Media and Communications in Australian Homes 2007
Appendix A: Parents’ questionnaire
PART A – Introduction and screening questions
Good morning/afternoon /evening. My name is…from…
We are carrying out an important government survey about children’s use of things like the Internet, television, video and computer games, mobile phones and so on.
This survey involves two parts: interviewing a parent over the telephone, and then mailing out a questionnaire and diary for a child.
A1Does this household have any children aged between 8 and 17 years (inclusive)?
Yes (Continue) / 1No (Thank and close) / 2
Can’t say (Thank and close) / 3
A2Am I speaking with a parent or guardian?
Yes – parent/foster parent / 1Yes – guardian / 2
Yes – step-parent / 3
Yes – other (specify) / 4
No (ask to speak with a parent/guardian whose birthday is next) / 5
A3Are any other parents or guardians at home at the moment? If there are, I’d like to speak with whoever has the next birthday (for the purposes of random sampling).
Continue with current respondent / 1New respondent (repeat introduction) / 2
A4As I mentioned, this survey involves two parts:
a) First, interviewing you over the telephone for half an hour (now ideally, or by arranging a suitable time to call back) and
b) Then also getting one or more of your children to complete a questionnaire and three-day time-use diary that would be posted to you.
We know this will take a bit of time and effort, so we are offering $30 to children for completing the diary, and every household taking part will go into a prize draw for [a family holiday to the capital city of your choice].
The survey is completely confidential, and only 750 households will be taking part across the country. Would you like to do the survey?
If respondent asks:
- Who is the survey for? The government body that regulates the media in Australia – called ACMA (the Australian Communication and Media Authority). If respondent wants to verify the legitimacy of the research, they can call Margaret Cupitt at ACMA on 1800 226 667 (free call)
- How much is the prize worth? Flights, accommodation and spending money for your family, up to the value of $5,000.
Yes (Continue) / 1
No (Thank and close) / 2
A5How many children aged 8-17 live in this household?(Only include if child sleeps at the house for 3 nights a week or more)
Record number: __ __
A6In order for the survey to work, [THIS CHILD] / [AT LEAST ONE OF THESE CHILDREN]will need to fill in a diary for three days in a row over the next two weeks – for example a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It will take them about 15 minutes a day, and they’ll need to fill it in either during the day or at the end of each day. There’s also a short self-complete survey to do at the end.
It’s all designed to be suitable for children, and it’s fine for a parent [OR OLDER SIBLING] to assist if they need help to fill it in.
Will this be possible for you?
Yes (Continue) / 1No (Thank and close) / 2
A7Before we start, I just need to run through a few things about your household, and thechild who will do the diary.
You said before you had [ONE CHILD] [# CHILDREN] aged between 8 and 17 – can you tell me their age and gender? (Compulsory information – if not sure or refused, thank and close)
Age / Gender (sex)Child A / Age in years: __ __ / 1=male 2=female
Child B / Age in years: __ __ / 1=male 2=female
etc / Age in years: __ __ / 1=male 2=female
A8(IF MORE THAN ONE CHILD AGED 8-17)
Who will be having the next birthday?
A9For the sake of ease, can I please ask the first name of this child (Child A)?
Record name: ______
A10Will [CHILD A] be available to fill in the diary for three days in a row, some time over the next two weeks?
Note – yes needs to be a DEFINITE yes, not a maybe.
If parent is unsure about the child’s availability, ask them to check with the child.
Ifreassurance/encouragement required:
- stress that the diary is easy to use and designed for children
- inform them that young children can be assisted by their parent/s etc
- remind them about the payment of $30 for the child
Yes (Go to A12) / 1
No (If one child only thank and close; if more than one child go to Q11a) / 2
A11a(IF MORE THAN ONE CHILD IN THE HOUSEHOLD)
Are any of the children in the household going to be available to do this?
Note – yes needs to be a DEFINITE yes, not a maybe. If parent is unsure about the child’s availability, ask them to check with the child.
Ifunsure, reassure/encourage by:
- stressing that the diary is easy to use and designed for children
- informing them that young children can be assisted by their parent/s etc
- reminding them about the payment of $30 for the child
Yes / 1
No (Thank and close) / 2
A11bOf these AVAILABLE children, who will be having the next birthday?
A11cCan I please ask the first name of this child?
Record name: ______
A12Many of the questions I ask will relate specifically to [SAM], and of course [SAM] will need to fill in the diary, which I’ll explain at the end.
If I could just ask a few questions about [SAM]…
a) (IF MULTIPLE RESPONSE IN A2)
Is [HE/SHE] your…
Stepchild / 2
Adopted / 3
Foster child / 4
Grandchild / 5
Other (specify) / 6
b) Does [HE/SHE] have [HIS/HER] own bedroom or share a bedroom?
