported in item 14. Definite time records are kept for workers
employed on Works Progress Administration projects, and these records will
furnish the data necessary for such workers. The amount of time given by
volunteer workers is more difficult to compile because of the lack o f complete
records o f the assignments.
Form IX (Children’s Bureau Form G-2)
The local units of national agencies that report on this form have detailed
and carefully planned records which are used in making reports to their
regional and national offices. For the most part these records can be used
as a basis for filling out Form IX, particularly for the sections dealing with
the number o f groups and the number o f individuals (sections A ana B of
the form ).
The two sections which cause difficulty are sections C and D.
Section C. Activities during month.
To date it has not been customary for individual group units to report
attendance to the local council offices. This is partly because of the fact that
the group units are spread over large areas, ana it is a difficult administrative
problem to collect attendance data from these widely scattered groups. Some
councils, however, are coming to see the value o f these data and have worked
out a system whereby a post card is used to send in this information either
weekly or monthly. A sample card, “ Monthly Report from Leader,” designed
for this purpose is preMonthly Report From Leader
sented on this page.
This form has space to
Local council o f _______
report regular meetings
during the month as well
T roop _______ Month
Year
as special meetings. It
N um ber P ersons A ttending
ran also be used to obtain
M eetings
information c o n c e r n i n g
Total
Members
Visitors
members of groups who
are not on the national
Regular: TotaL .
....
register (item 12 of Form
IX ). This form also pro
First meeting...
vides data on the number
Second meeting
o f registered m e m b e r s
who were dropped during
Third meeting
the month. Such a record
Fourth meeting
takes only a short time to
fill out and if mailed only
Fifth meeting
once a month the cost to
Other:
Total
_ ___ _
the local council for post
age would be relatively
small.
Section D. Staff.
In compiling the data
for this section difficulty
Number o f members meeting with group who were
has been found in regard
not registered:
to the item on the amount
o f time given by volun
Girl or boy members____________________
teers. In order to approx
Leaders_________ Other adults_________
imate the number oi hours
that volunteers work, it
Number o f registered members dropped:
may be necessary for such
Girl or boy members _____________________
persons to turn in a weekly
or monthly report on the
Leaders_________ Other adults_________
amount of service given
Signature of leader__________________________
to the agency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
46
D. S. Department of Labor
c m ij p r s
bureau
Form G—1
Social Statistics
[Rev. 1939]
SERVICES OF GROUP-WORK AGENCIES
Agency_______________________________________
Street________________________________________
A—REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUPS
(under auspices of reporting agency).
City
Month___________ ____ 19,
Attendance
SesEnroll Num siona
embers
ber or pe Total M
ment
(incladedin
riods
total)
XXX
1 Group*
definite enrollment* Total
a. Clubs: (1) Activities for all members.
(2) Activities for special groups X X X
b.
c.
d.
e.
/.
Classes____________________________
Teams_____________________________
Special-interest groups_____________
Intergroup committees and councils...
National-program groups (Spedfy):_____
- - - -
—
—
—
—
Participants
(incladedin
letal)
XXX
9. firmi na wit.lmnt definite enrollment: Total
h.
C.
d.
c.
/.
g.
Educational activities (Format, leetnres.elc.).__ _____
Social recreation (Dances, teas,sappers,etc.)____________
Dramatic and musical programs_____________
Moving pictures and theater parties__________
Playground and street-play activities________
Informal play and nonathletic games________
—
—
—
B—NOT REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUPS (under
auspices of reporting agency).
—
—
XXX
—
XXX
XXX
XXX
XXX
XX
XX
XXX
XXX
3, Special events: Total
l. Educational activities (Forums,lecture», etc.)_________
C. Social recreation (Dances, teas, suppers,etc.)____________ —
d. Dramatic and musical programs_____________
—
XXX
—
___________ ___________ __
C—GROUPS UNDER JOINT OR OTHER AUSPICES.
XX
XX
_____
XXX
4. Total groups
a. Outside groups using agency’s facilities______
h. Groups under joint auspices (Specify):. ____ ____
—
—
—
(OVER)
Form V m
M O N T H L Y S U M M A R Y OF A T T E N D A N C E A N D M E M B E R S H IP
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
XXX
_______________
XXX
XXX
XXX
XXX
XXX
47
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
Back o f Form 0 -1
D—SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS.
5. Individual lessons:
a. Enrollment.........................
b. Attendance____________
6. Attendance for individual use of agency’s facilities: Total
a. Library and reading room_________
b. Gymnasium...................................
c. Swimming pool_____________
d. Game room____________
t Other (Spmfjr)_______________
7. Conferences: Total___________
a. With individuals_________
b. In behalf of individuals: Total__
(1) With health or social agencies ___ __ __
(2) Other . ___
13. Paid staff: Total_______________
a. Leaders, teachers, and others en
gaged in program activities_____
b. Administrative___________________
e. Clerical and maintenance_________
14. Students engaged in program activités_
15. Volunteers engaged in program activities.
—
—
Individuals
under 18years
of age
(includedintotal)
Total
—
—
Part time
Number
Hoursof service
—
Reported and approved b y ______________________________
—
Date
Form vm
M O N T H L Y S U M M A R Y OF A T T E N D A N C E A N D M E M B E R S H IP (reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
8. Carried over from preceding month (itemu precedingmonth)__
9. Placed on register during month: Tota L...................
a. New—never previously on register.. —
b. Renewals: Total_____________
(1) Last on register during this year________
(2) Last on register prior to this year___
10. Total on register during month (8dIus9)
11. Dropped from register during month..
12. Carried forward to following month (lOmumsii).
Number
F—STAFF.
full time
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
E—UNDUPLICATED COUNT OF MEMBERS.
Number
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
48
U. S. Department of Labor
CHILDREN’S BUREAU
Washington
LOCAL GROUPS ORGANIZEDUNDER
NATIONAL PROGRAMS
Agency .______________________________________
Street________________________________________
Form G-Z
Social Statistics
[Rev. 1939]
City--------------------------------Month........................ ...... 19.
Number of groups
A—GROUPS.
Total
Junior
A ll
other
1 . On national register at beginning of month (item 5 last month)—
2. Placed on national register during month: Total-----------a. New groups (Never previously registered)---------- .-------------------b. Reinstated during month: Total--------------------------(1) Dropped during year.,-------------------------------(2) Dropped prior to year-------------------------------3. Total on national register during month (l plus 2)--------------4. Dropped from national register during month--------------5. On national register at end of month (3minus 4)....... ...................
6. Groups not included in item 3 that had sessions during
month____________________________________________
Adult members
Girl or boy
members Leaders of
groups
B—M EM BERSH IP.
All
other
7. On national register at beginning of month
(Item 11 last month)------------------------------- ----- -------------------
8. Placed on national register during month: Total...
a. New members (Never previously registered)-----------------b. Reinstated during month: Total------------------(1) Dropped during year..........................
(2) Dropped prior to year--------------------9. Total on national register during month (7 plus 8)-----10. Dropped from national register during month------11. On national register at end of month (9 minus 10)------12. Members of groups during month but not included
in item 9___________________________________~
Num Num
ber of ber of
groups meet
ings
C—A C T IV IT IE S DURIN G MONTH.
Attendance
Members
13. Regular meetings during month: Total—
a. Of groups on national register--------b. Of Other groups (Column 1, same as item 6)-----14. leaders’ training courses---------------------15. Special events------------ ------------------------(OVER)
Form IX
M O N T H L Y S U M M A R Y OF A T T E N D A N C E A N D M E M B E R S H IP
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Visitors
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
49
Back o f Form 0 -2
Part time
D—STAFF.
Number
full time
Number
Honrs of
service
16. Paid staff : Total....._..................
a. Leaders, teachers, and others en
gaged in program activities..... ........
b. Administrative___________
c. Clerical and maintenance..........
17. Students engaged in program activities
18. Volunteers engaged in program activities...
Reported and approved by
Date
Form IX
M O N T H L Y S U M M A R Y OF A T T E N D A N C E A N D M E M B E R S H IP (reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
50
Form X.— ANNUAL SUMMARY OF MEMBERSHIP
This record is for the purpose of compiling the data on sex, age, school,
occupation, and so forth, contained on the registration cards, from which the
data can be tabulated directly. Because this is a very simple form to arrange
and need be filled out only once a year, it will not be discussed in detail, nor
will a sample form be presented. The following outline, however, is suggested
for this record:
Total
Age groups:
Occupations of members:
Nationality background of parents:
Schools:
Census tracts:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Male
Female
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
51
C. SUPPLEMENTARY FORMS
Two forms are included here in the belief that they will be helpful to agencies
that find it desirable to have detailed attendance records of individuals. In
order to compile these individual records of attendance, it is necessary to have
more detailed records than have already been suggested. In addition to the
records that have been suggested for individual attendance at groups with
definite enrollment, it would also be necessary to provide for a record o f indi
vidual attendance at groups without definite enrollment and of persons making
individual use of the agency’s facilities.
Forms XIa and Xlb.— SUMMARY RECORDS OF INDIVIDUAL
ATTENDANCE
1. Essential items:
Name.
Address.
List of activities.
Time interval (day, week, month, quarter).
2. The sample forms (see pp. 52-53).
3. Items on forms are self-explanatory.
4. Size o f form and type of processing.
XIa— 8 by 5 inches, if printed.
Xlb— 6 by 4 inches, if printed or planographed.
5. Material and color.
Mediumweight cardboard, 120-pound, white.
6. When filled out.
XIa—at the end of each month.
Xlb— at the end of each quarter.
7. By whom filled out.
These forms should be filled out by a clerical worker, either staff member or
volunteer.
8. How filed.
These records should be filed alphabetically by surname. In large organi
zations where serial or registration numbers are used, numerical filing is
suggested. These records may also be filed by departments, or by age groups
with either alphabetical or numerical filing within the subdivisions. If the
records are filed by departments or by age groups, it would be necessary to
add these items to the forms.
9. Comments and suggestions.
These records give a convenient summary of individual attendance for a
month or a year. The data for these forms are obtained from the group
attendance records of various groups and activities at which the member was
present. In the case of groups without definite enrollment, a list of persons
present at each session has to be compiled in order to supply the necessary
data for these forms. When the information is filled in on these records,
one can see at a glance the extent of the individual’s participation in various
activities. These records may be useful both for statistical purposes and for
individual counseling and guidance by staff members.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(Name of Organization)
Summary Record of Individual Attendance
.. 19____
Month_____
i
2
3
4
5
6 7 8
9
10 11 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 21 22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Total
U lUD__ __________
C la ss _____________
Team_________
Swimming—.....
Forums,
lectures ___
Dramatics____
Music___ ___...
Dances_______
—.... L ------Form XIa
S U M M A R Y RECO RD OF IN D IV ID U A L A T T E N D A N C E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Activity
(Name of Organization)
Summary Record of Individual Attendance
Name
------------------------------_ ___
Club
Class
Team
X X X
X X X
X X X
Swim
ming
Forums,
lectures
Dra
matics
Music
Dances
October, November, December___
January, February, March.......
April, May, June.........................
July, August, September..............
Y ear_______________
X X X
X X X
X X X
October, November, December....... .
January, February, March.........
April, May, June.....................
July, August, September...... ..
Form Xlb
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S U M M A R Y R ECO R D OF IN D IV ID U A L A T T E N D A N C E
X X X
X X X
x x x x x x x x
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
Year
Address______________
cn
Family Face Sheet
Date
Surname---------------------------------------------
Man’s name------------------------------------------
Address
From—
---------------—
UM ________^
To—
Floor,
front or
rear
Fur
nished
Unfur
nished
-----------’¿SSSio
_ =_ _ ^
Number of rooms
Date
—
Tele
phone
number
Amount
of rent
per
month
Landlord
Address
Name
W
Tff
•
—
____
____
—
Left school
Members of family
(name)
Date of
birth
Place of
birth
Occupation and industry
or school and grade
Grade
Physical
defects
Age
___________
______
—
—— ——___
—
—
—
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
___________
__________
_______
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Family status (check one): MC_______ CLC_________ PC_______
Woman’s name —
Others in household
Relationship
Descent
Religion
Speaks
English
Reads and
writes
English
Date came to—
City
County
State
u. s.
Man___________________________
Woman............................................................
Reason for termina bion of preinous marriage
Name of former spouse
Death of spouse
Man__________ __
Woman______ . _
______
_ _______
Form XII
F A M IL Y FACE SHEET
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Divorce
THE COLLECTION OF DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
Color
To
OX
OX
56
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Affiliations with organizations, including agency
Member of family
Date of first
registration
Organization
Registrations with other social agencies
Social agencies interested
Date
registered
Form X II
F A M IL Y F ACE SH E ET (reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Case
number
Dates of
important
entries
THE COLLECTION OP DATA IN LOCAL AGENCIES
57
Form XII.— FAMILY FACE SHEET
Identifying information concerning families may be kept on a face sheet
or card.
1. Essential items:
Family surname.
Address.
Telephone number.
Names o f man and woman.
Place o f birth of man and woman.
‘ Nationality background.
Religious affiliation.
Names o f children.
Birth dates o f children.
Agency affiliation of each member of family.
Date o f first affiliation with agency.
2. The sample form (see pp. 54-56).
3. Explanation o f certain items on form:
Family status—Abbreviations for the classifications used under this item
are as follows:
MC—Married couple.
CLC— Common-law couple.
UC—Unmarried couple.
UM—Unmarried mother.
W—Widow.
WR—Widower.
D—Divorced.
S— Separated.
4. Size o f form and type of processing.
8% by 11 inches, printed or mimeographed.
5. Material and color.
Mediumweight cardboard, 120-pound, white.
6. When filled out.
The face sheet should be filled out at the time the case is opened for case
work service.
7. By whom filled out.
The form should be filled out by a case worker.
8. How filed.
The face sheet should be attached to the case record, which should be filed
alphabetically by surname.
9. Comments and further suggestions.
The family face sheet should be filled out for each family for whom case
work service is needed and can be provided.
