Dissertation

Appendix B: Survey Instrument and Scales

Dissertation

Appendix B: Survey Instrument and Scales

B.1. Survey Instrument

Note: All questions except those under "Demographics and Usage" were randomized per participant, as discussed in section 3.5.5, and displayed with the five response choices available for participants to select. Questions were pretested (see section 3.5.5) and minor adjustments were made based on results of the content analysis phase and the pretest.

The following are statements relating to your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and as part of communities. These communities may be based in a common activity, occupation, interest, topic, location, or other common thread. Such communities include the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups you frequent. Please carefully read each statement and then assess, to the best of your ability, if you strongly agree (5), agree, are neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree (1) with its content. Many statements are intended to measure the same concepts or phenomena and may seem similar, but please read each carefully to identify differences that may change your choice of response.

Boundary Objects

  1. I am part of multiple communities that use [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
  2. When I need to find information or resources, I use the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] communities I am part of to help me.
  3. Information and resources I find using the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] communities I am part of are useful to me.
  4. My use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] does not change when interacting with the different communities I am part of.
  5. When interacting with the different communities I am part of, I find [LibraryThing / Goodreads] works and functions similarly in each case.

Translation

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me better understand people.
  2. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me better understand books, movies, and other media.
  3. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] allows me to interact with people from multiple communities.
  4. Using [LibraryThing / Goodreads], I interact with people from multiple communities.
  5. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] allows me to work together with people in multiple communities.
  6. Using [LibraryThing / Goodreads], I work together with people in multiple communities.

Coherence and Convergence

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.
  2. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] fits well into the communities I am part of.
  3. I find the design and functionality of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.
  4. I find the management and administration of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.

Information Worlds (IW) and Social Worlds (SW)

Social norms (IW)

  1. There are common standards or norms of behavior on [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
  2. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] generally conform to common standards or norms of behavior.
  3. My personal standards or norms of behavior match with those of other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users.
  4. The common standards or norms of behavior in the communities I am part of match well with those of other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users.
  5. I follow common standards or norms of behavior when using [LibraryThing / Goodreads].

Social types (IW)

  1. I see users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as playing specific roles or parts in their communities.
  2. I believe other users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] see me as playing specific roles or parts in my communities.
  3. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] are expected to play specific roles or parts in their communities.
  4. The roles or parts played by users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] are commonly accepted in the communities I am part of.

Information values (IW)

  1. I have similar values of particular books, movies, and media as other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  2. I have similar values of the messages that people post in [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups as other users I interact with.
  3. Users in [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups are expected to share similar values of particular books, movies, and media.
  4. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] are expected to share similar values of particular messages people post in groups.

Information behaviors (IW) / activities (SW)

  1. I believe I look for and find information and resources similar to those other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with look for.
  2. I believe I use information and resources in similar ways to other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  3. I believe I share information and resources in similar ways to other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  4. I believe I share information and resources in similar ways with people who use [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and people who do not.
  5. I share common interest in at least one activity with other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  6. I take part in the same activities as other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.

Organizations (SW)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps further the activities of the communities I am part of.
  2. The [LibraryThing / Goodreads] communities I interact with help further the activities we share.
  3. I consider myself part of an organization [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helped create.
  4. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be an organization I am part of.

Sites (SW)

  1. The [LibraryThing / Goodreads] Web site plays a role or part in the activities of the communities I am part of.
  2. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be a common space.
  3. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be central to the communities I am part of.
  4. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] serves as a space for sharing information and knowledge within communities.
  5. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] serves as a space for sharing information and knowledge between communities.

Technologies (SW)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] provides the technology that communities I am part of use to interact.
  2. The technology provided by [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is used during the activities of the communities I am part of.
  3. The technology provided by [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is central to the communities I am part of.
  4. The technology provided by [LibraryThing / Goodreads] allows me to share information and knowledge with others.

Demographics and Usage

1. What is your gender?
(  ) Male          (  ) Female       (  ) Other         (  ) Prefer not to answer

2. What was your age at your last birthday?
[                 ]
[Note: data for participants under 18 and over 65 will be deleted prior to analysis.]

