Drafted 4/24/00
**Introduction**
<INTRO> Good (morning, afternoon, evening). My name is ________ and I’m calling from the SBRI Survey Lab at Cal State University San Marcos on behalf of the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
Could I please speak with (student’s name)?
We are conducting a survey of CSU students on issues related to the availability and use of various information sources and technologies. During the survey we will present you with some hypothetical situations and then ask what you would do if you were presented with those situations. This information will be used by the CSU System to design and evaluate future information system programs.
Let me assure you that your participation is voluntary, that the answers you give will be kept strictly confidential, and will in no way be used to personally evaluate you. Also keep in mind that you may refuse to answer any question or stop the interview at any time without penalty. I also am required to let you know that this phone call may be monitored for quality control purposes.
May we begin the interview?
**Section 1 – Academic Background**
T1- First, I’d like to ask you some questions about your academic status.
Q1) How many units are you currently enrolled in this semester/quarter?
Q2) What is your current academic major? (open end)
Q3) How many days a week do you come to campus, excluding occasions when you come to campus to reside in the dorms?
Q4) Which of the following times are you usually on campus?
[check all that apply]
Mornings
Afternoons
Evenings
Weekends
Q5) What was the highest level of education received by your mother?
No High School
Some High School
High School Graduate
Some College or Technical School
2-Year College Graduate
4-Year College Graduate
Postgraduate
No Response
Q6) What was the highest level of education received by your father?
No High School
Some High School
High School Graduate
Some College or Technical School
2-Year College Graduate
4-Year College Graduate
Postgraduate
No Response
Q7) Are You currently employed? (Yes or No)
[If No, SKIP TO QS1]
Q8) Approximately how many hours do you work per week?
**Section 2 - Scenarios**
SCENARIOS- For the next section we will be asking you to think about two different information gathering scenarios and what specific actions you would take in response to each. Please provide as many responses as you can keeping in mind that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers to this section.
Note: The next section contains the six scenarios that will be used to assess Information Competence. Each respondent will be randomly assigned to receive two of the six scenarios below.
Scenario #1
You are working in a group to study the homeless in your community. Your task is to inform the City Council on the current state of homelessness.
QS1) What type of information do you need to know?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS1a) How would you use this information to help describe the state of the homeless?
Scenario #2
Your doctor has told you that you appear to have a serious condition requiring surgery. You have been asked to return in three weeks for follow-up. In the meantime you want to learn as much as possible about the disease and the treatment options.
QS2) What type of information do you want to know?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS2a) How would you evaluate the information you find?
Scenario #3
You’ve been selected to lead a group of students on a four-week trip to another country. In preparation, you need to find background information on that country’s history, current events, language, local customs, art and music.
QS3) How would you locate the information?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS3a) What type of information would you expect to find?
Scenario #4
You’ve been given photos, videos, books and boxes of stuff about a historic building in your neighborhood. You want to help others to decide whether to preserve the building as a historical site or to demolish the building for economic redevelopment.
QS4) How would you organize the information from these various sources?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS4a) How would you decide which pieces of information to use?
Scenario #5
You’re in charge of tourism in your city. One of your tasks is to attract tourists to visit the city.
QS5) How would you present information on resources, events and attractions to interest people in visiting the area?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS5a) What would you expect people would learn from X?
Scenario #6
You are the Editor of a highly-respected local newspaper. A staff writer has turned in an extensively-researched news story on a controversial political issue. Most of the information in the story seems to favor one side of the controversy.
QS6) Before you decide to print the article, what are some of the questions you will seek to answer?
[Interviewers record each answer separately]
[For each individual response ask the following:]
QS6a) Why would you want to answer this question?
T-9 Now I’d like to ask you some questions about information and information tools that are available to you and the ways that you use them. The first set of questions has to do with library facilities.
**Section 3 – Library Usage**
Q9) How often do you use or visit a library for academic purposes? Would you say,
almost every day
at least once a week
at least once a month
at least once a semester/quarter
almost never or
never
Q10) How often do you visit a library to obtain books or other information for personal use?
