[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15541-15542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8162]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Data Collection: Public's Views and Comments

    Title of Proposed Collection: Public Attitudes About Technology.
    The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, is 
interested in obtaining the public's views and attitudes toward 
technology.
    Specifically, we are seeking input and comments from all interested 
persons on their views of the value of technology in their lives, and 
their familiarity with and level of comfort when using technological 
innovations such as computers and other complex yet common electronic 
devices.
    In addition to the general public, we are especially interested in 
receiving comments from students in grades 7 through 12 and from 
informed observers and followers of science and engineering research 
and education.
    In an effort to obtain the public's input and useful information, 
the National Science Foundation has developed the questions that 
follow. Responses from the public will be used only in the aggregate, 
and only to help NSF in its efforts to better explain itself and its 
activities to the American public.
    We hope you will provide us with your thoughts on the following 
questions. Detailed comments are also welcome and greatly appreciated.
    Responses and comments can be mailed to Public Attitudes About 
Technology, c/o Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1245, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Comments can also be sent via email to [email protected], or faxed to (703) 
306-1070.
    All comments should be received by Monday, April 21, 1997.

    Dated: March 24, 1997.
Julia Moore,
Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

    For students in grades 7-12, which are you most likely to do after 
high school?

Go to college,
Go to a trade or technical school, or
Go straight to work
Other

    Again for students in grades 7-12, what is the highest level of 
college education you are most likely to complete?

A graduate degree, such as a masters, doctorate or law degree
A four year undergraduate degree from a college or university, or
A two-year undergraduate degree, such as from a community college
Other

    If you had to choose, which would you say are your favorite 
subjects in school?

The ones that involve math and science or,
the ones that involve English or social studies--such as government and 
history
Both equally
Neither

    Now we're going to list some more specific subjects. For each one, 
please say whether you consider it to be so exciting that you would 
like to learn more about it or whether it's not that exciting to you.

Space exploration, including the planets, space travel, and special 
projects like the Hubble Telescope
New advances in computer technology, such as faster processing chips 
and more sophisticated software
Medical research such as cloning and hi-tech ways to study and treat 
human diseases

    If you had the choice, what kind of house would your prefer to live 
in--a house that has lots of electronic equipment, hi-tech appliances 
and computers, or a simpler house that has fewer of these types of 
things?
    Do you think that having strong computer skills and an 
understanding of other technology is necessary to make a good living or 
do you think a good living can be made without these skills?
    Thinking about the computer skills people need by the time they 
graduate from high school, how do you feel about the computer education 
students get in school these days?

Do you feel that computer education is on track or,
Do you feel that schools should be teaching a lot more?

    Next we'd like to know how confident you feel using computers. We'd 
like you to use a scale from zero to ten, where ten represents a person 
who is very confident with computers and zero is a person who is not 
confident at all with computers. Which number on this scale from zero 
to ten best describes how confident you feel using computers?

Not confident    Very confident
00  01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08  09  10

    In your household, who usually programs the VCR? Someone 18 years 
old or younger, or someone 19 years old or older?

18 years old or younger
19 years old or older

    Have you, personally, ever used a computer?
    If you have used a computer, how old were you the first time you 
used a computer?
    In the past week, meaning the last seven days, how much time would 
you say you spent using a computer?
    If you had the choice, would you like to spend more time, less time 
or about the same amount of time as you already do using a computer?
    Do you ever have the opportunity to use the Internet or not?
    In the past week, meaning the last seven days, how much time did 
you, personally, spend using an on-line service, such as America 
Online, the Internet or the World Wide Web?
    For this next series of questions, we are going to ask about 
various types of technology--such as computers and electronic 
equipment--that you might come into contact with in your daily life.
    First, we'd like to know how often you use several types of 
technology. Please indicate whether you do it several times a day, 
about once a day, a few times a week, a few times a month, less often 
than that, or never.

Use a computer
Operate a VCR
Program or get messages from a telephone answering machine
Play video or computer games
Use stereo or audio equipment, such as a CD player or boom box
Use a calculator

    Please tell us whether you consider each one of the following types 
of equipment to be something that is important for you to own or have 
in your home, or whether it is something you could easily live without.

A computer
A VCR
A telephone answering machine
Video or computer games
Stereo and audio equipment, such as a CD player or boom box
A microwave oven
A calculator
A television

    When you go to use a piece of electronic equipment, computer 
software or other type of technology for the first time, can you 
usually learn to use it on you own or do you usually need some help?

[[Page 15542]]

    In general, who do you think is better figuring out and using 
technology--teenagers or adults?
    Do you have a computer at home?
    Do you have access to the Internet through a computer at home?
    Suppose you had a research report to write either at school or 
work. If you had the choice, how would you prefer to conduct the 
research?
    For students in grades 7-12, when you have to conduct an experiment 
or do other labatory work in your science classes at school, does that 
work usually help you understand what the class is studying, or not?
    Next is a list of a few things that some people do on computers. 
Please tell us if this is something you have ever done on a computer, 
or not.

Used a word processing program to write a report
Used the Internet to conduct research
Played computer games
Chatted on the Internet or sent e-mail
Searched the Internet for interesting sites

    Tell us whether or not you expect to see these things happened in 
your lifetime:

Space travel will be common for ordinary Americans
New technology will prevent wars from happening
Cloning of humans will be common
Every person in the country, including kids, will have their own 
portable phone and personal phone number
Home computers will work as a computer, TV, VCR, and telephone all in 
one
Cancer will be cured
AIDS will be cured
Most Americans will live to be more than 100 years old
Floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters will be controlled or 
prevented by new developments in science
Americans will vote for President and other elected officials on the 
Internet

    For students in grades 7-12, in terms of the grades you usually 
get, would you say you are a top student in your school, above average, 
average or below average?
    How many hours did you spend watching television yesterday?
    Now thinking about the last week, meaning the last seven days, how 
many hours would you say you spent in total talking with friends on the 
telephone?
    How often do you read books on your own, that is, books that are 
not required reading for school or work?
    For students in grades 7-12, are you currently involved in any 
activities that require you stay after school, such as a sports team, 
theater, band or club?
    Do you regularly carry a beeper or pager, or not?
    Now here are some background questions.
    How old are you?
    Are you in school now, and if so, what grade? If not, what is the 
highest grade that you completed?
    Are you, yourself of Hispanic origin or descent such, as Mexican, 
Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish background?
    What is your race? Are you white, African-American, or some other 
race?

[FR Doc. 97-8162 Filed 3-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M