The face sheet is used in connection with the family case history. Agencies
may find it desirable, therefore, to have some items in addition to those listed
as essential items. It is believed, however, that the items listed are sufficient
for statistical purposes.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Chapter IV .— The Use o f Statistical Data by
Local A gencies
Statistical data are valuable only in so far as they are used to
improve the quality of the work of an agency by furnishing the
basis for study and evaluation. For the most satisfactory results,
such study and evaluation should be carried on constantly by the
agency itself, although occasional studies made by disinterested
outside groups may be helpful. It is neither necessary nor desir
able that every agency study the same problems. Limitations of
staff and financial resources are factors which influence the selec
tion of research projects. It is the purpose o f this chapter to
outline some of the uses which may be made of the statistical data
gathered according to the methods suggested in the two preceding
chapters. This chapter is not intended to be an exhaustive discus
sion of research in group work but rather a presentation o f sug
gestions which should serve to stimulate agencies to an everincreasing study of their problems through the use of statistical
data.
.
. .
Executives and staff members should constantly keep m mind
that statistical data have limitations and that valid research must
utilize other methods of investigation, among them the observation
and judgment of experts. On the other hand, these other methods
have comparatively little value without adequate statistics as a
basis. It is through coordination of all types of data that the best
results can be obtained.
A. USE OF STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO GROUPS
In chapter II the types of data on groups that should be avail
able in an agency and in chapter III the methods of collecting
these data were discussed. The uses to which these data may be
put in helping an agency to analyze its work will now be consid
ered. There are three main divisions into which these data may
be grouped: Statistics of volume, statistics of duration, and sta
tistics of group stability.
1. Statistics of volume.1
Data on the number of groups may be utilized to show the extent
of the work of an agency at any given time, to show fluctuations
over a given period, and to indicate trends over several years.
Total figures are helpful for this kind of analysis, but it is gener1Data from Monthly Summary of Attendance and Membership, Form V III, pp. 46—47.
58
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
USE OF DATA BY LOCAL AGENCIES
59
ally more significant to break down the totals into sex and age
classifications.2 Thus an agency may find that over a period of
5 years its work has shifted from a preponderance o f groups for
junior girls to mixed groups for seniors and adults. The expla
nation for such a shift is a matter for research that will have to
cover a variety of factors, such as changing neighborhood needs,
different emphases and training on the part o f the staff, new
agencies in the community, or changes in the physical equipment
of the agency. The statistical data that may be obtained from
the record forms discussed in the previous chapter point the way
toward intensive research which will be partly quantitative and
partly qualitative. The statistical analyses which have been indi
cated and more intensive qualitative research can be used as bases
for the formulation o f program policies and making staff assign
ments.
2. Statistics o f duration.*
The term “ duration” means the length o f time during which a
group maintains its identity in a given agency. Duration varies
among organizations as well as among groups in an organization;
in one agency any group that has been organized less than 5 years
may be considered a “ new” group, whereas in another organiza
tion any group that has been in existence for more than 1 year may
be regarded as having stayed together a long time. Many factors
influence duration, and here again the suggested statistical anal
yses point toward intensive research o f a somewhat more qualita
tive nature than has been undertaken in this manual. Such fac
tors as those listed below, however, can be isolated and studied
with the aid of statistical records. Some o f these are at present
accurate tools for analysis; others yield less satisfactory results
because of intergroup and interagency variations which exist in
policies governing membership and enrollment.
a. A ge o f members.4— One o f the more objective factors is that
o f the age of members. The interests o f young children, and to a
lesser extent of early adolescents, tend to change rapidly. Obvi
ously clubs, classes, and other groups composed of members in
the lower age divisions will not be so permanent as those for older
people.
b. Size o f group.6— Another factor affecting duration is the size
o f the group. A group which is too large may not give enough
opportunity for individual participation and members may there
fore lose interest, while a group that is too small may not furnish
sufficient stimulation or enthusiasm. Conflicting experience as
to the optimum size o f groups may be found in various agencies,
but if data from roster sheets or groups with definite enrollment
a Sex and age classifications are not included as minimum essential items on the attendance
forms suggested in chapter III. Provision has been made, however, for obtaining such informa-
duration as explained in this section may be obtained from Form III, from Group Roster Sheet,
Form IV (p. 3 5 ), from the leader’s file, and from the narrative group record where this record
is available.
_
4 Data from Group Record Face Sheet, Form III (p. S3).
5 Data from Group Roster Sheet, Form IV (p. 3 5 ).
143554°—39----- 5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
60
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
are made available from a large enough sample, some relationships
between duration and size of groups may be brought out.
c. Type o f group organization . 8— An important factor influenc
ing duration of groups is the type of group organization. Are
clubs more permanent than teams? Are special-interest groups
likely to retain their identity longer than classes? Although this
factor will vary from one agency to another, it is a form o f inves
tigation which would be very profitable in individual agencies.
d. Time and frequency o f m eeting 6— Agencies will want to
study the effect o f the time and frequency o f meeting so that they
can adjust staff schedules and staff assignments to bring about the
best results in terms of group response. Meetings held too fre
quently or too infrequently may be equally disastrous to the life
o f a group.
e. Leadership.1— Although the evaluation of leadership as a fac
tor in the duration o f groups borders on the subjective, it is pos
sible for an agency to analyze such items as professional training,
pay status in the agency, amount o f time spent with the group, and
regularity of leaders’ attendance. These data can be of real assist
ance in determining the effectiveness of leadership, particularly in
relation to the duration o f specific groups.
f. Program . 8— The activity content or program o f a group is a
factor that can be mentioned only in passing because it should be
the subject o f qualitative rather than of quantitative analysis.
However, some statistical studies are helpful in making the quali
tative analysis; for example, studies relating to the number of
times activities were engaged in by the group or the percentage of
time spent in each activity.
3. Statistics o f group stability.
Data on group attendance records 9 can be used to construct
indexes which will show the stability of groups; that is, the extent
to which the same persons remain and participate in a group.
This applies, o f course, only to groups with definite enrollment.
Four suggested indexes are: Turn-over, the participation index,
the attendance index, and the enrollment index. Enrollment, as
used at present, is affected by the varied practices used by different
agencies and different groups, and the resulting differences must
be borne in mind in using these indexes.
a. Turn-over.— Turn-over is a term taken from industry and
is used in group work to mean the ratio of members dropped to
the average number in the group.
Number dropped
±_*r
{Number on roster beginning of period) + {Number at end)
________
.. —
— —
7
_
®Data from Group Record Face Sheet, Form III (p. 3 3 ).
TData from Group Record Face Sheet, Form III (p. 3 3 ), and from leaders’ file.
8 Data from narrative group record where this record is available.
•Form V (p. 3 7 ).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
m
enm-0V6T
USE OF DATA BY LOCAL AGENCIES
61
As an example: In October the X Club has 14 members; at the
end of the club year in May there are 2 2 ; and during the period 12
members were dropped. The turn-over is computed as follows:
12
(U + 2 2 j= 0 '667 or 66% % —Turn-°verIf the Y Club had an average of 15 members but dropped only
3 during the year, its turn-over would then be 20 percent; or if
the Z Club also maintained an average of 15 members, but dropped
20 during the year, it would have a relatively high turn-over of
133y3 percent. Obviously, in a group with a high turn-over it is
not possible to do intensive work with individuals over a period o f
time. Therefore, those groups with constantly changing member
ship should be isolated for special study to determine the causes o f
the high rate o f turn-over. Various factors such as age of mem
bers, neighborhood conditions, agency facilities, and the like influ
ence turn-over in any one organization, and agencies can determine
their own norms and study intensively those groups which lie
outside these norms.
Various objections have been raised to the formula for turn-over,
and other means o f indicating stability are therefore presented
here. Turn-over deals only with the relation o f the number o f
people leaving a group to the average number in the group, but
does not show how active are those who remain. It is the factor
of participation which is taken into account in the other indexes.
b. The participation index.— The participation index 10 is the
proportion of a group which attends a given percentage (usually
50 or 75 percent) of the group meetings. The first step in its
determination is to calculate for each member the number o f ses
sions it was possible to attend and the number actually attended.
A participation score for each individual is thus obtained:
Actual attendance
_
p
m i —7 7 — - 3 ----- = Participation score.
Possible attendance
r
The second step is to relate the number of participation scores
equaling or exceeding the required percentage o f attendance to
the total enrollment, thus :
Number of participation scores over 50%
Participation index.
Total enrollment
c.
The attendance index.— The attendance index 11 is another
way of expressing the relationship between the total actual attend
ance and the total possible attendance. The cumulative attend
ance or the summation of all attendance over the period is related
to the enrollment attendance or the total attendance if every mem
ber came every time during his enrollment, thus:
Cumulative attendance ... ,
. ,
-n
— 77---- 1 —attendance
77—j ------ = Attendance index.
Enrollment
10 Special development of this index has been made by W . L. Kindelsperger at Eli Bates House
in Chicago.
n Developed by the School of Applied Social Sciences, Western Reserve University. Cleveland.
Ohio.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
62
d. Enrollment index.12able to note fluctuations in enrollment, and for this purpose the
formula for the enrollment index is suggested. According to this
formula the enrollment attendance or total possible attendance is
related to the cumulative enrollment multiplied by the number of
meetings as follows:
__________ Enrollment attendance--------- -—
(iCumulative enrollment) X (Number meetings)
Enr0Ument index.
As in the case of other indexes, care should be used in examining
the basic data employed in order that the resulting indexes will be
most useful. It should also be noted that the enrollment index as
applied to any particular period will be affected to some extent by
the variations in the time at which enrollment changes occur.
That is, between two comparable groups with the same number
o f members added during a period, the enrollment index would
be higher for the group in which the members were added nearer
the beginning of the period. In the same way the enrollment index
would be higher for the group that dropped members nearer the
close o f the period.
„
,
, -__
To illustrate these indexes, sample group attendance records tor
a 3 -month period are given for two groups, one with a relatively
high attendance and little change in membership ; the other witn
irregular attendance and a changing membership (see pp. bá64). To make the comparisons easier the groups have the same
number of meetings and the same cumulative enrollments.
It has been assumed that both groups had the same policy in
regard to dropping members; namely, that of dropping them from
the roll after three consecutive absences. From these sample
records, the following statistics may be obtained:
Enrollment at beginning of period--------------Enrollment at end of period------------------------New members added-----------------------------------Old members dropped----------------------------- --—
Cumulative enrollment (unduplicated number
Cumulative attendance (summation of
ance at each regular meeting)—
Enrollment attendance (total possible attend
ance if each member attended all meetings
while enrolled)----------------------------------------Number o f meetings—
Percent—
Turn-over-----------------Participation index:
(а) 50 percent of meetings
do.
attended-----------------------(б) 75 percent of meetings
do.
attended________________
.do.
Attendance index------------------------.do.
Enrollment index-------------------------
Group I
Group II
14
15
2
12
1
7
4
16
16
187
108
202
13
7.0
149
13
36.0
94.0
75.0
94.0
92.6
97.1
50.0
72.5
71.6
9
Agencies that are interested in comparing the participation
scores of the members attending their various groups may find
graphs useful for such comparisons. The two graphs presented
» Developed by the School of Applied Social Sciences, Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
Ohio.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Group Attendance Record
Y ear________ Day and time of meeting______________ Place of meeting____________ Department or branch
Name of group____________ Type of group__________ Name of leader__________ Address___________ Phone No.
January
Names or Members
9
.
A.
5,
X
X
16
23
30
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13
20
27
6
12
19
26
Ratio
Percent1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
11:13
80
X
X
X
X
12:13
90
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
_ __________________
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
12:13
90
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
11:11
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13:13
100
X
X
4 :11
40
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
12:13
90
____
______________________
a
X
o.
_____
_
in
h
0
X
_ _____ - _ _
_
Remarks
2
.. _ _.. .......................
_ _ _ _ _
6. „
Individual par
ticipation score
March
February
Phone Nos.
X
___ ____ . . .
a
and
. .
_______
19..
_________
13.
__________
..
.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
14.
_________
IK
........ ..........
X
16.....................- ...........................
X
X
X
X
X
X
12:13
90
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
11:13
80
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
11:11
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13 :13
100
X
1 Rounded to nearest multiple of 10.
GROUP I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
X
Added January 16.
Dropped March 12.
Added January 16.
USE OP DATA BY LOCAL AGENCIES
_______ __________________
i
7.
Addresses
Ci
Group Attendance Record
Y ear________ Day and time of meeting____________ Place of meeting-------------------- Department or branch
N ame of group____________ Type of group------------- - Name of leader---- —------------ Address------------------- Phone h<o.
Addresses
and
Phone Nos.
7
14
21
X
11
X
18
25
3
X
X
X
10
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5 :1 3
X
X
X
10:13
80
X
X
X
3 :3
100
8 :1 1
70
11 : 13
80
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
13.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
16.........- .....................................
i Rounded to nearest multiple of 10.
GROUP II
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
X
X
X
X
X
X
Remarks
Percent1
21
X
28
Ratio
17
X
X
X
X
2
28
4
40
Added March 17.
Dropped March 17.
9 :13
70
7 :9
80
2:5
40
Dropped February 4.
4 :9
40
8 : 11
70
Added January 21—
dropped March 17.
Added January 21.
12 :13
90
6 :6
100
1 :4
30
X
X
X
10:10
100
X
X
X
10:13
80
X
X
2 :3
70
Added February 4.
Added February 25.
Dropped January 28.
Added January 28.
Added March 17.
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Names or Members
Individual par
ticipation score
March
February
January
USE OF DATA BY LOCAL AGENCIES
65
below, based upon data given on the group attendance records,
pages 63-64, illustrate the method by which these comparisons
may be made:
Group I
NUMBER
OF MEMBERS
Group II
NUMBER
OF MEMBERS
PERCENTAGE OF MEETINBS ATTENDED
PERCENTAGE OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
From these graphs it may readily be seen that the percentage of
meetings attended by the members attending group I is consider
ably higher on the average than that o f members attending group
II. In the former group 15 of the 16 members attended at least
75 percent o f the meetings, whereas in the latter group only 8 of
the 16 members attended at least 75 percent o f the meetings.
B. USE OF STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO
INDIVIDUALS
In using the statistical material regarding individuals the same
subdivisions may be made that were made in chapter II (see pp.
10 - 1 1 ) ; namely, data regarding the identifying information con
cerning the individual and data which show a relationship between
the individual and the agency.
1. Identifying information concerning the individual.11
Identifying information concerning the individual may be ana
lyzed in relation to corresponding information for the community.
For example, an agency’s membership can be compared by sex, age,
nationality background, and occupation with the population o f the
area served by the organization or with the population o f the com
munity. An analysis o f the identifying information concerning
the membership of an agency will serve to indicate the extent to
which the agency is serving a cross section o f the community.
