COMPUTERIZED SCHOOL SURVEYS - DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Over the past few decades, the computer has played an increasingly lar ge role in the collection of survey data. The primary focus of compute rs in survey research, however, has been in computer-assisted telephon e interviewing. The use of computers in the elicitation of responses d irectly from the respondent has been the focus of increasing efforts i n recent years but still remains relatively undeveloped. Although ther e have been previous attempts at investigating the effects of introduc ing computerized self-administered surveys among adolescents, no such investigation has been attempted in a school-based survey to our knowl edge. The authors examine methods and issues from the Minnesota Studen t Survey Mode Effects Experiment - an on-line versus paper-and-pencil comparison from a large school survey of adolescents. Some of the issu es include comparability with paper-and-pencil versions and data colle ction issues, such as computer literacy, security, and case management .