This page documents the procedure for cleaning and visualizing results from the Central Pennsylvania Observers March 2025 survey.
Direct link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWSF5_mUWJHatvsmPOE4APbl48tZv0FjzbnmHj8mmAiWLdPQ/viewform?usp=header
First, we load the external packages (groups of R commands) that we will be using.
The code uses the quietly() function from the purrr package to suppress most of the feedback.
library('ggplot2')
library('dplyr')
r_functions <- list.files(file.path(here::here(), "src", "R"), "\\.R$", full.names = TRUE)
purrr::map(r_functions, source) |>
purrr::quietly()function (...)
capture_output(.f(...))
<bytecode: 0x11dacca70>
<environment: 0x11daccd48>The survey data are stored in a Google Sheet.
Next, we download the data from the Google Sheet where it is collected. Gilmore has stored his Google account credentials in a special environment file that can be accessed by the R command Sys.getenv("GMAIL_SURVEY").
if (!dir.exists(file.path("include", "csv"))) {
message("Creating missing `include/csv/`.")
dir.create(file.path("include", "csv"))
}
if (params$update_data) {
options(gargle_oauth_email = Sys.getenv("GMAIL_SURVEY"))
googledrive::drive_auth()
googledrive::drive_download(
params$gs_name,
path = file.path("include", "csv", params$csv_fn),
type = "csv",
overwrite = TRUE
)
message("Data updated.")
} else {
message("Using stored data.")
}We import the downloaded data.
results <- readr::read_csv(file = file.path("include", "csv", params$csv_fn),
show_col_types = FALSE)The raw question values are as follows:
names(results) [1] "Timestamp"
[2] "Which of the following astronomy activities did you participate in during 2024?"
[3] "Which of the following astronomy activities do you plan to participate in during 2025?"
[4] "Which of the following activities would you like to get more involved with as a volunteer?"
[5] "Do you have any particular astronomy goals?"
[6] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Visual astronomy]"
[7] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Astrophotography]"
[8] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Science-oriented talks]"
[9] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Social gatherings]"
[10] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Tutorials/how-to's]"
[11] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Field trips]"
[12] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Gear and tech]"
[13] "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Events for the public]"
[14] "What is something the club does really well?"
[15] "What is something the club could do to improve?"
[16] "Is there something the club should offer that we are not currently doing?"
[17] "Anything else?"
[18] "Your name (totally optional)" Then, we shorten the long names to make them more useful for data visualization and for making the data dictionary.
renamed_cols <- results |>
dplyr::rename("time_stamp" = "Timestamp",
"activities_2024" = "Which of the following astronomy activities did you participate in during 2024?",
"activities_2025" = "Which of the following astronomy activities do you plan to participate in during 2025?",
"activities_volunteer" = "Which of the following activities would you like to get more involved with as a volunteer?",
"astro_goals" = "Do you have any particular astronomy goals?",
"interest_in_visual" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Visual astronomy]",
"interest_in_astrophoto" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Astrophotography]",
"interest_in_sci_talks" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Science-oriented talks]",
"interest_in_social" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Social gatherings]",
"interest_in_how_tos" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Tutorials/how-to's]",
"interest_in_field_trips" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Field trips]",
"interest_in_gear" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Gear and tech]",
"interest_in_public_events" = "Rate your level of interest in the following activities. [Events for the public]",
"club_does_well" = "What is something the club does really well?",
"club_could_improve" = "What is something the club could do to improve?",
"club_should_offer" = "Is there something the club should offer that we are not currently doing?",
"anything_else" = "Anything else?",
"respondent_name" = "Your name (totally optional)")data_dict <- data.frame(questions = names(results), shortnames = names(renamed_cols))Some variables have multiple responses. These should ideally be put into separate column variables.
We’ll split the activities* variables first
split_activities <- renamed_cols |>
dplyr::mutate(
activities_2024_monthly_mtg = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "CPO monthly"),
activities_2024_skywatch = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "CPO hosted Sky watch"),
activities_2024_eclipse_personal = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "Personal eclipse activity"),
activities_2024_eclipse_club = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "Club eclipse trip"),
activities_2024_bfsp = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "Black Forest Star Party"),
activities_2024_on_tap = stringr::str_detect(activities_2024, "Penn State Astronomy on Tap"),
activities_2025_monthly_mtg = stringr::str_detect(activities_2025, "CPO monthly"),
activities_2025_skywatch = stringr::str_detect(activities_2025, "CPO Sky watch"),
activities_2025_bfsp = stringr::str_detect(activities_2025, "Black Forest Star Party"),
activities_2025_on_tap = stringr::str_detect(activities_2025, "Penn State Astronomy on Tap")
)Then we split astronomy_goals.
split_goals <- split_activities |>
dplyr::mutate(
more_scope = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Use my telescope more"),
buy_gear = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Buy new (to me) gear"),
learn_sky = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Learn more about the night sky"),
astrophoto = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Try astrophotography"),
meet_folks = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Meet other like-minded folks"),
plan_trip = stringr::str_detect(astro_goals, "Plan an observing trip")
) |>
dplyr::select(-c(activities_2024, activities_2025, astro_goals))Joe and Chris helped test the survey back in December. We’ll drop their test responses.