Certain organizations such as boys’ clubs aim to serve only one sex
and a limited age range; whereas settlements and community cen
ters try to reach a more representative group. Some agencies have
been known to exclude certain racial or nationality groups even
though such groups were found in the immediate neighborhood
served by the organization. Other agencies such as the Young
Men’s Christian Associations and the Young Women’s Christian
Associations, which started out to work with limited groups, have
in many places expanded their programs to include both sexes and
a wider age range than was originally intended. Thus, any analy13 Data from Registration Card, Form II (pp. 2 6 -3 1 ).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
66
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
sis o f individuals on the basis of age, sex, nationality background,
religious affiliation, and the like should be made in relation to the
agency’s purposes and limitations. An annual survey o f member
ship should be made to ascertain the facts relating to the persons
who are actually affiliated with the organization. Trends which
thus become evident may then be checked with data for surround
ing neighborhoods or larger urban areas. A settlement, for exam
ple, may find that instead o f serving the whole neighborhood, it is
limited to certain nationality groups and that the other elements in
the neighborhood are not represented in its membership. Girl
Scouts, Inc., and Boy Scouts o f America make an annual count of
their registration and relate this to the number of girls and boys in
the community who are within the age range o f their programs;
thus they ascertain the percentage of the total girl and boy popu
lation they are reaching.
The geographic distribution o f membership is an important
item. Spot maps of members’ addresses or tabulations according
to census tracts are made by many agencies; in this way they can
ascertain population changes that affect their work. Such data
are useful in preparing activity schedules, in cooperating with
other agencies, and in planning the locations o f new buildings and
branches.
2. Data which show a relationship between the individual and the agency.
In this classification may be included statistics of volume, statis
tics o f continuity, and statistics on the intensity of service.
a. Statistics o f volume.1*— The number of individuals served is a
measure of the amount of work an agency is doing. The data
relating to individuals may be analyzed in much the same manner
as those on groups; that is, by breaking down the total figures into
sex and age classifications. The trends may or may not parallel
those shown by the statistics on groups because the number of
groups will not necessarily vary in proportion to the number of
members in the various subdivisions. An agency may tend to com
bine adult groups into larger units or to subdivide children’s groups
into smaller units, and these tendencies would affect the number of
groups in the classifications.
b. Statistics of continuity.1B— The term “ continuity” is used here
in the same sense as “ duration” was used with reference to groups;
that is, to denote the length of time that individuals remain in an
agency. Some organizations use the term “ tenure” to express the
same idea.16 This is an important factor to study inasmuch as an
agency that is attempting to influence individual behavior must
be in touch with the individual over a significant period of time.
An individual’s group affiliation may change frequently; therefore
the base from which to compute continuity is the date o f first regis
tration in the agency, not the date of joining any special group.
c. Intensity o f service.1*— Although the kind of group experi
ence or the intensity of service is not directly measurable, there are
14 Data from the file of registration cards, see p. 24.
15 Data from Registration Card, Form II (pp. 2 6 -8 1 ).
M The Boy Scouts o f America have developed this concept in considerable detail. The follow
ing are some of the publications which deal with tenure as related to the scout program: The
Scout Executive, September 1932; The Troop Membership Budget Plan, Scouting, May 1934;
Gray Scout Service Chart Manual.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
USE OF DATA BY LOCAL AGENCIES
67
some reliable indications—for example, the kind o f relationship an
individual has to an agency, whether member, visitor, spectator,
or regular attendant; the kind o f group to which the individual
belongs; and the amount of time spent by the individual in the
agency. Members o f club groups which meet every week receive
more intensive service from an agency than those persons who
watch an occasional basketball game. The data in most agencies
will be limited to records o f members; that is, the part o f the clien
tele that receives the most intensive service. Nevertheless there
will be sufficient variation among registered members as to the
kind and amount of service received from an agency to make this
a profitable study.
Related to intensity o f service is individual participation or the
extent to which an individual uses the opportunities offered by the
agency. A method for finding a “ participation” score was dis
cussed in the previous section (see p. 61).
C. USE OF ATTENDANCE DATA
As was pointed out in previous chapters, attendance data are
basic statistics in any group-work agency and lend themselves to
a wide variety o f uses.
1. Attendance data related to membership.”
In the first place attendance should be related to membership.
Any period of time may be used, but a month or a quarter is the
most convenient and yields the most significant results. The usual
procedure in an agency is for an individual to belong to one group
that meets weekly; therefore, for a month the attendance should
be approximately four times the membership. In agencies in
which a number o f groups meet daily or members come to several
activities, the ratio would be relatively higher. This kind o f ratio
is useful in determining whether an agency is carrying a large
number o f inactive members on its rolls. If such data are analyzed
further to show sex and age, weak points in the agency’s program
may be indicated. It should be noted, however, that if an agency
uses a cumulative count instead of a net count o f membership
the ratio will be smaller. Also, the ratio will decrease somewhat
toward the end of the program year because there will be more
inactive members included in the count then.
The same kind of ratios may be worked out, using enrollment as
a base; this procedure may be preferable if members tend to belong
to several groups. In making these analyses only attendance in
regularly scheduled groups should be used; otherwise large attend
ance figures for special events or of individuals using agency facil
ities would render the ratios meaningless.
2. Attendance data related to type o f group organization.”
Another important use of attendance data is to relate them to
the type o f group organization. In this way it is possible to tell
what percentage o f the total attendance for any given unit o f time
(month, quarter, year) was reported for small stable groups with
continuing programs (such as clubs, classes, special-interest groups,
and the lik e); what percentage was reported for casual or exten
sive groups without definite enrollment or long-time programs;
11 Data from Monthly Summary of Attendance and Membership, Form V III (pp. 4 6 -4 7 ).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
68
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
and what percentage was reported for special events. Over a
period of years seasonal fluctuations may be evident and changing
emphasis in program may be observed.
3. Attendance data related to personnel.18
Some indication o f the work load carried by the staff may be
gained by relating attendance to leadership or personnel. On the
basis of such findings reduction in the service load or additions to
the staff may be made.
4. Attendance data related to the use of equipment and facilities.19
Certain agencies, especially those that have invested consider
able sums in equipment and facilities, will be interested in analyz
ing their attendance data in relation to the facilities used. Thus it
is possible to tell whether a little theater, a gymnasium, a domesticscience room, or an art studio is being used to capacity. Changes
in program and activities may be made in accordance with the
information obtained.
D. USE OF STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO FAM ILIES 20
Analysis o f the data from family records is of interest chiefly to
those agencies that are interested in family-welfare work, either
as a separate agency or as a separate department in an agency
doing group work. One kind of analysis that is pertinent to the
field of group work is that which shows the extent to which a
family participates as a unit in an agency’s program. When the
youngest member is in the nursery school, several children belong
to clubs or classes, the mother attends the mothers’ club, and, per
haps, the father comes to a discussion group, an agency has an
opportunity to influence the lives and attitudes of the family group
as a whole. Such data, however, are not generally available in
group-work agencies at present, although some pioneer work is
being done in that direction.21
“ Data from Monthly Summary of Attendance and Membership, Form V III (pp. 46—47).
“ Data from Daily Attendance Record. Form V II (p. 42),' plus room schedule.
30 Data from Family Face Sheet, Form X II (pp. 6 4-56).
** Eli Bates House in Chicago has made some special studies of the measurement of family
participation in agency programs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Chapter V .—R eporting Statistics to Community
and National A gencies
After data have been collected and used in the individual
agencies, there arises the problem o f reports to outside or central
agencies. Reports are generally made to two types o f agencies:
(1) Those in the local community, such as a council of social
agencies or a community fund, whose interest in such reports is
in connection with the coordination of services and community
planning; and ( 2 ) national organizations that either act in an
advisory capacity or exercise some jurisdiction over their local
units.
The planning of reports to be used for this purpose presents
more problems than the planning of reports to be used by a single
agency. As has been pointed out, agencies differ widely in their
resources of staff and equipment, and in administrative practices,
as well as in their programs and clientele. In communities and
organizations that have had any degree o f success in their report
ing projects, the report forms have been developed as a result o f a
cooperative effort between the local agencies and the groups to
which reports were sent. In many cases committees composed o f
representatives from the group-work agencies have worked with
members from the research and statistical staff o f the outside
organizations.
In developing reports to central agencies two general limitations
must be kept in mind: (1) Individual agencies are limited in the
amount o f data they can record and prepare for reports; and ( 2 )
community and national agencies are limited in their resources
for analyzing and interpreting the data they receive. When a
report is planned one must be sure, on the one hand, that local
agencies are not overtaxed in compiling the data and, on the other
hand, that all the data reported will be used effectively by the
organizations receiving the reports.
The basic statistical data in group work were discussed in chap
ter II, and the methods o f collecting these data were discussed in
chapter III. It is the purpose of this chapter to examine the con
tent of the foregoing material to determine which data are of most
interest to community and national organizations and in what form
these data should be reported.
A. SUGGESTED DATA TO BE REPORTED
In chapter II the statistical data in group work were classified
into subdivisions relating to groups, individuals, and families.
The first two classifications are particularly helpful in considering
the types of data to be included in current reports. Data on agency
personnel also are frequently included in current reports.
69
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
1. Data relating to groups.
Most o f the data regarding groups, as listed in chapter II, would
be o f interest to a central agency in considering the work of its
member agencies. Such elaborate detail, however, would involve
endless effort on the part of the agencies both to prepare and to
analyze and would therefore hardly be practicable. The following
items can be selected and would help in giving an account in quan
titative terms of the work carried on in a given agency.
a. Number of groups.— This is an essential figure to indicate
the volume o f service.
b. Classification by scheduling, enrollment, and type o f group
organization.— In order to avoid clumsy and overlapping cate
gories in classifying groups, the following scheme has been devised.
In any given agency it is possible to determine: (1) Groups that
are regularly scheduled, that is, meet at regular intervals o f tim e;
and ( 2 ) groups that are not regularly scheduled and meet only
occasionally, as in the case o f special events.
Groups that are regularly scheduled may be o f two types: (1)
Those that have a definite enrollment; and ( 2 ) those that do not
have a definite enrollment. Special events by their very nature
would not have a definite enrollment.
Groups regularly scheduled with definite enrollment may be still
further subdivided into definite types o f group organization, such
as clubs, classes, special-interest groups, teams, and intergroup
committees and councils, each of which has distinguishing charac
teristics.1
Groups that meet regularly but without definite enrollment are
more difficult to classify, and it is generally necessary to resort to
terms that describe the activity carried on, such as athletic or edu
cational activities, motion pictures, social activities, and trips.
These categories are not always mutually exclusive, and occasion
ally there may be confusion as to the way certain activities should
be classified. Special events may also be classified according to
activity, in which case the same difficulties arise.
On the whole, the classification scheme outlined above is use
ful because it is possible to include in one report: (1) The small
intensive groups with continuing programs and relatively stable
membership; ( 2 ) the extensive program of an agency— the casual
groups with neither continuing programs nor stable membership
and with participation on a “ come and go” basis; and (3) the spe
cial events that are neither regularly scheduled nor made up of a
definite enrollment, so that each event constitutes a complete unit
in itself.
Activities may also be carried on jointly with another agency
or the reporting agency’s facilities may be used by outside groups.
These data are likewise o f interest for reports.
c. Size o f groups.— Two measures of size may be used: (1)
Number of members enrolled for groups with definite enrollment;
and ( 2 ) the average number of persons that attended groups with
out definite enrollment.
1 See p. 10 for definitions.
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REPORTING TO COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL AGENCIES
71
d. Number o f sessions.— For each classification of groups it is
important to know the number o f sessions; that is, the number of
times the groups met over a given period of time.
e. Attendance.— For groups with definite enrollment, the attend
ance o f groups may be subdivided according to enrolled members
and visitors. For some types o f groups without definite enroll
ment, such as athletic or dramatic activities, it is o f interest to
know how many o f those present were participants and how many
were spectators.
/. Sex and age o f members of groups.— It is helpful, particularly
to community agencies, to have groups classified by sex and average
age o f the members. For the latter, the classifications suggested
on pages 7-8 may be applied.
2. Data relating to individuals.
а. Number.— The question most commonly asked of group-work
organizations is, “ How many people do you serve?” In preparing
reports for a central agency this is usually the first item to which
attention is given. It is, however, the figure that many agencies
have greatest difficulty in compiling. Some group-work organiza
tions have hundreds of people coming in for very casual service,
and it is impossible to know the exact number reached by the
agency. The question then has to be limited to, “ How many peo
ple are members of your organization?” In general, members are
those persons to whom the agency has given some definite groupwork service over a period o f time. Thus, the answer to the latter
question should be available with a fair degree o f accuracy. The
figure for the total membership, however, is not so significant as a
figure broken down into age or sex groupings. Because of diffi
culties in establishing uniform policies relating to membership,
especially in regard to dropping members, it is preferable to use
a cumulative membership figure. Community and national organ
izations are interested in the growth or decline o f membership, and
these figures for a period o f years are pertinent data.
б. Services to individuals.— Although services to individuals are
not, strictly speaking, part o f group work, such services are con
sidered within the scope of reports so that the record o f the agency’s
activities may be fairly complete. The agencies themselves are
very anxious to report the individual use of facilities and also case
work and other services given. For most purposes it is sufficient
to report totals in relation to the various kinds o f equipment and
services.
3. Data relating to personnel.
The amount and types of work that an agency is able to do are
dependent upon the available personnel. It is, therefore, impor
tant to include in any report the data on personnel— both paid and
volunteer, and clerical and maintenance as well as professional.
The amount of time workers spend at the agency is significant, and
they should be classified on the basis o f full time and part time.
Part-time work may include varying amounts o f service. It is
desirable to have a statement o f the number o f hours worked dur
ing a given period. It is recognized that such statements are
approximations rather than time-clock records.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
B. SUGGESTED REPORT FORMS
In discussing report forms it should be borne in mind that no
one form will fit all the situations and services to be found in the
many types of group-work agencies that now exist. In suggesting
report forms one should be aware o f the numerous problems
involved, especially the fact that many of the classifications do not
as yet lend themselves to exact definition. It is difficult to stand
ardize the reporting processes until there is greater uniformity of
practice in the field of group work. It is hoped, however, that the
forms discussed below will suggest methods of organizing data for
reports to outside agencies.
1. Children’s Bureau Forms G—1 and G—2.
In chapter III mention was made of the fact that the only basic
attendance summaries now in general use are those designed and
used by the Children’s Bureau in its reporting o f current statistics
on group work. These reports, described in chapter III as monthly
records of attendance and membership, are suggested as examples
of forms to be used in obtaining the data outlined in the first part
o f this chapter.
