September 23, 2010

Dear Student,
We are graduate students in the Masters of Mass Communication
program at University of South Carolina. We are researching the use of
smart phones among USC students. This study is important because
there is little research on the topic, but the number of students using
smart phones has increased from 27 percent in 2009 to a staggering
49 percent in 2010.
Attached is a questionnaire asking about your use of smart phones and
your motivations for using one. We are asking that you spend about
five minutes to complete this survey. You should understand that your
participation is voluntary.
This questionnaire will not ask you to provide us with any information
about your identity.
Instructions are located in the questionnaire, clearly stating what to do
for each question. Please circle or write in the first answer that comes
to mind for each question.
When you complete the questionnaire, please return it to the person
who gave you the questionnaire, who also will be glad to answer any
questions you may have about the survey.
Thank you for participating in this research. We really appreciate your
time and effort.

September 23, 2010

Dear Student,
We are graduate students in the Masters of Mass Communication
program at University of South Carolina. We are researching the use of
smart phones among USC students. This study is important because
there is little research on the topic, but the number of students using
smart phones has increased from 27 percent in 2009 to a staggering
49 percent in 2010.
Attached is a questionnaire asking about your use of smart phones and
your motivations for using one. We are asking that you spend about
five minutes to complete this survey. You should understand that your
participation is voluntary.
This questionnaire will not ask you to provide us with any information
about your identity.
Instructions are located in the questionnaire, clearly stating what to do
for each question. Please circle or write in the first answer that comes
to mind for each question.
When you complete the questionnaire, please return it to the person
who gave you the questionnaire, who also will be glad to answer any
questions you may have about the survey.
Thank you for participating in this research. We really appreciate your
time and effort.

QQuestionnaire
Q1. The first set of questions is intended to gather some general
information about your smart phone. In the space provided, please
answer the following questions.
a) Which brand of smart phone do you use?

b) How many months or years have you had your smart phone?
_______________________ years ________________________ months
c) Overall, how many hours a day would you say you use your smart
phone? Please include time spent talking, texting and using data
applications.
_________________________ hours _______________________minutes
Q2. The next question will ask you for the amount of time you use
the different features of your smart phone.
On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is almost never and 5 is very often, please circle
the answer that best fits how often you use each of the features of your
smart phone in a typical month.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.

Shopping
News
Weather
Research
Watching movie clips/YouTube
Social Media
Music
Games
5
GPS
Email
Phone
Text
Calendar
Calculator
Camera
5

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4

1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
1

3
3
3
3
3
3
2

4
4
4
4
4
4
3

5
5
5
5
5
5
4

Q3. The next series of questions focus on the reasons you use your
smart phone.

On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree,

please circle the statements that apply to you on a regular basis.
I use my smart phone .
a) When I have nothing better to do
5
b) Because its nearby
5
c) Because it passes the time faster
5
d) When there is no one else to talk to
5

2
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

2
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

2
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

2
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

I use my smart phone to

e) Be accessible at all times
1
f) Be up to date with my family & friends
5
g) Interact with others
5
h) Get to know others better
1
I use my smart phone to...
i) Get instant answers to my questions
5
j) Change appointments on short notice
5
k) Avoid waiting to use my computer
5
l) Get instant access to sports scores
5
m) Quickly check movie times
5
I use my smart phone to
n) To help plan and organize my life
5
o) Access Banking Information
5
p) All-in-one device (computer on the go) 1
q) Wireless internet and email
5
I think my smart phone
r) Is enjoyable
s) Is a way to have fun
5
t) Is good for playing games
u) Is a source of entertainment
5

I use my smart phone to

v) Interact with professors and classmates
5
w) Obtain class notes easily
1
x) Check grades or Blackboard
5
y) Access VIP
1

2
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

I use my smart phone to

z) Get directions
1
5
aa)Look up things I need to know about daily life 1
5
bb)
Research (Google, Wikipedia, etc.)
4
5
cc) Stay up to date on current events
1
5

Q4. For the following questions, please circle the answer that best
applies to you.
a) Which of the following most describes the reason that you first began
using a smart phone as opposed to a regular phone? (Pick all that
apply.)
1 Immediate information (news)
2 GPS use
3 Entertainment/Games
4 Email
5 All-in-one device
6 Other (please specify)
_______________________________
b) Do you use your smart phone more for communication purposes
(voice calling/texting) or for data purposes (internet, applications)?
1 Communication more
2 Data more
3 Equal Amount

Q5. The following question will ask you about your gender.
Demographics
a) Are you male or female? Your gender
1 Male
2 Female
b)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
c)

Your ethinicityethnicity
Caucasian
Asian
African American
Hispanic
Others ____________________