survey_cleaned <- split_goals |>
dplyr::filter(!stringr::str_detect(time_stamp, "2024"))survey_cleaned <- survey_cleaned |>
mutate(club_mtg_24 = if_else(activities_2024_monthly_mtg, "yes", "no"),
skywatch_24 = if_else(activities_2024_skywatch, "yes", "no"),
eclipse_personal_24 = if_else(activities_2024_eclipse_personal, "yes", "no"),
eclipse_club_24 = if_else(activities_2024_eclipse_club, "yes", "no"),
bfsp_24 = if_else(activities_2024_bfsp, "yes", "no"),
on_tap_24 = if_else(activities_2024_on_tap, "yes", "no"),
club_mtg_25 = if_else(activities_2025_monthly_mtg, "yes", "no"),
skywatch_25 = if_else(activities_2025_skywatch, "yes", "no"),
bfsp_25 = if_else(activities_2025_bfsp, "yes", "no"),
on_tap_25 = if_else(activities_2025_on_tap, "yes", "no"),
more_scope = if_else(more_scope, "yes", "no"),
buy_gear = if_else(buy_gear, "yes", "no"),
learn_sky = if_else(learn_sky, "yes", "no"),
astrophoto = if_else(astrophoto, "yes", "no"),
meet_folks = if_else(meet_folks, "yes", "no"),
plan_trip = if_else(plan_trip, "yes", "no")
)As of 2025-12-04 16:24:36.812679, we have had n=28 responses.
# Define helper plot functions
cpo_col_plot <- function(data, var) {
data |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na({{ var }})) |>
count({{ var }}) |>
ggplot() +
aes(x = {{ var }}, fill = {{ var }}, y = n) +
geom_col() +
geom_text(aes(label = n),
size = 3,
position = position_stack(vjust = 0.5)) +
xlab(NULL) +
scale_y_continuous(breaks = c(5, 10, 15, 20)) +
theme(legend.position = "none")
}
#
# survey_cleaned |> cpo_col_plot(club_mtg_24)
cpo_interest_plot <- function(data, var) {
data |>
dplyr::mutate(this_interest = factor({{ var }}, levels = c("Minimal interest", "Some interest", "Considerable interest"))) |>
dplyr::count(this_interest) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(this_interest)) |>
ggplot() +
aes(x = this_interest, fill = this_interest, y = n) +
geom_col() +
geom_text(aes(label = n),
size = 3,
position = position_stack(vjust = 0.5)) +
theme(legend.position = "none") +
xlab(NULL) +
scale_y_continuous(breaks = c(5, 10, 15, 20))
}
#survey_cleaned |> cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_visual)Which of the following astronomy activities did you participate in during 2024?
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(club_mtg_24)
Which of the following astronomy activities do you plan to participate in during 2025?
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(club_mtg_24)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(skywatch_24)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(skywatch_25)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(bfsp_24)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(bfsp_25)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(on_tap_24)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(on_tap_25)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(eclipse_personal_24)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(eclipse_club_24)
Which of the following activities would you like to get more involved with as a volunteer?
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(activities_volunteer) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(activities_volunteer)) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| activities_volunteer |
|---|
| CPO Sky watches |
| astrophotography with other CPO members |
| CPO monthly membership meeting, Black Forest Star Party |
| CPO Sky watches, Other astronomy-oriented public events |
| Black Forest Star Party, Treasurer |
| CPO monthly membership meeting, CPO Sky watches |
| Already involved extensively |
| Membership, CPO Sky watches, Black Forest Star Party |
| Black Forest Star Party, Other astronomy-oriented public events |
| Other astronomy-oriented public events |
| CPO Sky watches |
| CPO Sky watches, Black Forest Star Party |
| Black Forest Star Party |
| CPO Sky watches, Other astronomy-oriented public events |
| CPO monthly membership meeting, CPO Sky watches |
| Black Forest Star Party |
| CPO monthly membership meeting |
| Private weekend star party events with other club members |
| CPO Sky watches, Black Forest Star Party, Other astronomy-oriented public events |
Rate your level of interest in the following activities:
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_visual)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_astrophoto)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_sci_talks)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_how_tos)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_gear)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_field_trips)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_interest_plot(interest_in_public_events)
Do you have any particular astronomy goals?