The use of these forms is highly recommended, although it
should be recognized that they are still in an experimental stage
of development. The greatest difficulties encountered at present
are those involving the classification of groups, the determination
o f enrollment, and the practices relating to membership.
The classification of groups that is used on the forms is generally
satisfactory, except that in a few instances— that is, in classes and
special-interest groups— there are overlapping categories and the
classification is dependent to some extent upon subjective judg
ment. It has been difficult to work out the descriptive terms for
activities reported in the section for groups without definite
enrollment.
Up to the present time it has not been possible to suggest an
acceptable standard procedure for obtaining enrollment as reported
for groups with definite enrollment. Democratic organization of
clubs and other groups requires that each group determine its
own enrollment policies. These policies differ not only from
agency to agency but also from group to group within the same
agency.
Agencies that report on Form G -l have found it difficult to
report all the items on membership. There are some organizations
that have a detailed and careful count of the number of members
registered and the number dropped, whereas other organizations
have counts only o f those registered during the year. Still other
organizations keep no membership records whatsoever. Until a
uniform definition of membership in a group-work agency can be
agreed upon, it will be impossible to obtain comparable counts
among agencies.
Form G-2 has been found satisfactory for the scouting organi
zations and the Camp Fire Girls. As was pointed out in chapter
III, however, difficulties arise in connection with the reporting o f
data on attendance in groups.
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REPORTING TO COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL AGENCIES
73
2. Reports developed by local communities.
In some communities the central agency requires more detailed
data on groups classified by sex and average age of members than
are furnished by the Children’s Bureau form. In order to supply
these data, agencies in these communities have been asked by the
central agency to send in a copy of their daily attendance records
(Form VII, p. 42). The central agency then makes up its own
summary.
In other areas an adaptation of the Children’s Bureau Form G -l
has been developed, an example of which is presented on pages
74-77. On this form sex classifications have been made only for
members and groups; and age classifications have been made only
for certain o f the groups with, definite enrollment. As may be
noted from the age classifications provided on this form for certain
of the groups with definite enrollment, the clubs and classes in the
agencies for which the form was designed would be dealing only
with persons between the ages of 5 and 25 years.
Some interesting experimental work has been done on reports
that show the relationship between registered members and active
participation. As this work is still in an experimental stage, no
suggested forms have been included in this manual.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Services of Group-Work Agencies
Agency____________________________________________— -----Street___________________________________________________
City--------------------------------------------------------M onth----------------------------------------------- 19
Attendance
Groups
Enrollment
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Total num
ber
Fe Mix
Male
ed
male
Sessions
Total
Members in
cluded in total
(1) Activities for all members:
Total_____________________________
(4) Senior (19-25)
c. T e a m s __- -________________________________
d
S p e c ia l-in te r e s t g r o u p s ___ ___________________________________
p Jfitfirgrniip ern n m itte e s and councils_______________
f. National-program groups (specify):
—
n.
O th e r i s n e e i M
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
__________________ _
—
--
- -
--
—
- -
—
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
A— REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUPS.
(Under auspices of reporting agency.)
o. Clubs:
«-3
1attendance
X XX XX
_ . ___________
XX
XX
Periods
Total
________
Participants
included in
total
XXXXXX
a. A th le tic a ctiv ities (in clu d in g sw im m in g )___________________________
b. E d u ca tion a l a ctiv ities (foru m s, lectu res, e t c .)______________________
c. S ocia l recrea tion (da nces, teas, suppers, e t c .)______________________
d. D ra m a tic an d m u sica l p rogra m s____________________________________
e.
M o tio n p ictu res an d th eater pa rties________________________________
/.
P la y g rou n d an d street-p la y a ctiv itie s_______________________________
- - - -
g. In fo rm a l p la y an d n on a th letic gam es_______________________ _______
h. T rip s (ou tin gs, hikes, an d sigh tseein g).......................................................
i.
II
XXXXXX
- XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
X XX X X X
O th er (s p e c ify )________________________________________________________
B— N O T R E G U L A R L Y S C H E D U L E D G RO U PS.
(U n der au sp ices o f re p ortin g a g e n cy .)
X XX XX
XX
XX
XX
XXXXXX
XX
XXXXXX
_. _
_________ __
3. S p ecia l e v e n ts: T o t a l............................................ .....................................-............... . .
a. A th le tic a ctiv ities (in clu d in g sw im m in g )____ _______________________ __________
__ __ __
6. E d u ca tio n a l a ctiv ities (foru m s, lectu res, e t c .) ______________________ —
—
c. S ocia l recreation (da nces, teas, suppers, e t c .) ______________________
e. O th er (s p e c ify )................................................................................... ..................
—
-------------------------
__
__
—
—
—
—
___
XXXXXX
—
—
—
____________
___
____________
J--------------------
—
—
—
—
___
____________
X
X X
X X
X X
X X X X X X
X
X
—
d. D ra m a tic an d m u sica l p rogra m s................................................................... —
C — G R O U P S U N D E R J O I N T O R O T H E R A U S P IC E S .
—
X X X
X
X
X X X X X
4. o. O u tsid e g rou p s u sin g a g e n cy ’ s fa cilities....................................... .....................
b. G rou p s u nder jo in t auspiees (s p e e ify ): T o ta l
_
___
____
REPORTING TO COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL AGENCIES
143554'
2. G rou p s w ith o u t defin ite en rollm en t: T o ta l
XX
X X X X X X
AN ADAPTATION OF FORM VIII (CHILDREN'S BUREAU FO RM G -l)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[OVER]
-3
m
05
D— SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS.
5. Individual lessons:
o. Enrollment________
b. Attendance—............
6. Attendance for individual use of agency’s facilities: Total
a. Library and reading room.........
6. Gymnasium................
e. Swimming pool___
d. Game room_____
e. All other (specify)___
7. Conferences: Total___
o. With individuals__
b. In behalf of individuals: Total
(1) With health or social agencies.
(2) Other________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
---- ----------------- —
Number
01
H
!>
H
^
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP
Services of Group-Work Agencies—Continued
------------------------- H l-H
o
>
p
g
---------------------------------------------------------------------_________
■
d
1
s
S
¡25
HH
2
|
------------------------
o
d
w
Total
E— UNDUPLICATED COUNT OF MEMBERS.
Female
—
—
—
—
—
—
Part time
Number full time
F— STAFF.
Number
13. Paid staff : Total......................................................................................
a. Leaders, teachers, and others engaged in program activities......... _
b. Administrative.....................................................
e. Clerical and maintenance.............................................................
14. Students engaged in program activities...................................
15. Volunteers engaged in program activities___
Reported and approved by_______________________________________
—
—
—
Date
AN ADAPTATION OF FO R M VDI (CHILDREN’S BUREAU FORM G -l)-(reverse side)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Hours òf service
REPORTING TO COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL AGENCIES
8. Carried over from preceding month (item 12 preceding month) ^ _____
9. Placed on register during month: Total.......................................................
o. New—never previously on register_____________________________
&. Renewals: Total________________________________ _______
(1) Last on register during this year.............................................
(2) Last on register prior to this year..... ............................... ......
10. Total on register during month (8 plus 9).............................................. .
11. Dropped from register during month___________
12. Carried forward to following month: Total (10 minus 11)____________
а. Individuals under 18 years of age______________________________
б. Individuals 18 years of age and over.................................................
Male
-3
Chapter V I. — Use o f G roup-W ork Statistics in
Community and N ational P lanning
Community and national agencies have an even greater respon
sibility for using the material submitted to them in statistical
reports than have the agencies themselves. The request for such
material in itself implies a need for information. Unfortunate
attitudes develop toward reporting when agencies do not see a
direct connection between the time, money, and effort used to make
out the reports and the tangible use to which the material is put.
A central agency should realize fully its responsibility for making
effective use o f the statistical material submitted to it. On the
other hand, the cooperating agencies should be aware of the fact
that some time may be required for a central agency to develop
the reporting of its constituent agencies to a point where the data
will be sufficiently valuable for general use.
In the social-work literature o f the past decade there is increas
ing acceptance o f the principle that effective social planning must
be based on facts. Community and national life has grown so
complex that we cannot afford to be guided merely by kindly
impulses, admirable as many individual motives may be. We must
have objective facts in order to know whether we need more nurs
ery schools, foster homes, shelters, or other types o f agencies;
whether playgrounds tend to reduce street accidents to children;
and so on through the gamut of social problems. When we know
what conditions exist we have made the first step toward improving
such conditions.
For the purposes of social planning, data based on reports sub
mitted regularly over a period of time are more reliable and more
valuable than those obtained from “ spot studies.” The former
show gradations and fluctuations more clearly and are less subject
to the biases that may be present at any given moment. Moreover,
well-planned special research projects attempt to make the fullest
possible use o f the material that is available from periodic statis
tical reports.
The use of uniform definitions and standard methods of making
statistical counts as outlined in previous chapters makes possible
interagency comparisons that are only now being developed in
group work. As the material is more widely used, refinements
will take place which will increase the reliability and usefulness
o f the data.
78
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USE IN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL PLANNING
79
A. USE OF STATISTICAL REPORTS BY COMMUNITY
AGENCIES
1. Community planning.
a. Determining community needs.— Uniform statistical reports
made to a central agency, such as a council o f social agencies, make
it possible for the community to ascertain the volume and type of
group-work service available in local areas and in the community
as a whole. Data on the number of individuals registered for
group-work activities in the various agencies, the monthly aggre
gate attendance figures, and the annual analyses of the make-up
of the clientele and where they come from are basic facts that any
community should know about its group-work services. If these
data are related to other data about the community— population
density and make-up with emphasis on age, sex, and nationality
background; delinquency rates; relief and economic status; and all
the other facts that help to picture conditions in a complex urban
community— it will then be possible, for example, to determine,
within broad limits, the recreation needs o f the community and how
far they are being met. Unfortunately, there are at present few
standards or norms by which the adequacy o f recreation and groupwork programs in any community can be measured, but a begin
ning is being made by the public recreation agencies.1 Even
without clearly defined standards it is possible to see the more
obvious instances o f a lack of adaptation o f service to the needs of
the community, as, for example, two boys’ clubs located within a
few blocks o f each other, or an organization designed to serve Poles
exclusively but situated in an area densely populated by Negroes.
b. Determining agency locations.— In many communities a
study o f the service statistics and an analysis o f membership have
been found useful in determining locations for agency work— an
important aspect o f community planning. A tabulation o f mem
bers’ addresses by census tracts or the location of these addresses
on a spot map may serve to show that an agency’s membership
has moved a considerable distance from the agency’s present loca
tion. In case the emigration has been in several directions it may
be that a central location should be retained because of its general
accessibility. Such questions should be answered, however, by
factual material rather than by haphazard guesses.
2. Central budgeting.
Although any suggestion o f a relationship between dollars and
service statistics is dangerous, budget committees have found that
the facts made available through statistical reports are o f value
in helping to determine allocation of funds. This does not imply
that the agency that shows the highest attendance gets the most
money but rather that budget-committee members are seeking to
understand the relationship o f such factors as personnel, equip
ment, and community resources to the agency’s program and the
numbers served. Too large attendance and membership figures
may mean inadequate supervision, overloading o f equipment, lack
o f attention to individual problems, and a generally superficial
program; on the other hand, too low figures may reflect lack of
1See Schedule for Appraisal of Community Recreation. 1934. National Recreation Association.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
interest in activities, poor leadership, inadequate use of equipment,
and a program not adapted to the needs o f the area served. Fig
ures that show relationships rather than absolute values should be
used in work with such committees, as for example, percentage of
attendance in different types of group organization (clubs, classes,
special events, and the like), average enrollment per group, ratio
of attendance to enrollment, or relative increase or decrease of
attendance throughout the year as compared with that at the begin
ning of the program year. Such data give a committee, often com
posed o f lay people, a more intelligent understanding o f group
work and thus enable it to make wiser decisions in budgeting.
One caution needs to be mentioned here in connection with a
practice which seems to be increasing; that is, the attempt to
develop unit costs in group work. In view of the present lack of
standardization o f reports in this field, it should be recognized that
the unit costs obtained by dividing attendance figures into budget
figures will not necessarily be comparable from agency to agency.
In fact, without careful consideration of the basic data employed,
the resulting unit cost can be very misleading.
3. Interpretation o f work.
If group-work agencies are to be supported by the community,
the community must in turn know something of what it is sup
porting. Interpretation of all forms o f social work is coming to
assume an increasingly important role, and this is particularly
true o f group work. Feeding the hungry and caring for the
orphan child are now generally accepted as public responsibilities,
but the provision of wholesome, healthful recreation is unfortu
nately still regarded by many as a luxury. With the growing
trend toward the assumption of relief, health, and child-welfare
problems by tax-supported agencies, the private agency doing
group work is challenged to prove its worth to the community.
As a basis for its judgment, the public rightly wants well-chosen
facts interestingly presented.
Statistical reports should supply the basis for this presentation
but thus far surprisingly little use has been made of such material.
Both attendance and membership figures have news value, but it
should be made clear which figures are used. One occasionally sees
publicity in which attendance figures are incorrectly labeled and
pass for unduplicated membership figures with the fantastic result
that twice as many people are credited with belonging to commu
nity centers as there are inhabitants in the city. When attendance
figures are used in publicity it should be made clear that such fig
ures are aggregates and therefore contain duplications. The com
munity as a whole will be interested in such data as increases in
membership, increases in attendance, average number o f members
per group, and the outstanding features of an analysis o f mem
bership statistics.
4. Evaluating agency work.
The data from statistical reports can be used as a basis for mak
ing evaluation studies of agencies. The statistical data must be
supplemented with data obtained by other research methods.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
USE IN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL PLANNING
81
Obviously, the process of evaluation of the group-work program
cannot be all-inclusive if such evaluation is based on material
obtained through summary periodic reports. The selection of
items to be included in the reports should be dependent to some
extent, therefore, on the problems in the community which need
special study.
The Social Study o f Pittsburgh and Allegheny County made in
1935 and 1936 illustrates the use of basic statistical data reported
periodically, combined with data compiled especially for this study.
The following are examples of the type of data appearing in the
report : 2
1. Ratio o f number of nonprofessional staff members to number of agency
clientele.