3. What is your highest completed level of education?
(  ) Have not completed high school (or equivalent)
(  ) High school diploma (or equivalent)
(  ) Associate’s (two-year) degree
(  ) Bachelor’s (four-year) degree
(  ) Master’s degree
(  ) Professional degree (JD, MD, etc.)
(  ) Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, etc.)
(  ) Other - please specify:
________________________
(  ) Prefer not to answer

4. How many hours do you spend using the Internet each week?
[      ]

5. How many hours do you spend using [LibraryThing / Goodreads] each week?
[      ]

6. How many hours do you spend using [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups each week?
[       ]

7. Which of the services listed below do you use at least once each week? Please check all that apply.
[   ] Facebook
[   ] Twitter
[   ] Google Plus
[   ] LinkedIn
[   ] Instagram
[   ] Blogging services (WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, etc.)
[   ] [Goodreads / LibraryThing]
[   ] Shelfari
[   ] Foursquare
[   ] Pinterest
[   ] Flickr

Participation

Thank you for participating in this survey and research study! There are just three more brief questions for you to answer about your participation:

1. For completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 $25 Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or Books-A-Million gift cards. Please indicate your preference and enter an e-mail address below where the gift card should be sent if you are selected to receive one. This e-mail will only be used to send the gift card and shall remain confidential.
(  ) Amazon.com            (  ) Barnes and Noble              (  ) Books-A-Million
E-mail address:   [                                               ]

2. Would you be interested in participating in a follow-up interview about your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads]?
(  )       Yes, use the e-mail address I gave above to contact me. (Thank you for your interest!)
(  )       Yes, but use a different e-mail address to contact me. (This e-mail will only be used to contact you for an interview and shall remain confidential. Thank you for your interest!)
[____________________________]
(  )       No

3. Would you like to receive a report summarizing the findings from and conclusions of this research, once it is complete?
(  )       Yes, use the e-mail address I gave above to send me the report.
(  )       Yes, but use a different e-mail address to send me the report. (This e-mail will only be used to send you the report and shall remain confidential.)
[____________________________]
(  )       No

Thank you again for participating! Note that you will not be able to change your answers once you click the Finish button below to complete the survey. If you would like to change or review your answers, please use the Back (<<) button to do so.

B.2. Final Likert Scales

Translation (α = 0.707)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me better understand people.
  2. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me better understand books, movies, and other media.
  3. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] allows me to interact with people from multiple communities.
  4. Using [LibraryThing / Goodreads], I interact with people from multiple communities.
  5. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] allows me to work together with people in multiple communities.
  6. Using [LibraryThing / Goodreads], I work together with people in multiple communities.

Coherence and Convergence (α = 0.749)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps me build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.
  2. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] fits well into the communities I am part of.
  3. I find the design and functionality of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.
  4. I find the management and administration of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps build common understanding with others I interact with on the Web site.

Social Norms (α = 0.734)

  1. There are common standards or norms of behavior on [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
  2. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] generally conform to common standards or norms of behavior.
  3. My personal standards or norms of behavior match with those of other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users.
  4. The common standards or norms of behavior in the communities I am part of match well with those of other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users.
  5. I follow common standards or norms of behavior when using [LibraryThing / Goodreads].

Social Types (α = 0.745)

  1. I see users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as playing specific roles or parts in their communities.
  2. I believe other users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] see me as playing specific roles or parts in my communities.
  3. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] are expected to play specific roles or parts in their communities.

Information Values (α = 0.697)

  1. I have similar values of particular books, movies, and media as other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  2. I have similar values of the messages that people post in [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups as other users I interact with.
  3. Users in [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups are expected to share similar values of particular books, movies, and media.
  4. Users of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] are expected to share similar values of particular messages people post in groups.

Information Behaviors / Activities (α = 0.823)

  1. I believe I look for and find information and resources similar to those other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with look for.
  2. I believe I use information and resources in similar ways to other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  3. I believe I share information and resources in similar ways to other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.
  4. I take part in the same activities as other [LibraryThing / Goodreads] users I interact with.

Organizations (α = 0.730)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helps further the activities of the communities I am part of.
  2. The [LibraryThing / Goodreads] communities I interact with help further the activities we share.
  3. I consider myself part of an organization [LibraryThing / Goodreads] helped create.
  4. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be an organization I am part of.

Sites (α = 0.729)

  1. The [LibraryThing / Goodreads] Web site plays a role or part in the activities of the communities I am part of.
  2. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be a common space.
  3. I consider [LibraryThing / Goodreads] to be central to the communities I am part of.
  4. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] serves as a space for sharing information and knowledge within communities.
  5. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] serves as a space for sharing information and knowledge between communities.

Technologies (α = 0.829)

  1. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] provides the technology that communities I am part of use to interact.
  2. The technology provided by [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is used during the activities of the communities I am part of.
  3. The technology provided by [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is central to the communities I am part of.