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(more_scope)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(buy_gear)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(learn_sky)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(astrophoto)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(meet_folks)
survey_cleaned |>
cpo_col_plot(plan_trip)
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(club_does_well) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(club_does_well)) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| club_does_well |
|---|
| Thursday's meetings |
| Communication |
| BFSP & CPO Public Sky Watch events |
| Making all members feel wanted, among many other great things. |
| Food at meetings |
| Speakers at meetings. |
| BFSP, monthly meetings |
| BFSP, monthly speakers |
| The BFSP. Many people worked hard for many years making the BFSP the success that it was only to have the DCNR pull the rug from under us. |
| Runs BFSP. Manages our resources. These days we seem to be doing well at bringing in new people and getting participation at meetings. |
| BFSP |
| Club membership really enhanced my amateur astronomy experience. |
| Lectures |
| The organization of events seems too notch! |
| It does everything well. |
| Not sure |
| Outreach |
| BFSP |
| Run the BFSP |
| Welcoming everyone new! Renee and I were very welcomed at each meeting! |
| communication with the membership is outstanding |
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(club_could_improve) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(club_could_improve)) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| club_could_improve |
|---|
| Actual club observing |
| Teach members not to “reply all” to every email. |
| I remember attending a private CPO star party circa 2015ish that was held at some other CPO members private cabin in the woods where a bunch of members set up telescopes for viewing and astrophotography. I liked the event because members gathered to assist each other and share results... plus the only cost was to travel ~1 hour from state college. I would like to see more of something related to this. |
| Including astrophysicists and cosmologists as meeting and BFSP speakers. |
| Meetings run a bit too long |
| More hardware related discussions |
| More Astronomy related talks by professors in the research area |
| The Board needs to be more open and answerable to the membership. The Board serves the members and the membership should be better informed and more participative. |
| Tone down the complexity of the meeting talks. The intense scientific talks at the beginning of every meeting have gotten very old for me. I've started to come less often because it seems like I need to be a Harvard-educated scientist with six degrees after my name in order to understand any of it. We are an AMATEUR astronomy club, not participants in a science convention. |
| Maybe social activities - monthly lunch sort of thing if that's not over-kill with monthly meeting |
| Being a non profit, I feel the Board needs to be transparent and present a Treasurers report at the monthly meetings. |
| Help each other learn more about observing. Observing gatherings for members. |
| new member retention |
| I would donate some equipment, but I think it would sit unused in storage. |
| more lectures |
| Facilitating integration of new participants/members seems to be a challenge (all current members seems to know and interact mainly with each other) |
| Appoint a point person to monitor and interact with DCNR to help keep CPO abreast of DCNR's activities regarding use of state parks for organized astronomy events. |
| Observing events for members only |
| Can't think of anything at the moment. |
| More truly social activities; formal participation in Astro on Tap |
| Once I got on the email lists, it becomes a bit overwhelming as to what email list we are being emailed about. |
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(club_should_offer) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(club_should_offer),
!stringr::str_detect(club_should_offer, "N/A")) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| club_should_offer |
|---|
| A remote meeting option for the monthly club meetings. |
| Nothing comes to mind. |
| I'd like to have more club field trips. We used to go to NEAF every year, and I loved it! It was a highlight of my year. |
| More club outings/trips |
| Set up some sort of community message board or forum where members can share what they are doing as far as the hobby. Perhaps a comment on a celestial event they witnessed, or a problem they are having or perhaps some item they may have for sale. Keep in mind not everyone is on FB. Maybe this could be a part of our web page...IDK. |
| CPO lunches |
| I might offer equipment to other club members, and ask that they pass it on to other members when they are done. I guess that would be a little like an equipment swap. |
| Restoration of Reflector magazine for members. |
| See improve answer |
| I would be interested in have monthly star parties outside of State College. Places like Fairbrook, Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Philipsburg, Centre Hall, etc. It might generate more public interest in astronomy and CPO if we take the show on the road. |
| Instruction on using telescopes and other devices |
| can't think of anything |
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(anything_else) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(anything_else),
!stringr::str_detect(anything_else, "N/A")) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| anything_else |
|---|
| I look forward to doing more when I retire in a couple of years. |
| No. |
| I don't plan to participate in any of the sky watches this year. I'm hesitant to pay money (for parking) to provide an activity that I'm already not being paid for. It feels more like it's not our activity, but Penn State's activity and we're just there to help THEM. Yes, it's good that our name gets out there by partnering with Penn State, but I don't think it's helping to attract young or diverse new members. |
| I am a charter member. I was very active at one time. Now I am interested in other activities. |
| No. |
| I feel like I did a lot for the club and it wasn't appreciated. I've served on the board, helped with talks, helped with BFSP. And feel a little burned out |
| Not at the moment. |
| Personally, I do my observing at home, and unfortunately because of continuing conflicts with other endeavors I have not attended a meeting in years. I will attempt to get more involved as a volunteer at the star party. |
survey_cleaned |>
dplyr::select(respondent_name) |>
dplyr::filter(!is.na(respondent_name),
!stringr::str_detect(respondent_name, "N/A")) |>
knitr::kable(format = 'html')| respondent_name |
|---|
| Kelly Biggs |
| Steve Frey |
| Chris McMullen |
| Bob S |
| Wayne Osgood |
| Gerry Hamilton |
| Steve Frey |
| Matt Riggle |
| Eric Prescott |
| Amanda Hertlein |
| David Dix |
Social gatherings
Code