2. Ratio of number of total staff members to number of clientele.
3. Ratio of number of professional to nonprofessional staff.
4. Distribution of number and membership o f clubs by sex, age, and type of
agency.
6. Distribution o f clubs by place of meeting.
6. Distribution o f classes by type of agency and type of class.
7. Distribution of number and membership of classes by type of class and
type o f agency.
8. Average size of classes by type of agency.
9. Distribution o f class enrollment by age and type of class.
10. Distribution of team players in leagues by type o f agency and type of sport.
11. Number o f intergroup councils, total numbers o f persons belonging, .and
the ratio o f persons on councils to total agency clientele.
12. Distribution oi total formal groups by type of group and agency units.
13. Average size of clubs and classes by age of members.
14. Distribution of agency clientele with reference to total population of
Pittsburgh.
16. Distribution of clientele by sex and age.
16. Percentage of population in each age and sex classification registered with
private agency units.
17. Distribution o f clientele by type o f agency and sex.
18. Number and percentage of population served by each type of agency.
19. Number and percent distribution o f population 5 to 17 years o f age served
Jby each type o f agency.
20. Distribution o f clientele by sex and race.
21. Distribution o f clientele served by each type of agency by date of first
affiliation.
22. Distribution o f total registered clientele by agency units and by age
classification.
23. Distribution of total registered agency clientele by race.
24. Distribution o f registered clientele by service area and by type of agency.
25. Registered clientele per 10,000 population by service area and type of
agency.
26. Percentage of the population of each race in each service area ìegistered
with the private agency units.
5.
Developing standards or norms.
The development of standards or norms has come rather
recently in social work and particularly so in group work. A
beginning was made in 1935 when groups o f persons in Pittsburgh
and Chicago developed a schedule which could be used in the for
mulation o f criteria for standards o f work .8 The following are
2 Klein, Philip, and collaborators: A Social Study o f Pittsburgh. Columbia University Press,
1938. For the types of data referred to, see preliminary releases Nos. 3 (April 1936) and 4
(May 1986), which present material not yet available in printed form.
Criteria for Standards in Group Work. Chicago Council of Social Agencies, 1936. Processed
8
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
some o f the questions included therein which should be answered
on the basis of statistical reports:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
What is the ratio of staff members to membership and registration?
What is the ratio o f staff members to leaders and instructors o f groups?
What is the ratio of staff members to groups ?
If the purpose (o f an agency) is to serve a neighborhood to what extent
do they (the members) come from the neighborhood? If the purpose
is to serve a cross section of the women of the community or a cross
section o f the boys of the community, to what extent does the clientele
represent a cross section ?
What percentage of the registration is active in the program?
To what extent is the physical equipment used to capacity ?
What is the ratio of the number of people on administrative and policy
making groups (boards and committees) to the total membership or
registration ?
What is the ratio o f the number of persons enrolled in classes to the total
membership or registration ?
What is the ratio oi the number of persons enrolled in clubs, troops, and
other self-directed groups to the total membership or registration ?
What is the ratio of the number of persons on self-governing councils
(club councils, house councils, and the like) to the total membership or
registration ?
What is the ratio of the number of persons participating in casual groups
(forums, discussions, socials, swims, and other events with shifting
attendance) to the total membership or registration ?
What is the average duration of membership in policy-making groups,
classes, clubs, self-governing councils, and teams ?
To what extent is turn-over related to mobility o f population in the
neighborhood ?
Statistical data compiled over a period o f time fo r a large group
of agencies and on specific items such as those mentioned above
will be necessary in order to develop norms or standards that will
be valid for different types o f group work.
6. Determining trends.
A t present there are few objective data to support statements
regarding trends in group work. One can venture the guess that
in the private agencies there has been a trend toward greater
emphasis on work in small groups and less on so-called mass activ
ities, but such a guess is based upon observation rather than upon
data from statistical reports. Sound community planning must
take into account past trends in order to prepare for the future,
and it is essential that the basis for determining trends be available.
B. USE OF STATISTICAL REPORTS BY NATIONAL AGENCIES
The use of statistical data for national planning in group work
has been limited up to the present time to those agencies that are
national in scope and organization. Interchange o f material
between agencies has not been possible because comparable units
have not been used in the reports collected. The following are
examples o f organizations that either collect statistics on a na
tional scale or are in a position to use such material: Boy Scouts
of America, Girl Scouts, Inc., Camp Fire Girls, Young Men’s Chris
tian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, Jewish
Welfare Board, Boys’ Clubs o f America, National Federation o f
Settlements, and National Recreation Association. A number o f
other agencies collect statistics on a national scale, but because of
sectarian or other limitations o f their services their status as
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USE IN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL PLANNING
83
group-work agencies might be questioned. Several of the national
agencies listed have had a system of statistical reporting from their
local units and have used these reports in the formulation of poli
cies, the building of programs, and the evaluation o f service. With
the development of uniform service statistics as outlined in chapter
III, organizations interested in the group-work programs of
diverse types o f agencies have shown a growing interest in basic
statistical reports designed for use by these agencies. Since 1936
the Children’s Bureau has collected monthly data from agencies
engaged in group work through its social-statistics project. In
addition to furnishing the basis for descriptive reports prepared
by the Children’s Bureau, these data, in spite of certain limitations,
will be valuable to agencies that can act in an advisory capacity in
the development o f better group-work standards and practices.
The following are some o f the ways in which statistical material
can be used by national agencies:
1. Developing standards and norms.
Individual communities may be interested in the problem o f the
development o f standards of service, but until such standards are
worked out nationally real progress cannot be made. Data col
lected in communities will tend to be influenced by local peculiar
ities, the effects o f which can be eliminated by the use of a large
number o f cases. A great deal of use can be made o f statistical
data in considering such problems as the size of groups, the num
ber of groups for staff supervision, the type o f group organization
for different age and sex groups, or the ratio o f attendance to
membership.
2. Interpreting group work.
National agencies because o f their size and prestige have a wider
scope for interpreting group work to the public than have local
community agencies. The former should therefore lead the way
in making an intelligent use o f statistical data in material that is
prepared for the public.
3. Planning agency work.
Although the task of planning programs is largely one for the
individual agency, the national agency can stimulate the use of
statistical material for this purpose. Program material prepared
by national organizations should take into account facts brought
out in the statistical reports.
4. Analyzing trends.
Lastly, it is a function of national organizations to analyze trends
in group work and to keep local units informed o f what is happen
ing. In other fields of social work sufficient statistical data have
been available to indicate such trends as the decrease in institu
tional care of children and the complementary rise in foster-home
care, the increase in publicly supported facilities for treatment of
disease, and the increasing emphasis on preventive health work.
What can be said for group work? Both philosophy and tech
niques are changing to meet changing demands, but there is as
yet no basis for anything but conjecture as to whether they are
changing fast enough or are in line with present needs.
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APPENDIXES
Appendix I.—B ibliography
STATISTICAL RECORDS IN SOCIAL WORK
Child Dependency in the United States, by Emma O. Lundberg. Child Welfare
League of America, New York, n. d. 149 pp.
Hospital Accounting and Statistics. American Hospital Association Advisory
Committee on Accounting (C. Rufus Rorem, chairman), Chicago, 1935. 85 pp.
Measurement in Social Work, by A. W. McMillen. University of Chicago Press,
1930. 154 pp.
Recording of Local Health Work, by W. F. Walker and Carolina R. Randolph.
Commonwealth Fund, New York, 1935. 275 pp.
Recording and Reporting for Child Guidance Clinics, by Mary Augusta Clark.
Commonwealth Fund, Division of Publications, New York, 1930. 151 pp.
Registration of Social Statistics for the Year 1928, by Helen R. Jeter and A. W.
McMillen. University of Chicago, 1930. Processed. 956 pp.
Registration of Social Statistics, Supplement for the Year 1929, by A. R. Griffith,
Helen R. Jeter, and A. W. McMillen. University of Chicago, 1930. Proc
essed. 424 pp.
Social Work Administration, by Elwood Street. Harper & Bros., New York,
1931. 467 pp.
Statistical Aids for Community Planning. Community Chests and Councils, Inc.,
New York, Bull. No. 90, February 1937. 29 pp.
Statistical Recording and Reporting in Family Welfare Agencies, by Helen I. Fisk.
Family Welfare Association of America, New York, 1934. 120 pp.
Study of Volume and Cost of Social Work, 1924, by Raymond Clapp. Welfare
Federation of Cleveland, May 25, 1926. Processed. 46 pp.
Suggestions for Statistical Reporting and Cost Computation in Public Health
Nursing. National Organization for Public Health Nursing, New York, 1937.
48 pp.
Tabulation of Health Department Services. United States Public Health Reports,
Vol. 51 .N o. 36, September 4,1936, pp. 1236-1251. U. S. Government Printing
Office, Washington.
STATISTICAL RECORDS IN GROUP WORK
Exploring Group Work; four study outlines by National Association for the
Study of Group Work. Association Press, New York, 1937. 28 pp.
Gray Scout Service Chart Manual. Boy Scouts of America. New York, 1936.
20 pp.
Group Adjustment; a study in experimental sociology, by Wilber I. Newstetter,
Marc J. Feldstein, and Theodore M. Newcomb. School of Applied Social
Sciences, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, 1938. 154 pp.
Group-Work Agencies Report Their Services, by Frances L. Adkins. Community
Service (published by the Washington [D. C.] Council of Social Agencies),
Vol. 1, No. 4 (January 1937), pp. 6-7.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
The Group-Work Reporting Project of the United States Children’s Bureau, by
Louis J. Owen. Proceedings of the National Conference of Social Work, 1938,
pp. 381-391.
How Can We Interpret More Effectively to the Public the Role Played in the Com
munity’s Welfare Program by Social Settlements, Recreation Agencies, and
National Program Agencies, by Louise Clevenger. Proceedings of the National
Conference of Social Work, 1932, pp. 382—394.
Leadership in Group Work, by Henry M. Busch. Association Press, New York,
1934. 305 pp.
Membership Records for Group-Work Agencies, Interim Report. Prepared by
the Committee on Group-Work Recording, Section on Social Group Work
and Recreation. Welfare Council, New York, August 1937. Processed. 29 pp.
New Trends in Group Work, edited by Joshua Lieberman. National Association
for the Study of Group Work. Association Press, New York, 1938. 229 pp.
Record Forms and Record Keeping for Girl Scout Local Councils. Prepared by the
Girl Scout Directors of the Great Lakes Region, Chicago, May 14, 1936.
Processed. 8 pp.
Recording in Group-Work Agencies, by Dora M. Einert. Federator (published
by the Federation of Social Agencies of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County),
Vol. 12, No. 2 (February 1937), pp. 21-24.
Report of the Girl Scout Program Study, by Charles H. Young. Girl Scouts, Inc.,
New York, 1936. 85 pp.
Reporting Activities of Group-Work Agencies, by Frances L. Adkins. Proceed
ings of the National Conference of Social Work, 1936, pp. 219-225.
Reports That Help You. Girl Scouts, Inc., New York, 1938. 16 pp.
Sound Record Systems for Group Work Agencies, by Edna d’Issertelle. Better
Times (published by the Welfare Council, New York City), Vol. 18, No. 36
(June 7, 1937), pp. 15-16, 35.
Statistical Analysis in a Group-Work Agency, by W. L. Kindelsperger. Statistics
(published by the Council of Social Agencies, Chicago), Vol. 5, No. 10 (October
1938). 3 pp.
Statistical Measurement Applied to the Settlements of Cleveland, Ohio, by Fern
L. Chamberlain. Master’s Thesis, Western Reserve University, Cleveland,
1935. Typewritten. 81 pp. (Available in library of Western Reserve
University.)
Statistical Study of Service and Costs of Public Recreation, by George Hjelte.
Playground and Recreation (published by the National Recreation Association),
March 1930, pp. 715-718, 751.
Statistics as a Program Instrument, by W. L. Kindelsperger. Statistics (pub
lished by the Council of Social Agencies, Chicago), Vol. 3, No. 10 (October
1936). 7 pp.
Toward Better Records. A Manual. Association Press, New York, 1937. 48 pp.
USE OF STATISTICS IN GROUP WORK
Annual Reports of the Boy Scouts of America, 1914-38. U. S. Government
Printing Office, Washington.
Between Spires and Stacks, by Charles E. Hendry and Margaret T. Svendsen.
Welfare Federation of Cleveland, Cleveland, 1936. Processed. 369 pp.
Cleveland Group Work Study, by Eugene T. Lies. Welfare Federation of Cleve
land, Cleveland, 1935. Processed. 73 pp.
The Girl Scout Movement in Allegheny County, by Laura H. Macdonald and
Frances M. Campbell. Federator (published by the Federation of Social
Agencies of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County), Vol. 13, No. 5 (May 1938),
pp. 127-132.
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87
Leisure-Time Leadership. Prepared by Works Progress Administration. U S
Government Prmtmg Office, Washington, 1938. Processed. 40 pp.
Recreation and Camps in 1936. Council of Social Agencies, Louisville Commu
nity Chest, Bull. No. 11, January 15, 1937. Processed. 5 pp.
Eerif«+ °R „1n ir>UiAVS e‘ CKUniC? I S
Agencies, Louisville Community
Chest, Bull. No. 6, November 15, 1935. Processed. 4 pp.
A Social Study of Pittsburgh, by Philip Klein and collaborators. Columbia
University Press, New York, 1938. 958 pp.
PERIODICALS THAT INCLUDE STATISTICS OF GROUP WORK
Monthly Service Bulletin. Published by the Cleveland Community Fund, Cleve
land. January 1933 to present.
Social Statistics, Quarterly Supplement to The Child— Monthly News Summary.
Children s Bureau, U. S. Department of Labor, Washington. January 1937 to
present.
Social Statistics Bulletin. Published by the Los Angeles Community Welfare
Federation, Los Angeles. November 1934 to August 1935.
Social Studies of St. Louis. Published by the Research Department of the St.
Louis Community Council, St. Louis. April 1935 to March 1938.
Statistics. Published by the Department of Statistics and Research, Council of
Social Agencies, Chicago. 1934 to present.
