College students and Internet use study
We are interested in how college students use the Internet. To help us gain further insights into this area we would like you to fill out the attached questionnaire. The questionnaire will be completely anonymous and your participation and your responses will be held in the strictest confidence. Your participation in this study is on voluntary basis, and you may refuse to participate at any time without consequence or prejudice. You will receive extra credit in the class in which you heard about this study.
Thank you for participating in our survey. We are interested in learning about how you use the Internet and your attitudes about the Internet. Please do NOT write your name on the survey. Please be assured that your answers will remain completely anonymous, and there will be no way to identify you as an individual. Your opinions are very important to us. If you have any questions about this survey or the results, please contact Dr. Zizi Papacharissi (215.204.5181 or zpapacha@temple.edu) or Dr. Andy Mendelson (215.204.5020 or amendels@temple.edu).
The first set of questions focus on how you use the Internet.
1. Do you ever go online to access the Internet or World Wide Web or to send and receive email?
Yes No Don't know/Refused
Yes
No
Don't know/Refused
2. How do you connect to the Internet when you go online? Click all that apply.
from a library or community center at an Internet cafe at school by using Web TV by using a cell phone or other device or, by using a computer someplace else? Other/None of Above Don't know/Refused
from a library or community center
at an Internet cafe
at school
by using Web TV
by using a cell phone or other device
or, by using a computer someplace else?
Other/None of Above
3. Did you happen to go online or check your email yesterday?
Yes, went online yesterday No, did not go online yesterday Don't know/Refused
Yes, went online yesterday
No, did not go online yesterday
4. Counting all of your online sessions, how much time did you spend online yesterday?
Less than 15 minutes 15 minutes to less than a half hour Half hour or more but less than 1 hour About an hour More than 1 hour but less than 2 hours 2 hours or more but less than 3 hours 3 hours or more but less than 4 hours 4 hours or more Don't know/Refused
Less than 15 minutes
15 minutes to less than a half hour
Half hour or more but less than 1 hour
About an hour
More than 1 hour but less than 2 hours
2 hours or more but less than 3 hours
3 hours or more but less than 4 hours
4 hours or more
5. When did you first start going online? Was it within the last six months, a year ago, two or three years ago, or more than three years ago?
Within the last six months A year ago Two or three years ago or More than three years ago Don't Know/Refused
Within the last six months
A year ago
Two or three years ago or
More than three years ago
Don't Know/Refused
6. In general, how often do you go online?
Several times a day About once a day 3-5 days a week 1-2 days a week Every few weeks Less often Don't know/Refused
Several times a day
About once a day
3-5 days a week
1-2 days a week
Every few weeks
Less often
7. For each activity listed below, please respond as to whether you have done each.
7_01. Send or read email
Yes, did this yesterday Yes, have done this, but not yesterday No, have never done Don't know/Refused
Yes, did this yesterday
Yes, have done this, but not yesterday
No, have never done
7_02. Get news online
7_03. Get financial information such as stock quotes or mortgage interest rates
7_04. Look for information about a product or service you are thinking about buying
7_05. Get information about travel, such as checking airline ticket prices or hotel rates
7_06. Do research for school or training
7_07. Look for health or medical information
7_08. Check weather reports and forecasts
7_09 Check sports scores and information
7_10. Not including email, do any type of work or research online for your job
7_11. Look for news or information about politics and the campaign
7_12. Look for information about a hobby or interest
7_13. Go online for no particular reason, just for fun or to pass the time
7_14. Send “instant messages” to someone who’s online at the same time
7_15. Buy a product online, such as books, music, toys or clothing
7_16. Buy or make a reservation for a travel service, like an airline ticket, hotel room, or rental car
7_17. Take part in “chat rooms” or online discussions with other people
7_18. Listen to or download music
7_19. Look for information about a job
7_20. Look for information about a place to live
7_21. Do any banking online
7_22. Watch a video clip or listen to an audio clip
7_23. Play a lottery or gamble online
7_24. Buy or sell stocks, mutual funds or bonds
7_25. Play a game online
7_26. Look for information about movies, music, books, or other leisure activities
7_27. Look for information from a local, state, or federal government web site
7_28. Look for religious or spiritual information
7_29. Participate in an online auction
7_30. Buy groceries, food, or other household products online
7_31. Make a phone call online, using the Internet
7_32. Go to web sites that provide information or support for people interested in a specific medical condition or personal situation
7_33. Go to a dating web site or other sites where you can meet other people online
7_34. Listen to music online at a web site for a radio station, music store, recording artist or music service
7_35. Download music files onto your computer so you can play them at any time you want
7_36. Do an Internet search to find the answer to a specific question you have
7_37. Take a class online for college credit
7_38. Take any other class online
7_39. Visit an adult web site
7_40. Research your family's history or genealogy
8. I have my own Website.
9. I own a listserv.
Next, we’d like to some opinions about the Internet. Please tell us the extent you Agree or Disagree that each of the following statements describes you.
