Various Demographic Area Pretesting Activities

Usability Study of the American Community Survey

Each year, the Census Bureau and the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Maryland separately conduct many different usability evaluations. For example, they routinely test the wording, layout and behavior of products, such as Web sites, online surveys, and letters sent through the mail in order to obtain the best information possible from respondents.

You have volunteered to take part in a study to identify confusing questions in an Internet version of the American Community Survey (ACS). In order to have a complete record of your comments, your usability session will be videotaped. We plan to use the tapes to improve the design of the product. Staff directly involved in the usable design research project will have access to the tapes. We also plan to perform an eye-tracking analysis of your session. Your participation is voluntary and your answers will remain strictly confidential. You may skip any questions you do not wish to answer.

This usability study is being conducted under the authority of Title 13 USC. The OMB control number for this study is 0607-0725. This valid approval number legally certifies this information collection.

I have volunteered to participate in this usability study sponsored by the Census Bureau and the University of Maryland, and I give permission for my tapes to be used for the purposes stated above.

Participant’s Name:

Participant’s Signature: Date:

Researcher’s Name: Date:

Researcher’s Name: Date:

Investigator Contact Information

Rachel Horwitz

301-314-9916

rhorwitz@survey.umd.edu

IRB Office Contact Information

1204 Marie Mount

College Park, MD 20742

301-504-4212

Questionnaire on Computer-and-Internet Experience and Demographics

YOUR ANSWERS ARE CONFIDENTIAL

Demographics

1. What is your age? ______________

2. Are you male or female? _____________

3. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

□ Yes

□ No

4. What is your race? Choose one or more races.

□ White

□ Black or African American

□ American Indian or Alaska Native

□ Asian

□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

5. What is your level of education?

__grade school

__some high school

__high school degree

__some college

__2-year college degree

__4-year college degree

__some postgraduate study (e.g., M.A., M.B.A., J.D., Ph.D., M.D., programs)

__postgraudate degree (e.g., M.A., M.B.A., J.D., Ph.D., M.D.)

Computer and Internet Experience

1. During the last month, about how many hours did you use the Internet during a typical week? __________

2. How much experience have you had with computers to use the Internet? Please check one option.
   
   
   

□ A great Deal

□ A lot

□ A moderate amount

□ A little

□ None

3. How much experience have you had with computers to do things other than use the Internet? Please check one option.
   
   
   

□ A great Deal

□ A lot

□ A moderate amount

□ A little

□ None

4. During the last year, how many times did you complete a survey on the Internet? ______

5. During the last month, where were you when you used the Internet? Please select all that apply.
   
   
   

□ Home

□ Work

□ School

□ Library

□ Another place (please specify: ______________)

6. Do you have a computer at your home?

□ Yes
□ No  (Skip to Question 7)

6a. What type of Internet connection do you use at home? Please check all that apply.

□ Cable Service
□ Dial-up Service
□ DSL Service
□ Satellite Dish Service
□ Fiber-Optic Service
□ Mobile Broadband Plan for a Computer or Cell Phone

6b. Browsers are software on a computer used to surf the Internet. Last month, which Internet browse did you typically use at home? Please check all that apply.

□ Firefox
□ Google Chrome
□ Internet Explorer
□ Safari
□ Other: __________

6c. During the last month, what was the operating system on the computer you typically used at home?

□ Linux
□ MAC OS (version: ____________________)
□ Windows (version: ____________________)
□ Other (specify: ________________)

7. Name at least two things you use the computer to do.

   1. ______________

   2. ______________

8. Name at least two things you use the Internet to do.

   1. ______________

   2. ______________
      
      
      

9. How difficult is it for you to learn to use Web sites that you have not visited before?

□ Extremely difficult

□ Very difficult

□ Moderately difficult

□ Not difficult at all

10. How difficult is it for you to use the Internet?

□ Extremely difficult

□ Very difficult

□ Moderately difficult

□ Not difficult at all