Informed Consent

Student gains political knowledge from social media Study Project Title and Purpose: You are invited to participate in a study to gauge student political knowledge from social media. Investigator(s): This study is being conducted by students in a Research Methods class at Queens University of Charlotte as part of a class project under the direction of Dr. Daina Nathaniel in the Knight School of Communication. Description of Participation: You are asked to voluntarily answer questions pertaining to your involvement with social media in connection with your political involvement. Length of Participation Your participation in this project will take approximately 15 minutes. If you decide to participate, you will be one of approximately 100 participants in this study. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements by circling a number 1 to 5. Strongly Disagree Neutra Agree Strongly Disagree l Agree I plan to vote in the 2012 presidential election. 1 2 3 4 5 I share the same political affiliation as my father. 1 2 3 4 5 I share the same political affiliation as my mother. 1 2 3 4 5 I am knowledgeable about using an absentee ballot. 1 2 3 4 5 If needed, I would use early or absentee voting to ensure my 1 2 3 4 5
vote is counted. I receive information about political candidates from Facebook. I receive information about political candidates from YouTube. I receive information about political candidates from Twitter. I receive information about political candidates from blogs.

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Please circle the appropriate answer(s). Which networks are you using to Which networks are you using to follow non-political information? follow political information? (circle all that apply) (circle all that apply) 1. Facebook 1. Facebook 2. Twitter 2. Twitter 3. Youtube 3. Youtube 4. Blogs 4. Blogs 5. Other________________ 5. Other_____________________ Demographics - Please circle the most appropriate response What is your age range? 18-25

Which network do you receive the most political information from? 1. Facebook 2. Twitter 3. Youtube 4. Blogs 5. Other _____________________

26-30

30- 40

Above 40

What is your gender?

Male

Female

What political party are you registered with?

Republican

Democrat

Independent

No party

What is your permanent state of residence? Political Involvement Please circle the appropriate answer. yes no

Were you legally eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election?

If you were legally eligible, to vote did political no How would you describe the dominant you vote in the last election? you describe your own personal political How would yes environment of the household where you grew up? orientation? 1. Very conservative 1. Very conservative 2. Conservative 2. Conservative 3. Moderate 3. Moderate 4. Liberal 4. Liberal 5. Very liberal 5. Very liberal 6. I dont know 6. I dont know 7. Open (please specify) _______________________ 7. Open (please specify) _______________________ Please indicate how likely you are to engage in the following political activities using social media.
Very Unlikely Unlikely Maybe/ maybe not Likely Very Likely

Read blogs for political information. Write blogs for political issues. Respond to blogs for political issues. Read messages on Facebook for political information. Post messages on Facebook for political issues. Respond to messages on Facebook for political issues. Read Twitter messages for political information. Send Twitter messages for political issues. Respond to Twitter messages for political issues. Watch Youtube for political information. Upload/create Youtube videos for political issues. Other

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Please indicate how likely you are to participate in the following activities.
Very Unlikely Unlikely Maybe/ maybe not Likely Very Likely

Wear a button, put a sticker on my car, or place a sign in front of my house in support of an issue or candidate. Contribute money to a candidate, political party or any organization that supports candidates. Sign a petition (paper or email) about a political issue. Work or volunteer for a political campaign. Participate in a protest, march or demonstration. Work or volunteer for a political campaign. Write a policy analysis paper. Participate in online political discussions. Visit a politically oriented website. Contact or visit a public official (at any level of government) to ask for assistance or to express my opinion. Contact a newspaper, magazine, radio, or television program to express my opinion on an issue or candidate. Attend a meeting of town or city council, school board or

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neighborhood association. Help to promote political involvement or assist with voter registration. Other