Thank you for agreeing to take part in the research for my MSc dissertation. This survey consists of questions about different ways to communicate with friends and family; how this has varied over time; and how your communication with family members might change in the future. Please answer all questions as fully and honestly as possible. If a question does not apply, please choose the "n/a" (not applicable) option. Many questions also include an "other" option with space for comments.
1.1 What is your sex? Male Female 1.2 In what year were you born? 1.3 If I wish to quote any of your answers or comments in the dissertation, how would you prefer to be mentioned? don't quote me anonymous participant cited by name as
2.1 What communications technology do you currently use for outgoing messages? Please indicate all that apply write and send: letters greeting cards postcards written notes make calls using: home phone public phone mobile phone computer phone (skype etc.) send SMS (text messages) using: personal mobile phone or PDA shared phone or PDA computer send email using: shared home computer public computer/kiosk your own computer phone/PDA write on the web: facebook web forums wiki sites your own blog comments, etc. on web sites send direct messages using: MSN Google Talk Yahoo AIM Jabber Skype e-cards share messages and status using: twitter jaiku facebook linkedin other
2.2 What communications technology do you currently use for incoming messages? Please indicate all that apply receive and read: letters greeting cards postcards written notes receive calls using: home phone public phone mobile phone computer phone (skype etc.) receive SMS (text messages) using: personal mobile phone or PDA shared phone or PDA computer read email using: shared home computer public computer/kiosk your own computer phone/PDA read web sites: facebook web forums wiki sites blogs other web sites receive direct messages using: MSN Google Talk Yahoo AIM Jabber Skype e-cards follow messages and status using: twitter jaiku facebook linkedin other
2.3 What are your preferred communication technologies from the above lists? Please list at most five, with your most preferred at the top
3.1 Which family roles did you hold during this period? Please indicate all which apply child brother/sister husband/wife/partner parent/guardian grandparent
3.2 What was your family structure during this period? Please indicate the closest description both parents one parent separated related guardian(s) other guardian(s) independent
3.3 What was your home situation during this period? Please indicate all categories of people who lived in the same house or very nearby parent/guardian brother/sister grandparent spouse/partner child other relative other n/a
3.4 Where did you live during this period?
Patterns of communication during this period Please indicate typical methods and the most appropriate pattern of communication for each of the following groups of people
3.5 parents/guardians in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.6 children in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.7 brothers/sisters in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.8 grandparents in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.9 other relatives and in-laws in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.10 close friends in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
3.11 other people in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.1 Which family roles did you hold during this period? Please indicate all which apply child brother/sister husband/wife/partner parent/guardian grandparent
4.2 What was your family structure during this period? Please indicate the closest description both parents one parent separated related guardian(s) other guardian(s) independent
4.3 What was your home situation during this period? Please indicate all categories of people who lived in the same house or very nearby parent/guardian brother/sister grandparent spouse/partner child other relative other n/a
4.4 Where did you live during this period?
4.5 parents/guardians in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.6 children in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.7 brothers/sisters in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.8 grandparents in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.9 other relatives and in-laws in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.10 close friends in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
4.11 other people in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.1 Which family roles did you hold during this period? Please indicate all which apply child brother/sister husband/wife/partner parent/guardian grandparent
5.2 What was your family structure during this period? Please indicate the closest description both parents one parent separated related guardian(s) other guardian(s) independent
5.3 What was your home situation during this period? Please indicate all categories of people who lived in the same house or very nearby parent/guardian brother/sister grandparent spouse/partner child other relative other n/a
5.4 Where did you live during this period?
5.5 parents/guardians in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.6 children in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.7 brothers/sisters in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.8 grandparents in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.9 other relatives and in-laws in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.10 close friends in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
5.11 other people in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.1 Which family roles did you hold during this period? Please indicate all which apply child brother/sister husband/wife/partner parent/guardian grandparent
6.2 What was your family structure during this period? Please indicate the closest description both parents one parent separated related guardian(s) other guardian(s) independent
6.3 What was your home situation during this period? Please indicate all categories of people who lived in the same house or very nearby parent/guardian brother/sister grandparent spouse/partner child other relative other n/a
6.4 Where did you live during this period?
6.5 parents/guardians in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.6 children in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.7 brothers/sisters in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.8 grandparents in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.9 other relatives and in-laws in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.10 close friends in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
6.11 other people in person phone letter/card SMS email web sites and communities computer messaging most days weekly monthly special events and news when asked never n/a other
As time passes, circumstances and technology change. This section is about how you see your use of communication technology changing over the next year or two
7.1 Describe any communication technologies you are likely to use more
7.2 Describe any communication technologies you are likely to use less
7.3 How might communication technology change how often you communicate? More often Less often About the Same
7.4 How might communication technology change who you communicate with? Larger group Smaller Group About the Same
8.1 Are you willing to be contacted with further questions for this research? Yes No
8.2 Are you willing to participate in a short trial? It is anticipated that the trial will provide one or more alternative ways to keep in touch with family members and monitor your use of the process to observe any changes your patterns of communication. The trial will also involve an interview to talk about your use of communication technology and how you feel about it. Yes No
8.3 Would you like a copy of the final dissertation when it is done? A dissertation is an academic document describing the research and experimental results in detail Yes No
8.4 Do you have any further comments or questions? I'm very interested to read any comments or questions you may have about your communication, about use of technology, about this survey, or anything related to it. Please add them here or contact me by email at frank.carver@googlemail.com.
If you answered yes to any of the questions in this section, or left a comment and would like a reply, please give your contact details including name, preferred communication method and number or address.
Thank you for taking part in this survey. Please now return the completed questionnaire to me as soon as possible.
Frank Carver 62 Tomline Road Ipswich Suffolk IP3 8DB England