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Appendix II.— Instructions fo r Children’s
Bureau Form s G -l and G-2
U . S. D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r
CH ILDREN’S BU R EAU
Washington
Form G -l
S o c ia l S t a t is t ic s
1939
SERVICES OF GROUP-WORK AGENCIES
Instructions for Monthly Reports from Areas Cooperating in the
Registration of Social Statistics
Form G—1 is to be used for reports on educational and recreational activities
of settlements, community centers, neighborhood houses, boys’ clubs and other
youth organizations, public recreation departments, religious organizations,
churches, and other institutions or agencies providing such activities as a part
of the group-work program for the community. Agencies such as children’s
institutions, maternity homes, homes fo r the aged, and other institutions^ pro
viding educational and recreational activities as a part o f the institutional
care reported on other forms in the social-statistics project, should report on
Form G -l only if such activities are organized to include, as participants in
a continued program, persons other than the residents o f the^ institution and
their guests. Institutions and agencies that organize educational or recrea
tional activities periodically but do not provide such activities under a
continued program for group-work service should not report on Form G -l.
The report on Form G—1 on services of group-work agencies is intended to
cover only group-work services and a limited number o f services to individuals.
In limiting the form to these services, it is recognized that other important
activities may be carried on by the reporting agency that will not be reported
on Form G—l.
SERVICES NOT TO BE INCLUDED ON FORM G - l 1
The following types of service should not be reported on Form G—l :
1. Services to individuals through the use of the agency’s dormitory or
restaurant facilities, employment service, or room registry. Individual coun
seling that may cover vocational, housing, and other personal problems should,
however, be reported on Form Gr—1.
2. Meals and lodgings provided by an agency as part o f the community
program for the care o f the transient and homeless. Such service, however,
should be reported on Form R-5.
3. The use of an agency’s facilities for day-nursery care of children. Such
service, however, should be reported on Form C-3. Nursery schools are to
be reported as day nurseries on Form C-3 when such schools are organized for
giving institutional care during the day to children o f working mothers and
other children for whom suitable care was not available during the day in
their own homes. Nursery schools organized primarily for educational pur
poses, however, should be reported on Form G—l.
4. Clinics and health conferences. Such service should be reported on
Form H—2 only. This refers both to clinics conducted by the agency and to
the use o f the agency’s facilities by outside groups providing clinic service.
6. Formal religious activities, such as church, Sunday school, prayer meet
ing, confirmation class, and other activities confined to the teaching of religion
from a sectarian point of view.
1
Other forms mentioned below are U . S. Children’s Bureau forms not concerned with group
work.
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APPENDIXES
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6. Activities at a permanent or established camp, or camping activities o f
more than a week end or its equivalent in duration. I f desired for local use,
reports on camping may be made on an additional form.
7. Staff meetings, conferences, and other activities limited to the staff. Ac
tivities organized for volunteer leaders and other volunteers working with
groups should, however, be reported according to the type of group organiza
tion and are to be included in reports on this form. Activities of the board
o f directors should not be included in the report, except as noted in item le.
EXPLANATION OF THE COUNTS ON FORM G -l
Sections A, B, and C of the report pertain specifically to group activities.
Information is requested regarding the enrollment in groups, the number of
groups, the number o f sessions or periods, and the attendance.* Sections A
and B provide for the reporting o f activities o f groups under the reporting
agency’s auspices, and Section C provides for the reporting of activities of
groups under joint or other auspices.
A group should be regarded as meeting under the auspices o f the reporting
agency and should be reported in Sections A and B when the reporting agency
takes the major responsibility for sponsoring the group and for planning its
activities.* Groups sponsored jointly by the reporting agency and another
agency should be reported in Section C but not in Section A or B. Educational
and recreational groups for which the reporting agency assumes no responsi
bility and which use the reporting agency’s facilities merely as a meeting place
should also be reported in Section C.
Groups under the agency’s auspices are divided into groups that have regu
larly scheduled meetings (Section A ) and those that meet only for special
events (Section B ). For the purposes o f this report regularly scheduled
groups are those that are scheduled to meet one or more times per month.
Groups that meet only for special events, for purposes o f this report, include
(a) groups that are not scheduled to meet as frequently as once a month, and
(b ) groups at whose meetings persons other than the personally invited
guests o f the members are present.
Regularly scheduled groups are subdivided into those with definite enroll
ment (item 1) and those without definite enrollment (item 2 ). Regularly
scheduled groups with definite enrollment are those at which the same indi
viduals are expected to be present at all sessions o f the group. Regularly
scheduled groups without definite enrollment, on the other hand, are those in
which the same individuals are not expected to be present at each period dur
ing which the activity is scheduled to take place.
In making the count o f groups with definite enrollment for entry in item 1,
the groups are classified on the basis o f the type o f organization of the group
and not on the basis o f the type of activity engaged in. In making the count
o f groups without definite enrollment for entry in item 2, the groups are classi
fied on the basis o f the type of activity engaged in.
In addition to statistics on the activities of groups, the form provides for
a summary report o f services to individuals (Section D ), an unduplicated
count o f members (Section E ), and a count o f staff (Section F ).
Section A.— REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUPS
[Under auspices o f reporting agency]
Regularly scheduled groups have been defined as groups that are scheduled
to meet one or more times a month. Groups organized only for short periods
o f time (for example, committees organized to manage special events) should
be reported as regularly scheduled groups if they met regularly during that
period and met once or more during the month covered by the report.
» Only the attendance of members and visitors at group activities is requested. I f a record is
desired for local use, a count of the total number of visitors to the building may be reDorted
as a supplemental item.
* Activities for which leaders or teachers are furnished by the W P A , board o f education, or
otheT-agencieB ™ OD^ be reported on this form as under the reporting agency’s auspices if'the
specific activities are sponsored by the reporting agency.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
I. Groups with definite en rollm en t: Total.
Groups with definite enrollment are groups in which the same individuals
are expected to be present at all sessions o f the group.
The counts for item 1 relate to groups with definite enrollment that meet
under the auspices of the agency as part o f a continued program o f educational
or recreational activities planned for the members enrolled in the group. The
facilities of the agency may be used for all the meetings o f a group, certain
meetings may be held elsewhere, or all the meetings may be held elsewhere.
I f the facilities of another agency are used by a group, the meeting should be
reported in this item by the agency under whose auspices the meeting was
held and that assumed responsibility for the group. The agency whose facili
ties were used should report the group in Section C, item 4a, as a group under
other auspices.
Item 1, column I.— Enrollment.
The entries in column I show the number o f enrolled members in each speci
fied type o f group reported in column II. Enrollment, or the act o f entering
the names o f the members of a group on a roll or group roster, should be
counted in accordance with the policies of that group and its requirements for
membership and not in accordance with the policies of the agency nor the
agency’s requirements for membership. If the same individual is enrolled in
two or more groups, count him as a member of each group that is a separately
organized unit. The enrollment should be counted for each group so that in
formation will be available on the total enrollment for specified types of group
organization. The entries for enrollment should be the number of individuals
whose names appear on the roster of the group at the beginning of the month.
Item 1, column II.— Number.
The entries in column II show the number o f groups o f specified types that
held one or more sessions (meetings) during the month. Groups for which no
session was held during the month, and those that are reported in Sections B
and C because they held only sessions classified as special events or as under
joint or other auspices, should not be included in the counts in item 1.
For purposes o f this report the number of regularly scheduled groups with
definite enrollment should represent the number of different organized groups.
The number of rosters may be used as indicating the number o f units that
should be regarded as separately organized groups. Therefore, (a) though
a group may engage in two or more types o f activities only one group will be
counted unless the agency considers the group as separately organized with
separate rosters for each activity; and (6) though there may be some differ
ences in the persons making up the group engaged in the various activities,
only one group will be counted unless the change in membership is sufficient
to cause the group to be recognized by the agency as two or more separately
organized groups with separate rosters.
I f groups meet jointly because of the absence o f a leader or teacher or fo r a
joint activity not classified as a special event, each group participating in the
meeting should be reported separately in the counts for this column.
Item 1, column III.— Sessions or periods.
The entries for column III indicate the number o f times the groups reported
in column II met during the month. Inasmuch as a group cannot be reported
unless it has met during the month, the number of sessions reported in column
III must be equal to or greater than the number of groups reported in column
II. When separately organized groups hold a joint meeting, one session
should be counted for each group.*
The count o f sessions for a group should include all activities o f that group.
The following paragraphs describe specific situations that may be encountered
in reporting the number o f sessions:
a. Parties and other special occasions held by a group whose meetings are
reported in item 1 should be counted as additional sessions o f that group if
they are attended only by the members and their personally invitea guests.
If, however, the group sponsors an event for which tickets are sold and to
which the public is invited, or at which persons other than the personally
invited guests o f the members are present, such an^event is to be classified as
a special event and should be reported in section B, item 3.
4For example,
a session should be counted for each team involved in a same.
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APPENDIXES
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6. I f two activities of a group follow in succession without an interval of
time, report these activities as one session except in such cases as these two
activities are definitely scheduled separately. For example, regularly sched
uled gymnasium sessions for a club group would be counted as separate ses
sions even when they occur immediately following a club meeting.
c. I f two or more groups hold individual meetings, then adjourn and conduct
a joint activity which is not regularly scheduled, one session should be counted
for each group, that session representing both the original meeting and the
joint activity. I f this joint meeting of two or more groups is regularly sched^ j >“ i®.
counted as a separate group and as a separate session.
a. Meetings o f subgroups (or committees) of clubs that are limited to a
portion of the total membership of a group should be reported only in item
la (2 ). (See below, Item la (2 ).) Any meetings of subgroups (or com
mittees) o f other types o f groups should be reported as extra sessions o f that
group.
Item 1, column IV.— Total attendance.
Report in column IV all those present during the sessions reported in column
III, whether they attend as members or as visitors. Inasmuch as these are
aggregate figures, the same persons obviously may be counted several times
during the month.
Young children brought to a mothers’ club or class and remaining with the
group during the session should not be included in the total count, but the
number may be shown in a separate entry if the information is desired for
W J P - , I f separately organized care is provided for such children, they
should be classified as a specially organized group and should be reported with
other special services in item lg.
Item 1, column V.—Attendance of members.
The entries in column V show the attendance o f members enrolled in the
groups reported in column II who were present at the sessions reported in
column III. Inasmuch as these are aggregate figures, the same persons obvi
ously may be counted several times during the month. The count should
include only mmnbers enrolled in the groups at the time o f attendance. I f the
same individual attends two or more groups classified as separately organized
units for report in column II, his attendance should be counted in connection
with each group so that complete information will be available as to the total
attendance of members in the specified types o f group organization.
la . Clubs.
The counts for this item relate to groups o f persons bound together by per
sonal and social ties, the membership of each group being determined by that
officers C° ntro118 maintamed by the group through duly elected or appointed
Care should be exercised to distinguish between clubs and special-interest
groups that are called clubs. Stamp clubs or dramatic clubs organized purely
on the basis of the interest m the activity and not in personal association
among the individuals in the group should be reported in item Id I f how
ever, the basis of organization is the personal bond between the members but
the group decides to limit its activities to stamp collecting or dramatics, ’such
a group should be reported as a club.
la (l). Activities for all m em bers.
The counts for this item relate to all activities, both regular meetings and
special occasions, that are open to the entire membership o f the arouv and in
which all members of the group are expected to participate.
l a (2). Activities for special groups.
The counts for this item relate to all activities restricted to a small grouD
unthm a club, as, for example, a committee.
6
p
lb . Classes.
The counts for this item relate to groups of two or more persons meeting on
a regular schedule for the acquisition of specific knowledge, the exercise of
individual skills, or participation in a specific educational activitv A class
as distinguished from a club or a special-interest group, is a group in which
there is a teacher-pupil relationship and a progressive course of instruc143554°—39-----7
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
tion is undertaken under the supervision of the teacher who controls the group.
Whether or not a certain schedule of instruction is followed is often an impor
tant criterion for distinguishing classes from special-interest groups. There
is no distinction between physical education and academic classes for the pur
poses of this report because both are organized on a class basis.
Classes for which academic credit is given should be excluded from this
report.
I f a nursery school or kindergarten is operated by the agency primarily for
educational purposes it should be reported as a special type of group in item
l g and should be excluded from the counts in item lb. I f classes are organ
ized as a part of the activities of groups organized under national programs
reported in item If, they should be counted only in item I f but should not be
included in item lb.
l c . Teams.
The counts for this item relate to groups with definite enrollment that are
organized for participation in contests or for demonstration purposes in activ
ities involving physical prowess or skill and that meet at regularly scheduled
intervals for special training or practice. All activities engaged in by the
team as a group should be counted as sessions of that group.
Regularly scheduled tournament games or contests between groups that are
members o f basketball, baseball, or other athletic leagues should be reported
in item l c if both o f the competing teams were organized within the agency;
the attendance of both participating teams should be reported in column V
and the total attendance should be reported in column IV. A session should
be counted for each team involved; thus, one game might be reported as 2
teams, 2 sessions, 14 members (include all in uniform and those serving the
team in some dennite capacity), and 115 total attendance in addition to the
14 members described above (include other members and visitors in column
IV ).
,
Semifinals, finals, and other games featured as special events for the whole
agency will be reported in section B, item 3.
Interagency games, that is, games played with outside agencies, should be
reported in section C, item 4b, as activities under joint auspices.
ld. Special-interest groups.
The counts for this item relate to groups in which the interest centers in the
activity and not in personal association, and such groups should not be classi
fied as a club, class, or team. A special-interest group may be distinguished
from a club by the requirements for admission to membership, the basis being
solely that of proficiency or interest in the activity and not that o f personal
consideration. Two distinguishing features of a special-interest group are:
(1) The instruction is less formal than in a class and (2) there is not a teacherpupil relation such as is found in a class. Some activities carried on by spe
cial-interest groups may, of course, be of the same types that are carried on
also in class or club groups, but the type o f group organization will determine
where they should be reported.
I f special-interest groups are organized under national programs that are
reported in item If, they should be counted only in item I f and should not be
included in reports for item Id.
Rehearsals for a specific program of entertainment should not be reported
as sessions of a special-interest group in item Id if the rehearsals are being
held by clubs, classes, teams, or other groups whose activities are reported in
other subdivisions of item 1. Rehearsals by such groups should be reported
as extra sessions of those groups.
In addition to the rehearsals of special-interest groups that are regularly
reported in item Id, rehearsals may be reported in item Id if the cast has been
chosen from the entire membership of the agency on the basis o f ability for a
special role or on the basis of interest in participation in the event. Both the
dress rehearsal and the special event itself are counted as separate sessions in
section B, item 3, but they are not counted in item 1.
le . Intergroup com m ittees and councils.*
The counts for this item relate only to committees and councils made up of
representatives (1) of two or more groups reported in section A or B, or,
5Interagency
committees should be reported in item 4b.
