Colorado Belonging Barometer

A group of people of color carrying their equipment and walking towards the ski lift at a resort in Winter Park, Colorado.

Problem

Understanding how Coloradans experience belonging is key to strengthening community well-being.

The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) wanted to explore how adults across the state perceive their connection to their communities. As interest grows in understanding the social factors that influence well-being, there is a need for reliable data on how people relate to their surroundings and to one another. This project was designed to provide a clearer picture of how Coloradans experience belonging, with the goal of supporting efforts to strengthen community life and inform future planning. The study reflects a broader interest in using data to guide decisions that affect the everyday lives of residents.

Solution

NORC designed and executed a bilingual survey of Colorado adults using a dual-frame sample and advanced calibration methods.

NORC implemented the Colorado Belonging Barometer using a dual-frame approach that combined its probability-based AmeriSpeak^® panel with a non-probability panel. The survey was administered in English and Spanish and was offered online and by phone, depending on respondent preference. NORC collected 1,102 interviews from adults 18 and older, including 304 from the AmeriSpeak panel and 798 from the non-probability panel.

NORC programmed and tested the survey and the project was approved by NORC’s Institutional Review Board. NORC applied strict data quality checks, removing low-quality responses and ensuring the integrity of the final dataset. To ensure the data accurately reflected the state’s population, NORC applied its TrueNorth^® calibration methodology, which integrates small area modeling and raking to align the combined probability and nonprobability samples with demographic benchmarks.

Result

The survey produced a high-quality dataset to support community-focused planning across Colorado.

The Colorado Belonging Barometer yielded 1,102 completed interviews, weighted to reflect the adult population of Colorado. The final dataset included detailed demographic and attitudinal variables, enabling CHI to explore how different groups experience belonging across the state. NORC delivered a fully labeled data file, frequency outputs, a codebook, and a comprehensive methods report that meets the standards of the AAPOR Transparency Initiative.

These deliverables provided CHI and the Denver Foundation with a strong foundation for future analysis, reporting, and program development. By combining rigorous sampling, bilingual administration, and advanced weighting techniques, the project ensured that findings can be used with confidence to inform planning and decision-making.