1. What is your current/preferred e-mail address? (Again, this information will remain confidential and will not be shared with anyone. For verification purposes, you MUST answer this question.) 2A. What is your age? (Select ONE of the following. You MUST be at least 13 years of age to participate): A: 13 to 18 B: 19 to 25 C: 26 to 29 D: 30 to 39 E: 40 to 49 F: 50 to 59 G: 60 to 69 H: 70+ 2B. What is your gender? MALE or FEMALE 2C. Are you… A. Single B. Married C. Divorced D. Widow/Widower E. Living w/"significant other" but not married 3. Which country do you reside in? 4. What is your employment status? (Select ONE of the following. If you think that more than one selection may apply to you, please select the ONE that you think BEST describes your status): A: Full-time B: Part-time C: Self-employed D: Unemployed, looking for work E: Unemployed, not looking F: Student G: Homemaker H: Retired 5. Where do you have access to the internet? (Please select ALL that apply): A: At home B: At work C: At school D: Other (please specify): 6. If you selected MORE than ONE answer to Question #5 above, from which location do you MOST OFTEN access the internet? (Select only ONE answer): A: At home B: At work C: At school D: Other (please specify): 7. Which of the following internet-based services do you use? (Please select ALL that apply): A: E-mail for BUSINESS use B: E-mail for PERSONAL use C: Internet chat rooms (does NOT include Instant Messaging) D: Instant Messaging E: Internet dating services 8. If you selected MORE than ONE answer to Question #7 above, which internet-based service is the ONE you MOST OFTEN use? (Select only ONE answer): A: E-mail for BUSINESS use B: E-mail for PERSONAL use C: Internet chat rooms (does NOT include Instant Messaging) D: Instant Messaging E: Internet dating services 9. Do you own a computer at home? YES or NO 10. Do you pay for any of your internet connections? This would include service providers such as AOL or MSN, a local ISP, access at "Internet Cafes", etc: YES or NO 11. On a weekly basis, how often, on average, do you use ANY of the internet-based services listed in Question #7 (e-mail, chat, IM, dating)? A: 6 or 7 days a week B: 4 or 5 days a week C: 1 to 3 days a week 12A. IF you use PERSONAL or BUSINESS e-mail services at all, how often, on average, do you check and/or send e-mail? A: 6 or 7 days a week B: 4 or 5 days a week C: 1 to 3 days a week 12B. Do you usually check your e-mail… A: At home B: At work C: At school D: Other (please specify): 13A. IF you use internet chat room services at all, how many days per week, on average, do you use it? A: 6 or 7 days a week B: 4 or 5 days a week C: 1 to 3 days a week 13B. IF you use internet chat room services at all, how much time PER DAY, on average, do you spend in chat rooms? A: less than 30 minutes B: 30 minutes to 1 hour C: 1 to 2 hours D: 2 to 3 hours E: 3 to 4 hours F: 4 to 5 hours G: 5 to 6 hours H: 6 to 8 hours I: more than 8 hours 13C. IF you use internet chat room services at all, do you usually chat while… A: At home B: At work C: At school D: Other (please specify): 14A. IF you use Instant Messaging at all, how many days per week, on average, do you use it? A: 6 or 7 days a week B: 4 or 5 days a week C: 1 to 3 days a week 14B. IF you use Instant Messaging at all, how much time PER DAY, on average, do you spend ACTIVELY USING it (in other words, time spent using IM to communicate with someone, not just the time you are logged in but idle)? A: less than 30 minutes B: 30 minutes to 1 hour C: 1 to 2 hours D: 2 to 3 hours E: 3 to 4 hours F: 4 to 5 hours G: 5 to 6 hours H: 6 to 8 hours I: more than 8 hours 14C. IF you use Instant Messaging at all, do you usually use it while… A: At home B: At work C: At school D: Other (please specify): 15A. Have you ever used an internet dating site? This would include browsing the profiles of other members on the site(s), even if you never created a profile for yourself? YES or NO 15B. Have you ever created a profile for yourself on a dating site? YES or NO 15C. Have you ever PAID for a subscription to a dating site? YES or NO The remainder of the questions are open-ended for the most part. Please be as specific as possible in your answers. 16A. If you use e-mail services, what things do you ENJOY about using it? 16B. And what things do you DISLIKE about using e-mail? 17A. If you use internet chat rooms and/or instant messaging, what things do you ENJOY about them? 17B. And what things do you DISLIKE about using chat/IM? 17C. Have you ever had a face-to-face (in person) meeting with someone, or even several people, that you initially met in a chat room or through IM? Please feel free to describe any or all of these experiences in as much detail as you care to. 17D. What would you say is the MOST important reason that you use internet chat and/or IM? 18A. Have you ever had a face-to-face meeting with someone, or even several people, that you met through an online dating service? Please feel free to describe any or all of these experiences in as much detail as you care to. 18B. What type(s) of relationships are you looking for by using a dating service? 18C. What do ENJOY most about using a dating service? 18D. And what do you DISLIKE most about dating services? 19. Tell us anything you want to about your experiences using e-mail, chat, IM, or dating services that hasn't been covered that you would like to share! Did you meet your soulmate online? A stalker? Your best friend? Do you think you're an "addict" of one of these services, or is someone you know an addict? Do tell! And finally: 20. May we contact you for a more personal, in-depth follow-up interview? Such an interview would be conducted via e-mail or a private on-line discussion via an instant messaging service. A. NO, don't contact me B. OK, if you really want to C. PLEASE DO! Boy, do I have stories to tell you! (If B or C, please indicate the e-mail address where you prefer to be contacted) Thanks! And remember to send this back to: chatsurvey2003@yahoo.com