Survey of IBMPC Computer Conferencing Usage -- May, 1986

Thank you for taking part in the IBMPC user survey! Your cooperation is appreciated; this survey will be used to improve the way IBMPC works, to give us a better idea of the nature and needs of the IBMPC community, and to further research in the field of computer mediated communications. It is not being conducted in an attempt to justify or defend IBMPC, so feel free to be completely honest, and to report negative impressions as well as positive ones.

The survey will be kept completely anonymous unless you elect to give your name. In any case, results of the survey will be released only as group data (numbers, percentages, etc), and possibly as unattributed quotations.

Directions for sending in your completed survey will be given at the are at the end of the survey. There is also a large space there for notes; we welcome general or tangential comments on IBMPC, on the survey, or on anything else you'd like to communicate.

About yourself

  1. How old are you?
    1. 0-25
    2. 26-35
    3. 36-45
    4. 46-59
    5. 60+
  2. What is your gender?
    1. Male
    2. Female
  3. How good a typist do you consider yourself, on the device through which you communicate with IBMPC?'
    1. Very slow and inexperienced
    2. Inexperienced
    3. Average
    4. Quite experienced
    5. Very fast and experienced
  4. How verbal do you consider yourself? That is, how fluent are you with words (as opposed to body language, expression, gestures, pictures, etc)?'
    1. Not verbal at all
    2. Not very verbal
    3. About average
    4. Quite verbal
    5. Extremely verbal
  5. How fluent are you in the English language (as opposed to some other human language)?'
    1. Not Very Fluent
    2. Somewhat Fluent
    3. Extremely Fluent
  6. Is there anything else we should know about you yourself?

    About Your Job

  7. What general area is your job in?
    1. Research
    2. Development
    3. Marketing
    4. Manufacturing
    5. Administrative/Personnel
    6. Other

    If you selected other, How would you describe the area your job is in?

  8. Where is your work location?
    1. United States
    2. Other North America
    3. South America
    4. Europe
    5. Other

    If you selected other, how would you describe your work location?

  9. How often do you work a standard 8-hour 9-to-5-ish day?
    1. Always
    2. Usually
    3. Sometimes
    4. Rarely
    5. Almost never
  10. Does your job involve supervising others (as a manager or project leader does)?'
    1. Yes
    2. No
  11. Do you program a computer as part of your job?
    1. Yes, an IBM PC (or XT, AT, etc.)
    2. Yes, but not an IBM PC
    3. No
  12. Do your job responsibilities include PC Information Center or Education functions (helping others learn and use personal computers)?'
    1. Yes
    2. No, but I do it anyway
    3. No

    You and the Computer

  13. How long has it been since you first used a computer?
    1. Less than one year
    2. One to five years
    3. Six to ten years
    4. Eleven to twenty years
    5. More than twenty years
  14. How much do you like (or dislike) using computers?
    1. I like using computers very much
    2. I like it somewhat
    3. I neither like nor dislike it
    4. I dislike it somewhat
    5. I dislike using computers very much
  15. What kind of computer user do you consider yourself?
    1. Expert
    2. Quite knowledgeable
    3. Average
    4. Inexperienced
    5. Total novice
  16. How many people regularly use the terminal from which you access IBMPC at work?'
    1. One (just me)
    2. Two
    3. Three
    4. Four or more
  17. Do you have access to IBMPC from home?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  18. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for getting your IBM work done'
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  19. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for your own private use'
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  20. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for conferencing
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  21. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for non-conference communication (like electronic mail)
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  22. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for word Processing (besides mail or conferencing)
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  23. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for calculation (numbers)
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  24. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for programming
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week
  25. About how many hours a week do you use a computer for Other non-communication uses
    1. less than 1 hour per week
    2. 1 to 5 hours per week
    3. 6 to 16 hours per week
    4. 17 to 35 hours per week
    5. more than 35 hours per week