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(2) from the general membership of the agency. Boards o f management aFe
to be included in this section only in the event that the members o f such boards
are drawn from the membership of the reporting agency (this applies espe
cially to the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A .). Meetings of the staff or o f a
board of trustees that is composed of people from a social and economic group
that is different from that of the membership of the reporting agency should
not be included in the counts for this item.
lf. National-pro gram groups.
The entries in this item relate to groups organized under the reporting
agency’s auspices as a part of an organization that has a Nation-wide pro
gram (such as Boy Scouts o f America, Girl Scouts, Inc., and Camp Fire Girls,
Inc.), that are reported also on Form G-2 by the local council o f the national
agency. The counts will, therefore, include only groups counted in the reports
on Form G-2 o f the local council of the national agency.
These groups are counted in a separate item on Form G -l only in order to
avoid duplication between groups reported on both Form G -l and Form G-2.
Unless the activities of these groups are being duplicated on a report on Form
G-2, however, it is preferable from the point o f view of the agency reporting
on Form G -l that these national-program groups be classified in other sub
divisions of item 1 according to tne type of group organization. The only
groups at present being reported on Form G—2 are the Boy Scouts o f America,
Girl Scouts, Inc., Camp Fire Girls, Inc., and the Wood Craft Rangers.
A national-program group should be reported in item 1 only if the group
is under the auspices of the reporting agency; that is, if the reporting agency
takes the major responsibility for sponsoring the group and for planning its
activities.
Include in the count of each organization reported in item I f all groups
(junior and senior) that are served by the program o f the specified national
agency; for example, Cubs, Sea Scouts, and Rovers should be reported as
parts o f the Boy Scout program.
lg . Other.
The counts for this item should include (1) nursery schools, kindergartens,
groups of children that receive special care in connection with a mothers’ club
or class: and (2) groups that meet regularly for other specific activities, that
have a definite enrollment, and that do not have a place in the preceding sub
divisions o f item 1. Stay-at-home or day camps with a definite enrollment may
be cited as an example of this type of group.
Summer-school-activity groups that cannot be classified as clubs, classes,
teams, or special-interest groups (according to the definitions given in the
preceding pages) should be reported in item lg.
2. Groups without definite en rollm ent: Total.
A group reported in item 2 is one that does not have a definite enrollment,
and, therefore, the same individuals are not expected to be present at each
period during which the activity is scheduled to take place. The group should
be scheduled to meet one or more times per month, and should have met at
least once during the month covered by the report. (See page 89 for defini
tion o f regularly scheduled groups.)
Only organized and directed group activities should be reported in item 2.
Use of facilities on an individual or come-and-go basis should be reported in
section D, item 6.
Item 2, column I.—Number.
Report in this column the total number of groups (as defined in item 2)
that met during the month. Groups should be classified according to the type
o f activity engaged in. I f a variety of different activities are regularly
engaged in by a group without definite enrollment, the group should be
reported in item 2i.
Groups for which no session was held during the month and those which
are reported in sections B and C because they held only sessions classified
as special events or as under joint or other auspices, should not be included
in the counts in item 2.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
Item 2, column II.— Sessions or periods.
The entries in this column indicate the number o f times the groups reported
in column I met during the month. Inasmuch as a group cannot be reported
unless it met during the month, the number of periods reported in column II
must be equal to or greater than the number of groups reported in column I.
Item 2, column III.— Total attendance.
Report in this column all those present during periods when activities were
in session, whether they attended as participants or os spectators. Both the
members of the agency and the visitors should be included in the counts. Inas
much as these are aggregate figures, the same persons obviously may be
counted several times during the month. Exception to this method o f count
ing attendance is noted below in relation to specified activities.
Item 2, column IV.— Participants included in the total attendance.
Report in this column the total number of individuals in attendance (either
members o f the agency or visitors) who took an active part in the activities.
2a. A thletic activities.
The counts for this item relate to regularly scheduled groups without a
definite enrollment that hold athletic contests, games, or demonstrations one
or more times per month.
Include in item 2a regularly scheduled groups organized for activities such
as basketball, archery, boxing, wrestling, tumbling, gym frolics, indoor roller
skating, sw im m in g , carnivals, circuses, and esthetic dancing. Table games
and marbles should be reported in item 2g.
These activities may take place in a gymnasium, swimming pool, athletic
field, or playground, and such facilities may or may not belong to the report
ing agency.
Athletic tournaments (and informal practice in preparation for them)
should be reported in this item if they consist of a number o f contests that
take place consecutively with not more than 1 month intervening between
contests.
2b. Educational activities.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
meet for an activity whose major purpose is educational, such as a discussion,
a debate, an exhibit, a book talk, or a story-telling hour.
In column IV report as participants only those who took part in a planned
program. Participants in a discussion during or following a planned program
should not be recorded in the count for this column.
2c. Social recreation.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
meet for activities whose major purpose is fun or the providing of a good
time. In addition to dances, teas, and suppers, there should also be reported
in this item parties, dinners, and other social affairs that are held according
to a regular schedule. I f such events are scheduled at intervals greater than
1 month, report them as special events in item 3c.
2d. Dramatic and musical program s.
The counts for this item refer only to groups without a definite enrollment,
that meet for a program that is regularly scheduled. If such programs occur
at irregular intervals and are not a part of a series, report such occasions in
item 3d as special events. Neighborhood entertainments o f a dramatic or
musical nature and subscription series of musicales are examples o f activities
to be reported in this item.
Groups with a definite enrollment participating in rehearsals for particular
performances should be reported in item Id. (See discussion of rehearsals,
item Id.)
#
.
Dramatic and musical programs given on a playground should be reported
in item 2d, when they are held according to a regular schedule.
2e. Moving pictures and theater parties.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
attend moving pictures shown at the agency and to groups that are taken to
pictures shown elsewhere. Moving pictures, concerts, and theater parties are
not to be reported in this item unless they are given once or more per month.
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2f. Playground and street-play activities.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
engage in playground games, street play, and other activities conducted on a
P«
, The. use of
pi a/ 8'.round for athletic games should be reported
i.1 « . l c
t^ams W1^h definite enrollment are involved, and in item 2a
when there is no definite enrollment.
fV,i1?.iorganizei ’ t iTe? ¥ £ programJfor groups, the individuals mak!?JLUo f °
plaY?round should be reported in section D, item 6e, but not in
in section B R e m l T ^ 18 m the nature of a sPecial event, it should be reported
Attendance should be taken at each period at the time o f probable maximum
attendance. I f another method is used, a notation to this effect should be
made on the form.
2g. Inform al play and nonathletic games.
thiV tem relate to S ™ ^ 8 o f little children or other groups
without definite enrollment that use play rooms for either active or quiet
games that are not athletic in type. Children who come in and play together
£ acome-and-gobasis should be reported in section D, item 6d but not in item
lg or item 2g. Children of mothers who are attending a club or class should be
entered in item 2g if no definite enrollment is taken o f the group.
Attendance should be counted as for item 2f above.
2h. Trips.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
go on outings, hikes, picnics, and trips to places other than the usual meeting
place at the agency. Include overnight and week-end camping trips that are
secScm B tten?3e6d Those not regularly scheduled should be reported under
2i. Other groups w ithout definite enrollm ent.
The counts for this item relate to groups without a definite enrollment that
meet on a regular schedule but do not have a place in the preceding subdi
visions of item 2. Some of the groups reported here are groups using a sew
ing room or a craft shop.
6
Section B.—NOT REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUPS
[Under auspices of reporting agency]
3. Special events.
For the purposes of this report special events should be regarded as events,
(a) that take place less often than once a month or ( b) that are open to some
or all of the members of the agency, their guests, and the general public
Speciai events open to the members of the agency but not to the general public
should also be reported in item 3. Special programs restricted to the enrolled
members o f a group and their personally invited guests should be included in
the report of the group s activities in item 1 but should not be included in the
counts for item 3.
The agency’s facilities may be used for all parts of the event, or the event or
certain parts o f it may be held elsewhere. Activities such as those listed as
subdivisions o f item 2 that are not held according to a regular schedule should
be reported as special events and should be classified according to whether thev
are primanly athletic, educational, social, or dramatic. Those not otherwise
dassified should be reported in item 3e, and the type should be specified.
Although most special events will have but one period, there are occasions
when such an event may have several periods; i. e., the same play mayTbe 5 v S
two or more times. In such instances the counts for columns I and II will be
one event and two or more periods.
Section C.—GROUPS UNDER JOINT OR OTHER AUSPICES
4. Total groups.
Report in this item all outside groups that use the reporting agency’s faciliHri« for educations,1 or recreational purposes, and all groups that hold educa
tional or recreational activities that are sponsored jointly by the reporting
agency and another agency. Activities that are excluded frem other items on
this form are also excluded from item 4.
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STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
The groups whose activities are reported in item 4 may or may not be sched
uled to meet regularly, and the groups may or may not have a definite enroll
ment. Specify the type of activity and give the name of the cooperating agency
if the activity was held under joint auspices.
4a. Outside groups using agency’ s facilities.
Report in item 4a groups not under the auspices of the reporting agency that
use the agency’s facilities for recreational or educational purposes. Groups
using the facilities for other than group-work purposes should not be included
in the count for item 4a.
It is not necessary to list the names of the agencies reported in this item.
A total count of the groups is sufficient.
4b. Groups under jo in t auspices.
Report in item 4b all groups that hold activities that are sponsored jointly
by the reporting agency and another agency. Such activities may or may not
be scheduled to meet regularly, and the groups may or may not have a definite
enrollment. Specify the type o f activity and give the name of the cooperating
agency.
•
I f in a joint activity the group uses the reporting agency’s facilities, the
total count of attendance should be reported. I f groups from the reporting
agency attend activities at another agency, only those attendants who are
members of the reporting agency should be reported in this item. I f groups
from two agencies use the facilities of a third agency not reporting to tie
Children’s Bureau, no total attendance figure will be reported because each
agency will count only its own members who attended the event.
Section D.— SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS
The counts in this section relate to instruction and services given on an
individual rather than a group basis. Only certain items of personal and
individual service have been selected for inclusion in this report.
5. Individual lessons.
The entries in this item should include individual music lessons, individual
art lessons, corrective and other special work with individuals in gymnasiums,
and other separately organized units of individual instruction that are not
included in the reports of classes in item lb.
In order to keep the counts of instruction given to individuals comparable
to the counts for classes, this item has been subdivided to show enrollment and
attendance, and should be reported in accordance with the instructions for
item 1.
6. A ttendance for individual use o f agency’ s facilities.
The counts for this item relate to all use o f the agency’s facilities on an
individual rather than a group basis. The use o f the library, gymnasium,
swimming pool, and game room are especially asked for, and the use o f other
facilities should be specified in item 6e.
In reporting library attendance the number of readers and borrowers and
not the circulation of books should be reported. I f a different system for
counts is used, a notation should be made on the form. The counts for the use
o f other facilities should be the aggregate attendance during the month.
When branches of public libraries are housed in settlements and neighbor
hood houses, the counts of readers and borrowers should be reported in item
6a, but an explanatory footnote should indicate that such a branch library
has been included.
7. Conferences.
The counts for this item show the number of contacts made with a member
o f the staff for the purpose of discussing a definite problem, project, or plan.
Such interviews may take place in the office of the agency, in the individual’s
home, or in some other convenient place. The total number of interviews and
visits should be reported rather than the number of people served.
I f the information is desired for local use, the number of conferences may
be classified as to office interviews and home visits, and this information may
be entered on a separate report.
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The conferences reported in this item may be held with or in behalf o f indi
viduals known to the agency. I f in behalf of individuals, such conferences
may be held with health and social agencies or with relatives, friends
employers, or others who have known the individuals personally.
Section E.— UNDUPLICATED COUNT OF MEMBERS
The entries in this section relate to membership in the reporting agency
and are planned to give a count for the year of the number o f different indi
viduals registered with the agency for one or more o f the activities reported
in sections A, B, C, and D. I f an agency’s plan for registration provides for
the elimination o f duplication in the counts of individuals reported in item 1
but not of those reported in items 2 to 7, inclusive, nor o f those that may be’
reported in two or more items, notation should be made on the form with
reference to the activities to which the unduplicated count relates.
An agency that reregisters all members each year at the time o f their first
attendance but does not keep a current record o f individuals dropped (or does
not drop members currently) should make monthly entries only in items 8, 9,
9a, 9b (2 ), and 12. I f this procedure is followed, the entries in items 8 and 12
will be cumulative totals. The agency should note this fact on the report for
the first month o f each program year. When only items 8, 9, 9a, 9b (2 ), and
12 are reported, items 9b (1 ), 10, and 11 should be crossed out (X X X ) on each
monthly report.
An agency that does not reregister all members each year at the time of
their, first attendance and that drops members during the year as they become
inactive, should report all items in this section. At the end of the year to be
covered in the report, the number of different individuals on the register at
any time during the year can be obtained by adding the monthly entries in
items 9a and 9b (2) to the entry showing the number o f individuals carried
over from the preceding year in item 8 of the report of the first month o f the
year.
For purposes of this report “ year” is taken to be the calendar year. I f the
analysis of group-work services and the membership count is based on a pro
gram year, please state this fact in a footnote on the report for January of
each year and also on the report for the first month o f the program year: as
ior ™ ^,mple: “ Pr°£ram year for this agency is from October 1 to Septem
ber 30.”
*
Ians .agency may re^ister members in accordance with any o f the following
(1) Individuals who have attended three sessions o f a group meeting at
least once a week.
(2) Individuals who have paid an activity or membership fee.
. (3). Individuals who, in accordance with the agency’s policies, have signified
in writing a desire to become a member o f the agency.
(4) Individuals who are members of a group admitted to the agency.
It is assumed that only one of these plans would be in use in a single organi
zation, but there may be exceptions in which a combination o f plans is used.
The particular plan or plans followed should be indicated in a notation at the
beginning o f the year. Individuals who have paid a membership fee solely
as a means of contribution to the agency and who do not intend to use the
facilities or participate in group activities should not be included in the counts
m this section.
Because of the importance of knowing the number of individuals under 18
years of age who are included in the total counts in this section, a separate
report is requested in column II on the number of individuals under 18 years
of age who are included in the count for column I. The use o f metal flags or
different colored registration cards will facilitate this count. I f classification
is based on an age other than 18 years, the year should be noted on the report
form in place of 18 years.
