Survey of Computer and Internet Use
Psychology 314
Haverford College

This questionnaire is part of a study of computer and Internet use being conducted by Professor Douglas Davis in collaboration with the students of the Psychology 314 Adolescence lab. The data collected here will form part of an exercise in youth and media for Psychology 214, "Psychology of Adolescence," this semester. Your answers to this survey will form part of a statistical study and will not identify you as an individual. When you have submitted your answers to this survey, you will have a chance to request a web report of the results of the study.

Sex: Male Female
Age: years

What is your current level of school?

Not in school
Elementary school
Middle school or High school
College or university
Graduate school

How many hours each week do you spend on reading for school or work?

How many hours each week do you spend on reading for pleasure?

How many hours each week do you spend using a computer?

How many hours each week do you spend chatting online or writing and reading email?

How many hours each week do you spend watching television?

How many hours each week do you spend playing sports or doing some athletic activity?


Instant Messaging

Do you use or have you ever used any sort of Instant Messaging (IM) service, such as AOL Instant Messenger, Microsoft Messenger, ICQ, or Internet Relay Chat?

Yes
No

Please rate how you feel about the following statements, from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

strongly
disagree

disagree

neutral/
no opinion

agree

strongly
agree

IM is a waste of time.

Meaningful conversations can happen over IM.

IM tends to facilitate superficial communication.

If you do not use IM, please scroll down now to the game questions. If you do use IM, please continue.

How long have you used some kind of IM?
How many handles/screennames do you have?
How many people do you have on your "buddy list?"
How many of those people do you chat with regularly?
How many people do you have blocked, if any?
For how long each day are you signed on to IM?
For how long per day are you actively using IM to chat?
On average, how long is your typical IM conversation? minutes

When I chat on IM, I chat with

never

once in
a while

sometimes

often

all the time

parents

siblings

other relatives

close real-life friends

close on-line friends

real-life acquaintances

on-line acquaintances

strangers I find using IM

people who are very far away

people in the same building

 

The percent of time that ...

...I am having serious conversations on IM is
...I have IM conversations just to say hi is
...I initiate conversations on IM is
...I have only one conversation at a time is
...I have two or more conversations at a time is

Please rate how you feel about the following statements, from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

strongly
disagree

disagree

neutral/
no opinion

agree

strongly
agree

I have kept in contact with people I wouldn't have if not for IM.

I feel I have overall been more social than I would be if I did not use IM.

I feel that I am more connected with the outside world when I am signed onto IM.

There are people I only communicate with on IM, never in person.

I have more contact with real-life friends who use the same IM service I do than with those who do not.

Is it appropriate to perform the following actions on IM? Have you done them? (Please answer both sets of questions.)

This is appropriate.

This is not appropriate.

I have done this.

I have not done this.

Chatting with someone while having another conversation in person

Flirting/coming onto people

Asking someone out

Having a romantic discussion

Telling someone "I love you" for the first time

Breaking up with someone

Having an argument

Initiating chat with a stranger

Pretending to be someone else

Lying about your gender, age, position, etc.

Harassing someone you don't know

 

I have told strangers personal information (such as name or phone number) over IM: Yes No


Game-Playing

Do you play interactive combat or adventure games (e.g., Quake, Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike) on the Internet?

Yes No

Do you play interactive strategy games (e.g., Age of Empires, Starcraft) with other people on the Internet?

Yes No

Do you participate in role-playing or simulation games (e.g., EverQuest, The Sims On-Line) with other people on the Internet?

Yes No

If you play any game on the Internet, what is your favorite game?

How many hours per week do you spend playing this game?

Why is this your favorite game?


Story Task

To finish this survey, please look at the picture at the left and make up a short story about what's happening. Tell what led up to moment pictured, say what's happening now and what the two people are thinking and feeling, and describe what will be the outcome.

 

 

 


Thank you for completing this questionnaire. When you are ready to send us your data, please click this button only once. In a moment you will receive notice that your data have been received on our Web server, and you will be given a chance to email this survey address to friends who might be interested in completing it.

If you want to erase your answers and start over again, or if you have decided not to complete this survey, click this button

Thank you for completing this survey. Remember, if you have questions or suggestions about it, please email ddavis@haverford.edu