Davison, R.M., "An Instrument for Measuring Meeting Success", Information and Management, 32, #4, pp.163-176. Copyrighted (1997) by Elsevier Science. Davison has secured permission from Elsevier Science for us to post his instrument on the Web.
The instrument includes five constructs, measuring: communication in meetings (C), discussion quality in a meeting (D), status effects experienced in meetings (S), team work in a meeting (T) and efficiency of meeting processes (E). Two versions of the instrument were developed. The first, referred to here as the Absolute Version, is designed for one-off meetings, or initial meetings in a series. The second, referred to here as the Relative Version, is designed to be used when it is necessary for respondents to compare their perceptions with those of previous meetings. Each item is followed by a code, e.g. C1. The letter refers to the construct "Communication in Meetings". The digit refers to the nominal order of the item within the construct. Demographic items may also be used at the discretion of individual researchers or practitioners. For a full explanation of the rationale behind the instrument, its development and subsequent validation and modification, see Davison (1998).
Absolute Version
With regard to your own participation in the meeting, please indicate to what extent you agree with the following statements:
The language of the meeting prevented you from participating. (C1)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
You found it hard to understand other group members when they talked. (C2)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
You experienced problems expressing yourself. (C3)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
You felt reluctant to put forward your own ideas. (C4)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
You experienced pressure, either to conform to a particular viewpoint or not to contradict others. (S4)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
With regard to all meeting members as a whole, how would you rate the discussions in the meeting in terms of the following scales?
Meaningful [] [] [] [] [] Meaningless (D1)
Appropriate [] [] [] [] [] Inappropriate (D2)
Open [] [] [] [] [] Closed (D3)
Imaginative [] [] [] [] [] Unimaginative (D4)
Please indicate to what extent you agree with the following statements:
Other members appeared willing to answer questions when asked. (T1)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
Members worked together as a team. (T2)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
Members had sufficient access to the information they needed so as to participate actively in and fully understand the meeting. (T3)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
The time spent in the meeting was efficiently used. (E2)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
Issues raised in the meeting were discussed thoroughly. (E3)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
Some group members tried to intimidate others, e.g. by talking loudly, using aggressive gestures, making threats, etc. (S1)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
Some group members tried to use their influence, status or power so as to force issues on the other group members. (S2)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
You felt inhibited from participating in the discussion because of the behaviour of other meeting members. (S3)
Strongly Agree [] [] [] [] [] Strongly Disagree
What percentage of meeting time do you think was spent on serious discussion? ___ % (E4)
To what extent would you say that this meeting was result oriented? (E1)
Strongly Result Oriented [] [] [] [] [] Weakly Result Oriented
Compared to previous meetings of this team, do you feel that:
Your ability to participate in the meeting (C1)
Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Your understanding of the comments from other group members (C2)
Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Your ability to express yourself (C3)
Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Your willingness to put forward ideas (C4)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The pressure you experienced, either to conform to a particular viewpoint or not to contradict others (S4)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
Compared to previous meetings of this team, do you feel the discussions improved, stayed the same or deteriorated on the following scales:
Meaningful (D1) Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Appropriate (D2) Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Openness (D3) Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Imaginative (D4) Improved []; Stayed about the same []; Deteriorated []
Compared to previous meetings of this team, do you think that:
The willingness of other members to answer questions when asked (T1)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The extent to which members worked together as a team (T2)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The extent to which members had sufficient access to the information they needed so as to participate actively in and fully understand the meeting (T3)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The time in the meeting was used (E2)
More efficiently []; As efficiently []; Less efficiently []
Ideas were discussed (E3)
More thoroughly []; As thoroughly []; Less thoroughly []
The extent to which some group members tried to intimidate others, e.g. by talking loudly, using aggressive gestures, making threats, etc. (S1)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The extent to which some group members tried to use their influence, status or power so as to force issues on the other group members (S2)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
The extent to which you felt inhibited from participating in the discussion because of the behaviour of other meeting members (S3)
Increased []; Stayed about the same []; Decreased []
What percentage of this meeting's time do you think was spent on serious discussion? ____% (E4)
To what extent would you say that this meeting was result oriented? (E1)
Strongly Result Oriented [] [] [] [] [] Weakly Result Oriented