Section F.— STAFF
The counts for this section should include only persons whose services were
regularly associated on a full-time or a part-time basis with the services and
activities reported on this form. This includes maintenance employees whose
work was directly related to the services and activities covered in this report.
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Staff employed for other services should not be included. Members o f the
staff whose duties fall within more than one item of this section should be
counted only under the classification in which they spend the greater part of
their time.
Persons whose salaries were paid from the funds of another agency should
be classified as paid staff. The number of those who are workers assigned
through governmental projects should be indicated in a footnote. Members
of religious orders who serve without salary should be classified as paid staff.
The count of full-time staff should include persons absent temporarily on
vacation or sick leave for whom no substitute was employed.® Part-time paid
staff should be counted whether or not they provided service during the month
covered in the report; however, no hours of service should be counted for a
staff member unless he provided actual service during the month.
Students in training and volunteers shall be counted only if they provided
service during the month covered by the report. The count o f students on
this form is limited to students receiving training for school credit whether or
not they received some pay from the agency for services reported on this form.
Unpaid staff, if they are not working by arrangement with a school, should be
reported as volunteers; paid apprentice workers should be included with other
paid workers.
The count of volunteers includes leaders and assistant leaders o f groups
and all other persons engaged in program activities who have donated to the
agency 4 or more hours o f service during the month.
Staff is considered by some agencies to include only paid workers and volun
teer office workers but, in order to make the reports o f different programs
comparable, the staff count on Form G -l will include all volunteers engaged
in program activities.
* Staff members on extended vacation or sick leave that amounts to separation from the staff
should not be included in the counts even though they continue to receive pay.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U . S. D e p a r t m e n t o p L a b o r
CHILDREN’S BUR EAU
Washington
Form G—2
So c ia l S t a t is t ic s
1939
LOCAL GROUPS ORGANIZED UNDER NATIONAL
PROGRAMS
Instructions for Monthly Reports From Areas Cooperating in the
Registration of Social Statistics
Form G-2 is to be used for a summary report that covers the local area for
the registration of social statistics and shows the membership and activities
of local groups affiliated with national agencies. Each of the national Agen
cies for which this report is designed maintains a national register of individ
ual members and provides a specially planned program o f educational^ and
recreational activities for boys and girls of specified ages. Each national
agency or one of its regional offices furnishes some local supervision. Boy
Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, Inc., and Camp Fire Girls, Inc., are the prin
cipal agencies from which reports may be expected.
One report form should be used for the report of all the groups in the local
area organized under the same national agency, and the name of the national
agency should be noted on the report form.^ All the_ groups that are organized
under the same national agency should be included in the same report, even if
some of these groups meet in settlements or in other group-work agencies and
are reported by the settlements or other agencies on Form G—1.
I f the local district of the national agency includes an area that is larger
than that included in the local area for the registration o f social statistics,
groups belonging outside the registration area should be excluded from reports
on this form. Information as to the territory included in the local registra
tion area can be obtained from the local supervisor of the registration of
soci&l statistics
Activities at a permanent or established camp or camping activities o f more
than a week end or its equivalent in duration are to be excluded from the
reports on this form. If desired for local use, such information may be sub
mitted on a separate report. Reports on day camps should be included in
item 15.
Section A.—GROUPS
The entries in section A show the number of groups that are organized as
separate units under a national agency and that are under the auspices of the
reporting agency. Groups on the national register during the month should
be reported in items 1 to 5. Groups active during the month that are organ
ized under the local agency but that are not on the national register should
be reported in item 6.
Column I.—Total number of groups.
In column I report the total number of groups under the agency’s auspices
whose members are girls or boys of the age for which the national program
is designed. The total refers only to the total number of groups in the regis
tration area.
Column II.—Number o f junior groups.
In order to determine to what extent boys and girls are being served by the
junior program of the agency, enter in this column the number of junior
groups. In the Boy Scouts this refers to Cub Packs, in the Camp Fire Girls
to Blue Bird groups, and in the Girl Scouts to Brownie Packs. These junior
groups should also be included in the total column.
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Column III.— All other groups.
Report in this column all groups that follow the regular or the senior pro
gram of the national agency. In the Boy Scouts this refers to Boy Scout
Troops, Sea Scout Ships, Rover, and Explorer groups; in the Camp Fire Girls,
to Camp Fire groups and Torch Bearers Association; and in the Girl Scouts,
to Girl Scout Troops and Mariner Ships.
1. On national register at beginning o f m onth.
The count for this item should be the same as that for item 5 on the report
for the preceding month and should include only the groups that were on the
national register at the beginning o f the month. It should not include groups
that were in the process o f being organized nor groups that had been dropped
from the national register prior to the beginning o f the month.
2. Placed on national register during m onth.
The total number o f groups placed on the national register during the
month should be classified to show how many are new groups and how many
are reinstated groups.
2a. New groups.
Enter the number o f groups that were placed on the national register during
the month and that had never been on the national register at any previous
time. Reorganized groups that are given a new name, a new number, and a
new charter are to be reported in this item. Reorganized groups that retain
an old name, an old number, and an old charter are to be reported in item 2b.
2b. R einstated during m onth.
The count for this item refers to groups that had been on the national regis
ter at some previous time and that during the month renewed their member
ship in accordance with the policies of the national organization. These
groups are subdivided to show whether they were last dropped during the
calendar (or fiscal) year or were last dropped prior to the calendar (or fiscal)
year, in order that an unduplicated count may be obtained o f group units
during the year.
Groups that had been dropped from the national register and that were
reorganized during the month should be classified as reinstatements if they
were reregistered under an old number, an old name, and an old charter.
Groups that reregister with the national organization within the time allotted
for reregistration should not be counted in this item but should be carried
forward in item 1.
4. Dropped from national register during m onth.
Enter the number o f groups dropped from the national register during the
month because the majority of the members were no longer o f an age for
which the national program is organized, because of nonpayment o f dues, or
for other reasons. The entries for this item will not include groups whose
registration expired and was renewed during the month.
I f a group is to be inactive for several months (as during summer vacation)
but expects to resume its activities under the auspices of the same agency, it
should not be reported as dropped. I f a decision is reached later to discon
tinue the activities of the group or to reestablish it under the auspices o f a
different agency, the group should be reported as dropped in the month during
which this decision is reached.
6. Groups n ot included in item 3 that had sessions during m onth.
The count for this item should include groups meeting during the month
that were not on the national register during the month although they were
considered locally to be participating in the national program. This would
include: (a) Groups that could not pay promptly the national registration
u w/ ien their national registration had expired; (6) newly organized groups
that have been accepted and are participating in the local program but that
have not yet held the number o f meetings required for national registration;
(c) groups in the process o f organization.
A group whose membership is made up o f persons older or younger than
the ages for which the national program is organized should not be reported
on Form G—2«
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APPENDIXES
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Section B.—MEMBERSHIP
The entries in items 7 to 12 relate to the members of groups included in the
reports in section A and, in addition, to their leaders and other adults in the
community who are registered at the national office and who pay to the
national organization the usual membership fee covering the classification in
which they are registered.
Column I.—Girl or boy members.
The entries in this column should show the number o f boys and girls who
are members of the groups listed in section A. Each person must be within
the age limits specified for his group by the national organization in order
to be considered a member of that group for purposes of reporting on Form
G—2.
For the Boy Scouts the entries in column I will include all Cubs, Scouts,
Sea Scouts, Rovers, and Explorers; for the Camp Fire Girls they will include
all Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls; and for the Girl Scouts they will include
all Brownies, Girl Scouts, and Mariners.
Column II.—Adult leaders o f groups.
The entries for this column should include all adult leaders and all adult
assistant leaders of group units who are registered at the national office. In
the Boy Scouts this refers to Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Scoutmasters,
Assistant Scoutmasters, Skippers, Mates, and all other registered leaders.
In the Camp Fire Girls this refers to Blue Bird Leaders, Guardians, and
Assistant Guardians. In the Girl Scouts this refers to Brown Owls, Tawny
Owls, Captains, Lieutenants, Skippers, and Mates.
I f a leader is also serving in another capacity, he (or she) should be reported
in the category in which the highest fee is paid.
Column III.—All other adult members.
The entries in this column should include all local council members, troop
committee members, commissioners, merit-badge examiners, and sponsors who
are registered at the national office.
7. On national register at beginning o f m onth.
The count for this item should be the same as that for item 11 on the pre
ceding month’s report and should include the number of members (boy or girl
members and adult members) who had qualified for inclusion on the national
register and who had not been dropped from the national register prior to the
beginning of the month.
8. Placed on national register during m onth.
The total number of members placed on the national register during the
month should be classified to show how many are new members and how many
are reinstated members.
8a. New m em bers.
Enter the number of new members never previously registered by the
agency who were placed on the national register during the month.
8b. Reinstated during m onth.
This item refers to those persons who at some previous time had been mem
bers of the organization but were dropped and subsequently were reinstated.
This item has been subdivided to show those who were last dropped during
or prior to the calendar (or fiscal) year in order that an unduplicated count
of the individuals served during the year can be obtained.
10. Dropped from national register during m onth.
Enter the number o f members who were no longer of an age for which the
national program is organized and also the number o f members who were
within the age limits but who were dropped from the national register because
of nonpayment of dues or for other reasons. Members who were dropped
and reinstated within the month should not be counted as dropped.
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102
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT IN GROUP WORK
12. M em bers o f groups during m on th but n ot included in item 9.
Enter the number of members of groups reported in section A who were of
an age for which the national program is organized and were considered
locally to be participating in the national program, but who were not on the
national register during the month. Also include leaders and other adult
members who were considered locally to be participating in the national pro
gram but who were not on the national register during the month.
Section C.—-ACTIVITIES DURING MONTH
The entries for the items in section C o f Form G—2 are requested so that
the reports on this form may be correlated with those on Form G—1 submit
ted by agencies reporting group-work activities. I f the reporting agency
does not have adequate means for collecting and recording the data to be
reported in one of the items in this section, it should omit the counts for
this item and enter “ n r” (no report).
City-wide or district meetings limited to leaders, teachers, and other workers
with groups should not be included in the counts for item 13 or 15. I f
desired, an additional item may be included in this section for the report of
such meetings.
Meetings limited to leaders and other workers with groups are not to be
reported on Form G-2, with the exception of the meetings of leaders’ training
courses that are reported in item 14.
Column I.—Number of groups or events.
The entries in items 13 and 14 of column I are counts of groups that met
one or more times during the month. The entry in item 15 is a count of the
number o f special events held during the month.
Column II.— Number o f meetings.
The entries in items 13 and 14 of column II should show the total number
of meetings held during the month by all groups reported in column I of the
respective items, and the entry for item 15 of column II should show the num
ber of sessions held for each separately organized special event reported in
item 15 of column I.
Column III.— Attendance o f members.
The entries in column III show the total monthly attendance of the mem
bers o f the groups reported in column I. This is an aggregate figure. The
same persons obviously may be counted several times during the month. The
figure should include the attendance of adult leaders as well as that o f girl
and boy members of the group. The count o f members to be reported in
column III should include only the members reported in section B, except that
persons enrolled in leaders’ training courses will be reported in item 14.
Column IV.—Attendance o f visitors.
The entries for this column show the aggregate number o f persons who were
present at one or more meetings of groups in which they did not have the
status o f a member.
13. Regular m eetings during th e m onth.
The counts for this item relate to all group meetings that were limited to
the members and their personally invited guests.
13a. Of groups on national register.
Item 13a is designed to show the activities during the month of groups on
the national register. All the activities held for the members o f a group and
their personally invited guests should be counted as meetings o f that group.
Special clubs composed o f members o f two or more groups may be reported
as additional groups if they meet regularly at least once a month.
13b. Of oth er groups.
Item 13b is designed to show the activities during the month o f groups
that are not on a national register and that are reported in item 6. Count
the members of the group in column III of this item, even though they are not
listed on a national register, if they are considered locally to be participating
in a national program.
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APPENDIXES
103
14. Leaders* training courses.
The counts for this item relate to systematic courses of study organized for
group leaders and prepared or approved by the national agency under which
the local group is organized. The entries in the first column show the number
o f separately organized training units.
15. Special events.
The counts for this item relate to special programs not limited to the mem
bers of one group and their personally invited guests.
Enter in the first column the number of special events (such as a play or
a tournament) held by groups during the month, and in the second column
enter the number of separate meetings held for these special events (such as
the number o f performances given o f the play or the number o f sessions held
for the tournament). The count for members should be made in accordance
with the definition given for entry in column III of this section (see p. 102),
except in the case o f events having such a large attendance that it is impossible
to report members separately. In such cases (jamborees, circuses, entertain
ments, and the like) the count of members should be confined to the count o f
participants, and a notation o f such cases should be made in a footnote. The
attendance of the remaining members will be included in the entry for visi
tors in column IV.
Section D.— STAFF
The counts for section D should include only persons whose services were
regularly associated on a full-time or a part-time basis with the services and
activities reported on this form. This includes maintenance employees whose
work was directly related to the services and activities covered in this report.
Staff employed for other services should be excluded. Members of the staff
whose duties fall within more than one item o f this section should be counted
only under the classification in which they spend the greater part of their time.
Persons whose salaries were paid from the funds o f another agency should
be classified as paid staff. The number of these who are workers assigned
through governmental projects should be indicated in a footnote. Members
o f religious orders who serve without salary should be classified as paid staff.
The count o f full-time staff (full time is defined by the reporting agency)
should include persons absent temporarily on vacation or sick leave for whom
no substitute was employed.7 Part-time paid staff should be counted whether
or not they provided service during the month covered in the report; how
ever, no hours of service should be counted for a staff member unless he pro
vided actual service during the month.
Students in training and volunteers should be counted only if they provided
service during the month covered by the report. The count o f stuaents on
this form is limited to students receiving training for school credit whether
or not they received pay from the agency for services reported on this form.
Unpaid staff, if they are not working by arrangement with a school, should
be reported as volunteers; paid apprentice workers should be included with
other paid workers.
The count of volunteers includes leaders and assistant leaders o f groups
and all other persons engaged in program activities who have donated to the
local council 4 or more hours of service during the month, whether or not
they are registered at the national office.
“ Staff” is considered by some agencies to include only paid workers and
volunteer office workers but, for the purpose of making the reports o f the
different programs comparable, the staff count on Form G-2 will include all
volunteers engaged in program activities.
7
Staff members on extended vacation or sick leave that amounts to separation from the staff
should not be included in the counts even though they continue to receive pay.
o
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