Would you say,
almost every day
at least once a week
at least once a month
at least once a semester/quarter
almost never or
never
T11) This next series of questions asks you about how you use certain information resources to complete your class work.
Q11) Please indicate how often you used the following information resources in completing your course assignments during the past two semesters or quarters. Would you say frequently, occasionally, rarely or never?
Books
Journals
Popular magazines, newspapers
World Wide Web
**Section 4 – Library Problems**
T12- The next questions deal with problems you may encounter when using the library or other information resources in completing class work or assignments. For each of the following please tell me if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
12) I have found it difficult to formulate a topic or research question.
13) I have had difficulty locating and retrieving the information I need.
14) I have had problems evaluating the accuracy and validity of the information I find.
15) I have had problems organizing and using the information I found for my assignments.
16) I have had difficulty knowing how to properly cite references for my course papers.
** Section 5 – Library Instruction & Services**
T17- These next few questions pertain to any kind of library instruction or training you may have received.
Q17) Have you ever been given a tour of your school’s library facilities?
Q18) Since entering college have had formal instruction on ways to find information through use of the library?
Q19) In high school were you ever instructed on ways to find information through the use of the library?
Q20) Which of the following library services did you use in the past two semesters or quarters?
[check all that apply]
Check out a book
Use reference materials
Read newspapers or magazines
Check out records, tapes, cds or films
Listen to a speaker or movies
Ask a reference librarian to find information of interest
Use a computer terminal
Check the library’s holdings or resources
Q21) Have you ever used a computer to access the library from off campus? [If No, skip to Q23]
Q22) How many times a semester/quarter do you use a computer to access the library from off campus?
**Section 6 – Technology Use**
T23- The next set of questions deals with your own personal use of various types of computer technology.
First of all……
Q23) Do you have a computer at home that you currently use? à IF Yes, SKIP TO 24; IF No, SKIP TO Q26
Q23a) Do you have access to a computer, other than at the University that you can use for your class assignments?
Q24) Is your computer at home a PC or a MAC?
Q25) Which do you most prefer to work with, a PC or a MAC?
Q26) Do you currently use a computer to access the Internet? à IF No, SKIP TO 29
Q26a) Do you have an Internet Service Provider or ISP account that provides access to the Internet? (AOL, CompuServe, etc.?)
Q27) About how many hours in a typical week do you access the Internet, not including your use of e-mail?
Q28) Considering all of the ways you may use a computer, at what locations do you use a computer?
[Check all that apply]
On campus
At work
At home
Other
Q28a) [For each location selected ask:] How many hours per week?
Q29) On a scale of 0 to 10 with zero being very uncomfortable and ten being very comfortable, how comfortable would you say you are with using the computer for school projects and research?
** Section 7 – Computers and the Classroom**
T30- I would like to ask you some questions about computer or technology content in the courses you have taken at <insert school name> over the last two semesters or quarters. For each of these questions, please tell me the number of courses where the use of this technology was significant or important to your experience in the course.
Q30) How many classes have you taken over the last 2 semesters or quarters, including the last one.
Q31) How many of your classes have required you to use a computer outside of the regular class meeting time?
Q32) How many of your classes have required you to use email?
Q33) How many of your classes have had web pages that included class material or required you to use the Internet?
Q34) How many of your classes have required you to use a computer to access library resources?
Q35) How much do you enjoy using the internet?
A great deal
somewhat,
very little or
not at all
Q36) How much of the material found on the Internet do you consider reliable?
All
Some
A little
None
**Section 8 – Writing**
T37- These next questions ask about your experiences and attitudes toward school-related writing assignments.
Q37) Were you required to complete a course paper involving research and/or references for any of your classes this past semester/quarter? à IF No, SKIP TO 38
Q37a) Over the past two semesters/quarters how many courses have required you to complete a course paper?
Q38) On a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being very uncomfortable and ten being very comfortable, how comfortable are you with writing papers that require research?