Own bedroom / 1Shares a bedroom / 2
c) Is [HE/SHE] attending school this year?
(If yes), what year is she in at school this year?)
Year 2 / 2
Year 3 / 3
Year 4 / 4
Year 5 / 5
Year 6 / 6
Year 7 / 7
Year 8 / 8
Year 9 / 9
Year 10 / 10
Year 11 / 11
Year 12 / 12
School year not stated / 13
Not at school / 14
PART B –Inventory
As I mentioned earlier, this survey is about children’s use of various kinds of electronic media and communications, so I want to start by finding out what sorts of devices are working and in use in your home.
B1Firstly, how many working televisions or TV displays are there in your household?
(If respondent asks, this includes anything that functions as a TV, eg data projectors connected to a TV tuner, other monitors that are set up to watch TV programs etc)
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B10.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B10.)
B2(IF ONE) What room is this TV in?
(IF MORE THAN ONE) What rooms are these TVs located in (or does it get moved)?
The name of the room(if portable TV,
write ‘portable TV’) / Type of room (ask if unsure)
TV 1 / Record room name: ______/ 1=[SAM]’s bedroom
2= Other child’s bedroom (aged 8-17)
3= Other room – private room
4= Other room – communal/public space
5= Gets moved between different rooms
etc
B3Am I right in assuming that [THIS TV] / [THESE TVs] get at least some of thefree to air channels – ABC, SBS and the main commercial channels? (If respondent asks, explain that commercial channels include 7, 9, 10, Prime, Win, Capital, Southern Cross)
Yes: All TVs get free to air / 1No (specify which TV/s don’t get any free to air ______) / 2
Can’t say / 3
B4aDo you subscribe to Pay TV– Foxtel, Optus, Austar etc?
Yes / 1No (go to B5) / 2
Can’t say (go to B5) / 3
B4b[IF YES AND MORE THAN ONE TV]
Which of your TVs is connected to Pay TV? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B5a[APART FROM PAY TV CHANNELS] Do you have digital free-to-air TV in your home –via a digital set top box, or built into the TV if it’s a newer TV? (If respondent asks, explain that to receive digital free-to-air TV you would need a TV set that has an inbuilt digital decoder OR a digital free-to-air set-top box attached to your TV screen. This is not the same as a pay TV set-top box.)
Yes / 1No (go to B6) / 2
Can’t say (go to B6) / 3
B5b(IF YES AND MORE THAN ONE TV)
Which [TV] / [OF YOUR TVs] is able to get digital free-to-air TV? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B6aHow many VCRsdo you use in your home (if any)? (ie Video Cassette Recorders)
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B7.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B7.
If only one TV in the home go to B7)
B6b(IF MULTIPLE TVs IN THE HOME)
Which [TV] / [OF YOUR TVs] is connected to a VCR? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B7aHow many DVD playersdo you use in your home (if any)? (Refers to conventional DVD players or a DVD player / VCR comboonly, including DVD recorders. Excludes:
- hard drive recorders with built-in DVD players/recorders (B9)
- portable DVD players that have their own screens (B10)
- laptop or desktop computers with DVD drives (B12)
- game consoles (eg Xbox) with DVD drives (B13)
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B9.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B9
If only one TV in the home go to B7)
B7b(IF MULTIPLE TVs IN THE HOME)
Which [TV] / [OF YOUR TVs]is connected to a DVD player? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B8[CAN THIS DVD PLAYER] / [CAN ANY OF THESE DVD PLAYERS / COMBOS] record TV programs on DVD?
Record number: __ __ (If none, enter ‘0’.
Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99)
B9Do you use a hard drive recorder in your home? This includes pay TV hard drive recorders like Foxtel iQ.(This includes hard drive recorders with built-in DVD recorders) How many do you have?
Record number: __ __ (If none, enter ‘0’.
Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99)
B10aDoes your household have any portable DVD players (with built in screens)? (Includes VCD players and mini hi fi systems with a built in DVD screen)How many do you have?
Record number: __ __ (If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B11.
Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B11)
B10b(IF ONE) Where is this mainly located or used?
(IF MORE THAN ONE) Where are these mainly located or used?
[SAM]’s bedroom / 1Other child's bedroom (aged 8-17) / 2
Other rooms-private / 3
Other rooms-communal / 4
Gets moved / 5
Car / 6
Somewhere else / 7
Can't say / 8
B11How many computers are used in your home (if any)?This includes desktops and laptops. (If necessary, remind respondent that this refers to working computers that are in use)
Record number of computers: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B13.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B13.)