10. I feel confident using the Internet/World Wide Web (WWW).
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
11. I feel confident using e-mail.
12. I feel confident using WWW browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Netscape).
13. I feel confident using search engines (e.g., Yahoo, Excite, Google, Lycos).
14. I like using e-mail to communicate with others.
15. I enjoy talking with other about the Internet.
16. I like to work with the Internet/WWW.
17. I like to use the Internet from home.
18. I believe using the Internet/WWW is worthwhile.
19. The Internet/WWW helps me find information.
20. I believe the Internet makes communication easier.
21. The multimedia environment of WWW (e.g., text, image, sound) is helpful to understand online information.
22. I believe the Internet/WWW has potential as a learning tool.
23. I believe that the internet/WWW is able to offer online learning activities.
24. I believe that learning how to use the Internet/WWW is worthwhile.
25. Learning the Internet/WWW skills can enhance my academic performance.
26. I like being able to personalize Web pages I frequent..
27. I know HTML.
28. I often change the homepage of my Web browser.
29. I like looking at the source code behind Websites to see how they work.
30. I like shopping online.
31. I like exploring the Web for sites I haven’t seen before.
32. I make sure to download the latest versions of plugins and other Web software.
33. I like manipulating the Web.
34. I never look for software updates.
35. I usually seek help when I have to update my Web browser.
36. I can enjoy the Web even if I don’t use it to its capacity.
37. I consider myself a Web fanatic.
38. I hate when software I use come out with new versions.
39. I like Web sites that require me to make a lot of choices
40. I like exploring the Web.
41. I prefer Web sites that require little effort to use.
42. I like playing interactive games online.
43. I think of the Internet as a toy.
44. I think of the Internet as just something I use.
45. I think of the Internet as a tool.
46. I think of the Internet as something I manipulate.
47. I can enjoy the World Wide Web without knowing everything about how it works.
48. I like chatting online.
49. I tend to just be an observer in chatrooms.
50. I belong to many listservs or discussion lists.
51. I participate actively in discussion groups.
52. I frequently post messages to listservs I belong to.
53. I collect and display information about myself on a personal Web page.
54. My Web browser is customized to reflect my individual preferences.
55. I don’t really use the Internet a whole lot.
56. I like comparing product prices between Web sites.
57. I like researching purchases online.
58. I download Browser utilities, like Real Player, and use them routinely.
59. I use e-mail to communicate mostly with family and friends.
For each of the following statements, please tell us whether, in your opinion, you believe them to be True or False.
60. College grades most often reflect the effort you put into classes.
True False
61. I came to college because it was expected of me.
62. I have largely determined my own career goals.
63. Some people have a knack for writing, while others will never write well no matter how hard they try.
64. I have taken a course because it was an easy good grade at least once.
65. Professors sometimes make an early impression of you and then no matter what you do, you cannot change that impression.
66. There are some subjects in which I could never do well.
67. Some students, such as student leaders and athletes, get free rides in college classes.
68. I sometimes feel that there is nothing I can do to improve my situation.
69. I never feel really hopeless – there is always something I can do to improve my situation.
70. I would never allow social activities to affect my studies.
71. There are many more important things for me than getting good grades.
72. Studying every day is important.
73. For some courses it is not important to go to class.
74. I consider myself highly motivated to achieve success in life.
75. I am a good writer.
76. Doing work on time is always important to me.
77. What I learn is more determined by college and course requirements than by what I want to learn.
78. I have been known to spend a lot of time making decisions which others do not take seriously.
79. I am easily distracted.
80. I can be easily talked out of studying.
81. I get depressed sometimes and then there is no way I can accomplish what I know I should be doing.
82. Things will probably go wrong for me some time in the near future.
83. I keep changing my mind about my career goals.
84. I feel I will someday make a real contribution t the world If I work hard at it.
85. There has been at least one instance in school where social activity impaired my academic performance.
86. I would like to graduate from college, but there are more important things in my life.
87. I plan well and I stick to my plans.
Next, please tell us the extent you Agree or Disagree that each of the following statements describes you.