T39- Plagiarism is always a concern when people write research papers. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements.
Q39a) Many students I have known have copied word-for-word other written sources, and claimed it was their own original work.
Q39b) I think that plagiarism is not a very important issue.
Q40) How many days a week would you say you read the national or local news section of a newspaper?
Magazines
Q41) How many hours per week do you spend reading any type of magazine?
Books
Q42) On average, how many hours per week do you spend reading books not related to school?
TV
Q43) On average, how many hours a week do you spend watching television?
Movies
Q44) In an average week, how many movies do you watch either in a movie theater or on TV?
News
Q45) How many days a week do you watch the local news?
Q46) How many days a week do you watch the national news?
Q47) How many days a week do you listen to news programs on the radio?
Q48) Did your family have a collection of books in your home when you were a child?
Q49) Were there magazines or newspapers in your home as a child?
Q50) Did any member of your family read to you as a child?
Q51) Do you currently have a family, household, or personal collection of books or reference materials available to use?
**Section 11 – Self-Rated Skill Levels**
Q52) On a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being poor and ten being excellent, how would you rate your library skills in terms of being able to locate information?
Q53) Using the same scale, where zero is poor and ten is excellent, how would you rate your overall skill level in using a computer?
Q54) Using the same scale, how would you rate your overall writing skills?
Q55) Overall, how would you rate your reading comprehension level?
Q56) Overall, how would you rate your oral communication skills?
Q57) Overall, how would you rate your level of artistic expression?
Q58) Overall, how would you rate your math and analytical skills?
**Section 12 – Organizational Membership**
T-59 Next I’d like to ask about your own personal affiliations with both academic and non-academic organizations or groups. For this section you will not be asked to name the actual group or organization to which you belong. We are simply interested in your status as a member or non-member.
Q59) Do you belong to any on-campus organizations? IF No, SKIP TO Q60
Q59a) How many times a month do you attend organizational meetings or functions?
Q60) Are you a member of any university sponsored cultural organizations involving art, dance, music, theater, etc…. ?
Q61) Do you belong to any off-campus organizations? à IF No, SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS
Q61a) How many times a month do you attend organizational meetings or functions?
**Demographic Information**
T-DEM- I have a few more questions for you that will be used for classification purposes only.
<QDEM1> Would you generally classify yourself as being a full-time student or a part-time student?
[NOTE: FULL-TIME IS 12 UNITS OR MORE FOR AN UNDERGRADATE]
<QDEM2> How would you describe your current living arrangements? Would you say that you live....
On-campus (in a dorm)
Off-campus with your parents
Off-campus with your spouse or partner (and children)
Off-campus in a fraternity or sorority house
Off-campus with other roommates (NOT YOUR CHILDREN)
Off-campus by yourself (or with your children)
Or something else?
<QDEM3> Do you have any children?
[If NO, SKIPTO QDEM5]
<QDEM4> How many children do you have living in your household?
T- INCOME- Now I have a few last questions about your current financial status. Please remember that your answers will be kept confidential.
<QDEM5> Please stop me when I reach the category that best describes your personal annual income, before taxes. Would you say that it was…
Less than $6,000
Between $6,000 and $12,000
Between $12,000 and $24,000
Between $24,000 and $36,000
Between $36,000 and $48,000
Between $48,000 and $60,000
Over $60,000
<QDEM6> Do you receive financial assistance from a friend or family member? (Yes or No)
<QDEM7> Please stop me when I reach the category that best describes your total family annual income, before taxes. Would you say that it was…
Less than $24,000
Between $24,000 and $36,000
Between $36,000 and $48,000
Between $48,000 and $60,000
Between $60,000 and $72,000
Over $72,000
<QDEM8> Did you receive Financial Aid from <insert school name> this semester or quarter?
<QCOMMENT> Those are all the questions that I have for you. Before we finish, are there any comments that you would like to make on any of the topics we have covered?
<QBYE> I’d like to thank you for your time and patience, and your help with this project. Goodbye.