Surveys

Compass Surveys at Roots of Action

The free Compass Surveys for youth and adults were developed as a core research tool at Roots of Action in 2020. As the site transitioned to an archival educational resource in early 2026, we were no longer able to offer online surveys or maintain the data collection and technical support systems required to sustain them.

Over five years of data collection, more than 15,000 individuals participated in the Compass Surveys, contributing to research on positive youth and adult development. Findings from our research with adolescents are summarized in our 2024 study, Factors Associated With Life Satisfaction in Adolescents: Implications for Families and Schools. Insights from this five-year research effort are also woven throughout the articles and resources preserved on this site.

The Compass Surveys are no longer available in digital form, and no new data is being collected.

Classroom Teachers

Thank you to the educators around the world who used the Compass Survey for Youth in their classrooms. Many teachers shared that the survey served as a meaningful educational tool—helping students identify their core internal strengths and reflect on ways to build upon them.

Please return to this page in the coming weeks, when we will share downloadable student materials designed to support classroom learning and curriculum integration, independent of the online survey platform.