88. I really enjoy a task that involves coming up with new solutions to problems.
89. I would prefer a task that is intellectual, difficult, and important to one that is somewhat important but does not require much thought.
90. I tend to set goals that can be accomplished only be expending considerable mental effort.
91. I am usually tempted to put more thought into a task than the job minimally requires.
92. Learning new ways to think doesn’t excite me very much.
93. I am hesitant about making important decisions after thinking about them.
94. I usually end up deliberating about issues even they do not affect me personally.
95. I prefer to let things happen rather than try to understand what they turn out that way.
96. I have difficulty thinking in new and unfamiliar situations.
97. The idea of relying on thought to make my way to the top does not appeal to me.
98. The notion of thinking abstractly is not appealing to me.
99. I am an intellectual.
100. I only think as hard as I have to.
101. I don’t reason well under pressure.
102. I like tasks that require little thought once I’ve learned them.
103. I prefer to think about small, daily projects t to long-term ones.
104. I would rather do something that requires little thought than something that is sure to challenge my thinking abilities.
105. I find little satisfaction in deliberating hard and for long hours.
106. I more often talk with other people about the reason for and possible solutions to international problems than about gossip or tidbits of what famous people are doing.
107. These days, I see little chance for performing well, even in “intellectual” jobs, unless one knows the right people.
108. More often than not, more thinking just leads to more errors.
109. I don’t like to have the responsibility of handling a situation that requires a lot of thinking.
110. I appreciate opportunities to discover the strengths and weaknesses of my own reasoning.
111. I feel relief rather than satisfaction after completing a task that required a lot of mental effort.
112. Thinking is not my idea of fun.
113. I try to anticipate and avoid situations where there is a likely chance I will have to think in depth about something.
114. I prefer watching educational to entertainment programs.
115. I think best when those around me are very intelligent.
116. I prefer my life to be filled with puzzles that I must solve.
117. I would prefer complex to simple problems.
118. Simply knowing the answer rather than understanding the reasons for the answer to a problem is fine with me.
119. It’s enough for me that something gets the job done. I don’t care how or why it works.
120. Ignorance is bliss.
121. I enjoy thinking about an issue even when the results of my thought will have no effect on the outcome of the issue.
Last, we’d like to know a bit about yourself. Again, you will not be identifiable as an individual.
122. Age:
122a. Ethnic background:
African American Asian or Pacific Island Hispanic Native American White Other
African American
Asian or Pacific Island
Hispanic
Native American
White
Other
123. Gender: Male Female
124. Please estimate your parent(s) total 2001 household income.
Less than $20,000
Between $20,000 and $30,000
Between $30,000 and $40,000
Between $40,000 and $50,000
Between $50,000 and $60,000
Between $60,000 and $70,000
More than $70,000
125. Please circle the response that best classifies your political orientation.
Strong Democrat
Weak Democrat
Strong Independent
Weak Independent
Strong Republican
Weak Republican
126. The terms "liberal" and "conservative" may mean different things to people, depending on the type of issue one is considering. In terms of economic issues, would you say you are:
Very Liberal
Liberal
Somewhat liberal
Moderate
Somewhat conservative
Conservative
Very Conservative
127. In terms of social issues and people's behavior, would you say you are:
128. How many days a week do you read the newspaper? (please circle the appropriate answer)
Never read One Two Three Four
Five Six Seven/every day
129. On the average day, about how much time do you spend reading the paper?
minutes
130. How many days a week do you watch a national television newscast? (please circle the appropriate answer)
131. How many days a week do you watch a local television newscast? (please circle the appropriate answer)
132. Apart from news, did you watch anything else on television yesterday, or not?
No [please go to question 134]
133. About how much time did you spend watching TV yesterday, not including the news?
Half hour or less
30 minutes to less than 1 hour
134. Do you regularly read any news magazines?
Yes No
134a. If yes, which ones?
Thank you for completing this survey. Your answers will help us better understand how people use the Internet.
To get extra credit, please click "Submit" to go to the next page.