    You and IBMPC

  26. How long has it been since you first used IBMPC?
    1. Less than 3 months
    2. 3-6 months
    3. 6-12 months
    4. 1-2 years
    5. >2 years
  27. How much do you know about the IBMPC conferencing system?
    1. I'm an expert on IBMPC
    2. I'm quite knowledgeable
    3. I'm about average
    4. I don't know very much about it
    5. I know little or nothing about it
  28. About how often do you read information on IBMPC?
    1. Never
    2. Less than once a month
    3. Once a month
    4. Once a week
    5. Once a day
    6. More than once a day
  29. About how often do you append to files on IBMPC?
    1. Never
    2. Less than once a month
    3. Once a month
    4. Once a week
    5. Once a day
    6. More than once a day
  30. About how often do you create new files on IBMPC?
    1. Never
    2. Less than once a month
    3. Once a month
    4. Once a week
    5. Once a day
    6. More than once a day
  31. About how often do you talk to the owners of files on IBMPC?
    1. Never
    2. Less than once a month
    3. Once a month
    4. Once a week
    5. Once a day
    6. More than once a day
  32. About how often do you talk to the IBMPC administrators?
    1. Never
    2. Less than once a month
    3. Once a month
    4. Once a week
    5. Once a day
    6. More than once a day
  33. What one file on IBMPC do you read most often?
  34. What one file do you contribute to most?
  35. Compared to the average contributor, would you say that your knowledge of the subjects discussed on IBMPC is on the whole:
    1. Much greater
    2. Somewhat greater
    3. About the same
    4. Somewhat less
    5. Much less
  36. Do you use other TOOLS-based conferencing facilities, such as IBMVM, IBMTEXT, etc?'
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, which conferencing facilities do you use?

  37. Do you use any non-TOOLS-based conferencing systems, such as GRAND, PALTRY, EQUAL, or non-IBM conferences?
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, which conferencing systems do you use?

  38. What interface(s) to IBMPC do you use regularly (check as many as apply)?
    1. IBMPC or IBMPCN
    2. IBMPC1
    3. TOOLS
    4. BRNEW
    5. OMNIDISK
    6. ITEMEDIT
    7. PBROWSE
    8. CONFDISK
    9. PCB
    10. Other

    If you selected other, what interface(s) do you use?

  39. Do you mostly read the data in IBMPC by
    1. linking directly to the master at Yorktown
    2. linking to a shadow copy of the data
    3. making requests (such as GET and SUBSCRIBE) to the master
    4. making requests (such as GET and SUBSCRIBE) to a shadow
  40. How satisfied are you with IBMPC overall?
    1. Very Satisfied
    2. Satisfied
    3. Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
    4. Dissatisfied
    5. Very Dissatisfied
  41. How satisfied are you with the quality of the information on IBMPC?
    1. Very Satisfied
    2. Satisfied
    3. Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
    4. Dissatisfied
    5. Very Dissatisfied
  42. How satisfied are you with the organization of the information on IBMPC?
    1. Very Satisfied
    2. Satisfied
    3. Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
    4. Dissatisfied
    5. Very Dissatisfied
  43. How satisfied are you with the available interfaces (ways of using) IBMPC?'
    1. Very Satisfied
    2. Satisfied
    3. Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
    4. Dissatisfied
    5. Very Dissatisfied
  44. How satisfied are you with the way the system is reviewed and controlled?
    1. Very Satisfied
    2. Satisfied
    3. Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
    4. Dissatisfied
    5. Very Dissatisfied
  45. Is following or using IBMPC part of your job requirements?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  46. What do you use IBMPC for most?
    1. Keeping up with internal PC information
    2. Searching for answers to specific questions
    3. Asking specific questions
    4. Tapping group knowledge to come to decisions
    5. Reaching specific people
    6. Generating new ideas through peer discussion
  47. What information on IBMPC do you find the most useful?
    1. Bug reports
    2. Product descriptions (including IVORY letters)
    3. Availability notices
    4. Technical notes (including TECHNOTEs)
    5. General discussions
    6. Other

    If other, what kind of information DO you find most useful?

  48. Are there any kinds of information you'd like to see that we don't have?
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, what kinds of information?

  49. Are there other communications channels and information source which could substitute for the use you make of IBMPC in your job?'
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, what communications channels or information sources?