B12[THINK OF JUST ONE OF THESE COMPUTERS]
i) is it desktop or laptop
ii) Where is it located in your house?
iv) Is it used to watch DVDs?
iii) Is it used to access the internet?
v) (IF USED FOR INTERNET) Broadband or dialup connection? (Broadband includes cable, ADSL, satellite, wireless, etc; dialup uses a phone line and makes ringing/beeping noises when you connect)
B13aHow many game consoles are used in your home (if any) – like a PlayStation, Xbox or Wii? (IF ANY) Used in the last two months? (NOTE: Wii is pronounced ‘wee’)
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B14.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B14.)
B13bWhich [TV IS] / [OF YOUR TVs ARE] used to play these games? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B13cDoes [SAM] play [THIS]/[ANY OF THESE]?
Yes / 1No / 2
Can't say / 3
B13dCan any of these game consoles play DVDs?
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B14.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B14.)
B13eWhich [TV IS] / [OF YOUR TVs ARE] used to watch DVDs using a game console? (Select all that apply)
Record television/s: ______
B14aWhat about handheld computer gameslike Gameboy, PSP, Nintendo DS – how many of these are in used in your household (if any)? (IF ANY) Used in the last two months?
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B15.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B15.)
B14bDoes [SAM] play [THIS]/[ANY OF THESE]?
Yes, [SAM] plays / 1No / 2
Can't say / 3
B15aHow many portable MP3 or MP4 playersare used by members of your household – like an iPod?
Record number of devices: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B16.
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B16.)
B15b[IS THIS] / [ARE ANY OF THESE]used to watch videos – in addition to listening to music? How many can you watch videos on?
Record number: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ .
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99)
B15cDoes [SAM] use [THIS PLAYER] / [ANY OF THESE PLAYERS]? Which types?
Yes - music only / 1Yes - video and music / 2
No / 3
Can't say / 4
B16aHow many mobile phones does your household use (if any)?
Record No. phones: __ __ (If none enter ‘0’ and go to B17. If unsure ask for best guess.)
B16b[DOES THIS PHONE] / [HOW MANY OF THESE PHONES] have features like Internet access, video content, mobile TV or an MP3 player?(If asked, this means having more than simple features like voice calls, text messaging/SMS, picture messaging/MMS, takingphotos)
Record number of phones: __ __
(If none, enter ‘0’ and go to B17
If unsure ask for best guess. Code a genuine ‘don’t know’ as 99 and go to B17)
B16cDoes [SAM] use a mobile phone?
Yes / 1No ( go B17) / 2
Not sure / can’t say ( go B17) / 3
B16dDoes [HE/SHE] have [HIS/HER] own or does [HE/SHE] share?
Has own / 1Shares / 2
Not sure / can’t say / 3
B16e(IF ANY PHONES HAVE ADVANCED FEATURES)
Does [SAM] use [THE PHONE] / [ANY OF THE PHONES] that have the featuresI just mentioned?(If necessary, repeat these features: Internet access, video content, mobile TV or an MP3 player)
No – just has simple features (ie voice, SMS etc only) ( go B17)
(Some parents might refer to special kids mobile phones
provided by Telstra or Vodafone – eg. ‘Gecko’) / 2
Can’t say ( go B17) / 3
B16f(IF SAM USES A PHONE WITH ADVANCED FEATURES)
As far as you are aware, does [SAM] use [HIS/HER/THIS] mobile to download things from the internet or anywhere else – things like pictures, games, information, sports results, TV programs?
No / 2
Can’t say / 3
And finally, can I just check
B17Does [SAM] ever watch television – including free-to-air, digital free-to-air, Pay TV?
Yes / 1No / 2
Can’t say / 3
B18Does [HE/SHE] ever use the internet?
Yes / 1No / 2
Can’t say / 3
B20(IF NO GAME CONSOLES OR HANDHELDS USED IN THE HOME)
You mentioned that [SAM] doesn’t play games on game consoles or handheld game machines at home – does she EVER play these kind of games anywhere else?
No / 2
Can’t say / 3
B21aDoes [HE/SHE] ever play games on a computer?
Yes / 1No / 2
Can’t say / 3
B21b(IF COMPUTERS IN THE HOME)
Does [HE/SHE] ever do this at home?
No / 2
Can’t say / 3
B21c(IF COMPUTERS IN THE HOME and DOESN’T PLAY GAMES ON IT)
Does [HE/SHE] ever use a computer at home?
