Research on Alternative Methods of Collecting Think-Aloud Protocols

Questionnaire on Computer Use and Internet Experience

1. Do you use a computer at home, at work or both?

(Check all that apply.)

Home

Work

Somewhere else, such as school, library, etc.

2. If you have a computer at home,

a. What kind of modem do you use at home?

Dial up

Cable

DSL

Other __________

Don’t know _____

b. Which browser do you typically use at home? Please indicate the version if you can recall it.

Firefox

Internet Explorer

Netscape

Other ____________

Don’t know _______

c. What operating system does your browser run in?

MAC OS

Windows 95

Windows 2000

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Other _____________

Don’t know ________

3a. On average, how many hours do you spend on the Internet per day?

0 1-3 4-6 7+

3b. On average, how many hours do you use the Internet per week?

0 1-3 4-6 7+

4. For how many years have you been using the Internet?

5. What do you use the Internet for more, searching/surfing the web or

answering/sending e-mail

6. Have you ever filled out a survey on the Internet?

Y es No

a. If yes, about how many surveys do you think you have filled out on the Internet?_____

b. If yes, have you filled out a survey on the Internet in the last two months?

Y es No

7. Please rate your overall experience with the following:

no experience very experienced

Computers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Internet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

8. What computer applications do you use?

Mark (X) all that apply

E-mail

I nternet

Word processing (MS-Word, WordPerfect, etc.)

S preadsheets (Excel, Lotus, Quattro, etc.)

Databases (MS-Access, etc.)

Accounting or tax software

Engineering, scientific or statistical software

Other applications, please specify _______________________________________

Please Circle one number for each question below 9. How comfortable are you in learning software applications that are new to you? 10. Computer windows can minimized, resized, and scrolled through. How comfortable are you in manipulating a window? 11. How comfortable are you using and navigating through the Internet? 12. How often do you work with any type of data through a computer? 13. How often do you perform complex analyses of data through a computer? 14. How often do you use the Internet or Web sites to find information? (e.g., printed reports, news articles, data tables, blogs, etc.) 15. How familiar are you with the Census Web site (location, tools, data, etc)? 16. How familiar are you with the general Census Bureau information (terms, data, etc.)

Not at all Very Comfortable Comfortable 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Never Very Often 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Not at all Very familiar familiar 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

17. How old are you?

a) [ ] 18-28

b) [ ] 29-44

c) [ ] 45-64

d) [ ] 65+

18. What is the highest grade of school you have completed, or the highest degree you have received?

a) [ ] Completed ninth grade or below

b) [ ] Some high school, but no diploma

c) [ ] Completed high school with diploma or received a GED

d) [ ] Vocational training beyond high school

e) [ ] Some college credit

f) [ ] Associates degree (AA/AS)

g) [ ] Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS)

h) [ ] Master’s, Professional, or Doctoral degree

19 Are you currently enrolled in school?

Y es No