Child Socialization Parent Survey
Media Analysis Laboratory
Simon Fraser University
Dear Parents:
People hold widely varying views about the best way to raise children. Presently, the Media Analysis Laboratory at SFU is researching parental concerns and practices about children’s media use and consumerism. This survey asks you to think about your own experiences of child rearing in a media-saturated world.
The information you provide to us will be kept strictly confidential, so please fill out the survey as honestly as possible. The data from this survey will never be sold or used for anything but research and educational purposes.
Many thanks,
Simon Fraser University Media Analysis Laboratory
GENERAL INFORMATION
Name: ______
Gender: M F
Age: 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 yrs
Place of birth: Canada Elsewhere: ______
Languages spoken in the home: ______
Marital status: Married/ Cohabiting Single Parenting Separated/ Divorced (Co-parent)
Occupation: ______
Household income: 10-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100+
Age of child:1-5 6-9 10-13 14-18 yrs
(Please report information for one child only)
Sex of child: M F
Families differ in terms of how they work to prepare their children for life in contemporary society. In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please indicate whether the following are:
1 = not at all important to you
2 = somewhat important to you
3 = important to you
4 = very important to you
5 = extremely important to you
Not at all important…Extremely important
Making friends with other children 12345
Maintaining the cultural heritage of our family12345
Doing well at school12345
Developing a sense of autonomy12345
Having the leisure time to enjoy being a child12345
Developing a moral compass to guide him/her through life
12345
Being active and healthy12345
Participating in sports 12345
Having the freedom to explore the world on his/her own
12345
Developing his/her self-esteem and confidence
12345
Spending time talking and doings things together as a family
12345
Not at all important…Extremely important
Eating meals together12345
Protecting my child from social ills12345
Preparing my child for adulthood by exposing 12345
him/her to life’s difficulties
Acting as a role model for my child 12345
Explaining the ideas behind my actions 12345
Establishing household rules 12345
Learning to use money wisely 12345
Learning to understand work 12345
Learning to save money 12345
MEDIA
On average, how many hours of TV does your child watch per day? (circle one)
Rarely watches less than 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours more than 3 hours
On average, how many hours of video game play does your child engage in per day?
Rarely watches less than 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours more than 3 hours
On average, how many hours does your child spend on the Internet per day?
Rarely watches less than 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours more than 3 hours
In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please consider the following, where:
1 = strongly disagree
2 = disagree
3 = indifferent
4 = agree
5 = strongly agree
Strongly disagree ……… Strongly agree
Media enables my child to learn valuable lessons.
12345
I am concerned about how images of violence in the media can affect my child.
12345
I am concerned about how images of sex in the media can affect my child.
12345
I am concerned about how disturbing images in the media will frighten my child.
12345
I am concerned about how TV commercials can affect my child.
12345
Please rate the following (where 1 is never, 5 is always).
Never …………………… Always
I watch TV with my child. 12345
I let my child make his/her own decisions about what he/she watches.
12345
My child’s media use prevents him/her from getting enough exercise.
12345
My child’s media use prevents him/her from having enough time with peers.
12345
In our household, the TV is on during dinner. 12345
I use the TV rating system to help choose what programs my child watches.
12345
I check the rating system before allowing my child to see a movie.
12345
Never …………………… Always
I check the industry ratings before renting or buying computer or video games.
12345
I put limits on how much time my child may use electronic media.
12345
I talk to my child about what he/she has seen in the media.
12345
I co-view TV/videos with my child.
12345
I try to talk to my child about the moral implications of what he/she sees in the media.
12345
I set specific hours for when my child can use electronic media.
12345
I restrict the amount of time my child can use electronic media.
12345
I restrict the content of electronic media my child can use.
12345
My child regularly participates in decision making for family leisure choices.
12345
I get into conflict with my child about how much TV he/she watches.
12345
I get into conflict with my child about how much time he/she spends playing video games.
12345
MONEY
Does your child receive an allowance/pocket money? YesNo(circle one)
(If your child does not receive an allowance or pocket money, please skip the following questions and go to the ‘Discipline’ section of the survey).
If yes, how much allowance/pocket money does your child receive each week?
Does your child have to do anything to get the allowance/pocket money?
(Please circle all that apply)
Chores
Be good
Do homework
Get good grades
Other (specify) ______
What does your child buy with his/her allowance/pocket money?
In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please rate the frequency of your behaviour on the following items, where:
1 = never
2 = rarely
3 = sometimes
4 = often
5 = always
Never ……………………… Always
I help my child decide what he/she should spend money on.
12345
There are restrictions on how my child can spend this money.
12345
I let my child make his/her own decisions about how to spend money.
12345
DISCIPLINE
My methods of discipline include the following: (Please indicate all that apply)
_____Withdrawal of privileges
_____Punishment for bad behaviour (ex: time out; go to room)
_____Rewarding for success (ex: present; treat)
_____Explaining the reasons behind house rules
_____Scolding or telling off
CONSUMER SOCIALIZATION
In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please consider the following (where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree).
Strongly disagree …………… Strongly agree
I encourage my child to be skeptical of the ads he/she sees on TV.
12345
I allow my child to play with toy weapons. 12345
I am very concerned about buying healthy foods for my child to eat.
12345
I buy a number of healthy snacks from which my child is free to choose.
12345
Strongly disagree …………… Strongly agree
When my child requests a snack that he/she has seen advertised in a TV commercial, I am willing to buy it.
12345
Often my child refuses to eat the healthy foods I buy for him/her.
12345
I find it hard to get my child to eat healthy food.12345
FOOD
In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please consider the following (where 1 is never and 5 is always).
Never ……………………… Always
I examine the label to see the nutritional value of the snacks I buy for my child.
12345
I take my child grocery shopping. 12345
My child and I negotiate what food I buy when we go grocery shopping.
12345
I allow my child to pick out his/her own snacks while out grocery shopping.
12345
I am careful with the snacks that I buy when I shop for my child.
12345
My child is consulted when considering family food choices.
12345
I allow my child to snack while watching TV. 12345
My child can choose his/her own snacks while watching TV.
12345
In view of your own childrearing practices at this time, please consider the following (where 1 is strongly disagree, 5 is strongly agree).
Strongly disagree …………… Strongly agree
I only buy snacks that are healthy.12345
I buy snacks because my child will eat them.12345
I buy snacks because they are within my budget.12345
I buy snacks to reward my child.12345
I discuss with my child what he/she can snack on in the house.
12345
If a snack is popular among my child’s peers, I feel pressure to buy it for my child.
12345
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