No / 2
Can’t say / 3
PART C – General parent concerns
FILTER OUT TECHNOLOGIES THAT [SAM] DOESN’T USE
(TV, VIDEO/COMPUTER GAMES, MOBILE, INTERNET)
C1Thanks for going through all that. Now I’d like to change topic and read out a list of things that might concern some parents about their child’s wellbeing. The list includes some things about media and communications, as well as other issues.
Thinking specifically about [SAM], I’d like you to say whether you are very concerned, somewhat concerned or not concerned about each one.
ROTATE STARTING PLACE(Sorted here on “net concerned”) / Very concerned / Somewhat concerned / Feel OK (not concerned) / Not sure
A) The TV programs that [SAM] watches / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
B) [SAM]’s educational opportunities / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
C) What [SAM] listens to on the radio / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
D) The friends who [SAM] spends time with / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
E) The video or computer games that [SAM] plays / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
F) [SAM’S] safety and security / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
G) [SAM]’s use of the mobilephone / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
H) [SAM]’s exposure to drugs or alcohol / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
I) [SAM]’s use of the internet / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
J) [SAM’S] employment prospects or opportunities / 1 / 2 / 3 / 9
PART D – Television
IF NO TVS IN THE HOME GO TO PART E
D1Now I’d like to ask a few questions specifically about television(ie free-to-air TV and pay TV). This includes TV programs that might be recorded and watched later, but doesn’t include DVDs or videos that you rent or buy.
You said before you have a TV at home – does [SAM]ever watch it?
Yes / 1No ( go to Part E) / 2
Can’t say ( go to Part E) / 3
D2Which of the following best describes your household? (Read out, select one only)
a) The TV is only on if someone is watching a particular program / 1b) The TV is sometimes on even when no-one is watching / 2
c) The TV is usually on, whether or not anyone is watching / 3
(Don’t read out) Can’t say / 4
D3Families vary a lot in the arrangements they have with their children about how things are done. Some children have a lot of independence and others are supervised more closely.
Thinking specifically about [SAM], are there any rules, understandingsor arrangementsin your family about WHATTV programs [SAM] watches, or WHEN[HE/SHE] watches TV?
Yes / 1No ( go to D5) / 2
Can’t say ( go to D5) / 3
D4(IF YES) What rules, understandings or arrangements do you have? Please tell me a bit more about that.
Is there anything else about WHATTV programs [HE/SHE] watches?
Is there anything else about WHEN [HE/SHE] watches TV?
(Probe fully. Do not prompt. Accept all answers.Record verbatim and back-code later)
CONTENTCONTENT (WHAT):Not allowed to watch/don’t like child watching…
Programs with too much violence/fighting
(specify what type of violence is not OK: ______) / 1
Programs with bad language / 2
Programs with too much sex/kissing/nudity / 3
News / current affairs programs / 4
Scary programs (eg horror, monsters, supernatural themes) / 5
M-rated programs or movies / 6
MA-rated programs or movies / 7
R-Rated programs / 8
Programs like The Simpsons, the Family Guy / 9
American situation comedies (sit-coms)
eg Will & Grace, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond / 10
American teen programs
eg The OC, Charmed / 11
Australian soap operas
eg Home and Away and Neighbours / 12
Reality TV shows
eg Big Brother, Wife Swap, the Osbournes / 13
Other popular American shows
eg Desperate Housewives, Lost, Prison Break, 24, Sex and the City / 14
Mindless programs / 15
No witchcraft / blasphemy / 16
No drugs / 17
No Wrestling / 18
No adds (so therefore ABC, SBS, DVDs) / 19
CONTENT (WHAT): Other
Only allowed to watch programs with certain ratings
eg C, G, P, PG, M / 20
Content must also be suitable for younger siblings / 21
Only ABC for kids / cartoons / disney etc / 22
Other content (specify ______) / 23
TIMING (WHEN)
TIMING (WHEN): Not allowed to watch TV…
on school days / 22
in the morning before school / 23
after set time/bedtime / 24
during meal times/ family time / 25
at other people’s homes / 26
if it’s a nice day (has to go outside to play) / 27
TIMING (WHEN): Only allowed to watch TV…
once homework is done / 28
once chores, lessons, sport, practice is done / 29
for a certain amount of time / 30
with permission / 31
once ready for school / 32
Weekend more TV allowed / 33
With family / with parents / 34
Other timing (specify ______) / 35
Other
Restrict TV viewing as punishment / 36
Other (specify ______) / 37
D5I am going to read out fivethings that may or may not happen in your home in relation to [SAM] and watching TV, DVDs or videos. As I read out each statement, please tell me how common it is for each one to occur – you’ve got five options: ‘all of the time’, ‘most of the time’, ‘some of the time’, ‘practically never’ or ‘never’.