Objective: In an activating opinion survey people are asked about their views on certain matters. Aim is to identify concerns, interests and needs of citizens. Also, citizens are invited to express what solutions they deem suitable for the matters at hand and their willingness to contribute to their implementation.

"To get a clearer picture of the area where the survey is to be carried out, a preliminary investigation takes place: key individuals and residents are interviewed, material is evaluated and observations are made. Residents are informed in writing about the actual survey in advance; trained interviewers use an interview skeleton with open questions to do one-to-one interviews. The aim is to identify the residents' fears, wishes and worries; at the same time they are asked what solutions occur to them, and how interested they would be in taking part in implementing the ideas in question. the survey is evaluated and the results presented to the residents, with the aim of defining steps toward realization. Interest or action groups are formed with a view to this.

In contrast to most conventional surveys, an activating opinion survey is not a one-off event, but the kick-off to a fairly long-term process; so it involves a good deal of organization in advance and subsequent work" (partizipation.at).