  50. How valuable to you is ISTHERE FORUM?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  51. How valuable to you is WHOSWHO FORUM?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  52. How valuable to you is the subscribe feature of IBMPC?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  53. How valuable to you is the append-modify feature of IBMPC?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  54. How valuable to you are local shadows of IBMPC?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  55. How valuable to you is the file creation feature of IBMPC?
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  56. How valuable to you is sharing files between IBMPC and other conferencing facilities (IBMVM, IBMTEXT, etc.)
    1. Extremely Valuable
    2. Very Valuable
    3. Valuable
    4. Somewhat Valuable
    5. Not at all Valuable
    6. I'm not familiar with this feature of IBMPC
  57. Do you find other features of IBMPC extremely valuable?
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, what other features of IBMPC are extremely valuable?

  58. Are there other features of IBMPC that you find not at all valuable?'
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, what features of IBMPC do you find not at all valuable?

  59. How high a priority should be given to providing an easier to use interface? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  60. How high a priority should be given to providing an enhanced user directory? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  61. How high a priority should be given to providing keyword search of IBMPC? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  62. How high a priority should be given to providing the ability to designate an append as a reply? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  63. How high a priority should be given to providing summaries of FORUMs? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  64. How high a priority should be given to providing a 'Pen Name' capability? (This does not imply that we will actually be able to do any one of these; but we'd like to know what you'd like done.)
    1. Highest Priority
    2. High Priority
    3. Some Priority
    4. Little Priority
    5. No Priority
  65. Should other possible enhancements of IBMPC be given development priority?
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, what other enhancements of IBMPC should be given development priority?

  66. Of the people with whom you communicate via IBMPC, how many did you know previous to using IBMPC?
    1. All
    2. Most
    3. Some
    4. A Few
    5. Almost None
  67. How much impact does geographical location have on whom you can communicate with via IBMPC?
    1. A very large impact
    2. A moderate impact
    3. A small impact
    4. No impact
  68. To what extent has your use of IBMPC given you more freedom t choose your working hours?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  69. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased your productivity?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  70. To what extent has your use of IBMPC improved your morale?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  71. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased your job-related knowledge?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  72. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased your knowledge of IBM?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  73. To what extent has your use of IBMPC improved your communication skills?'
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  74. To what extent has your use of IBMPC changed the way you do your job?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  75. To what extent has your use of IBMPC changed the way you think?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  76. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased contacts with peers?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  77. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased contacts up and down the company hierarchy?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  78. To what extent has your use of IBMPC increased contacts outside your immediate group?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  79. To what extent has your use of IBMPC isolated you from others who do not use the system?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  80. To what extent has your use of IBMPC reduced the amount of business travel you do?
    1. Very Strong Impact
    2. Strong Impact
    3. Some Impact
    4. Little Impact
    5. No Impact
  81. How important to IBMPC's success do you think good leadership (from forum owners, IBMPC administrators, etc) is?
    1. Very important
    2. Somewhat important
    3. Not very important
    4. Completely unimportant
  82. How do you feel about the amount of control that is exercised by forum owners and IBMPC administrators:
    1. Too much control
    2. About the right amount
    3. Not enough control
  83. How did you originally learn to use the IBMPC conferencing system?
    1. From IBMPC MEMO
    2. From an official class
    3. From other users
    4. From IBMPC user support (DC, et al)
    5. Other

    If other, where did you learn how to use IBMPC?

  84. Have you read IBMPC MEMO?
    1. Yes
    2. No

    If yes, did you find IBMPC MEMO valuable?

    1. Yes, very valuable
    2. Yes, somewhat valuable
    3. No, not very valuable
    4. No, not at all valuable

    If no, can you suggest something that would have lead you to IBMPC MEMO?

    If you did not find IBMPC MEMO very valuable, can you suggest something that would made IBMPC MEMO more valuable to you?

  85. What do you like most about IBMPC?
  86. What do you like least about IBMPC?
  87. Please tell us anything else you'd like about how IBMPC compare to any other conferences you use; how it is controlled and regulated; changes you'd like to see; how you use IBMPC; or how use of IBMPC has effected you personally:

You have completed the survey. Thank you for your efforts.

Your questionnaire will be saved to disk to a disk file. You can return it by:

  • Uploading the survey and sending it electronically to userid CHESS at YKTVMV.

  • Mailing a diskette with the survey output file back to: David Chess, 32-005 IBM T.J. Watson Research Center P.O. Box 218 Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

    If you wish to expand on your comments, please feel free to add them to your name before returning the file.