How we surveyed Chicago students

To understand how Chicago Public School students have been affected by urban violence, the Chicago Sun-Times in May surveyed at least one classroom per grade in first- through eighth grade at each of three schools: Sexton Elementary in Woodlawn; Little Village Academy on the Near Southwest Side, and Talcott Elementary in West Town.

A total of 482 students responded, including 258 fifth- through eighth-graders. Many of the statistics in the series reflect the answers of the middle-grade students because they were the most affected.

The survey results do not claim to reflect a representative sample of the entire system, but they do offer a broad look at the impact on students at three schools with three different levels of exposure to violence.

Because each school had different numbers of students surveyed in each grade, the Sun-Times used a common statistical method to give each grade equal weight. An average was created for each grade in each school, and those averages were used to calculate overall averages for each school and a combined average for the three schools.

In the surveys, students were asked:

* If they ever heard a gunshot in their neighborhood or in the areas. they traveled through for school.

* If they had ever heard a gunshot around their school.

* If anyone had ever showed them a gun, other than someone in the military or a law enforcement officer.

* If a friend or relative had ever been shot at -- and if so, how many.

* If a friend or relative had been shot and killed.

In addition, students were asked to answer three questions in their own words:

* What is your greatest fear?

* How would your life be different in a city with no guns?

* If you had the power, what would you do to end the violence that has been affecting the lives of Chicago Public School children?

Not every student in every classroom chose to fill out a survey, and some students skipped some questions.

The Sun-Times also interviewed students individually and in classrooms, and examined violence-themed artwork from Sexton and Little Village students.

-- Rosalind Rossi and Art Golab