Hot Topics
Survey Reports
December 16, 1996
NEWS ATTRACTS MOST INTERNET USERS
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
OCTOBER 1996 TECHNOLOGY ONLINE RE-INTERVIEW
--TOPLINE --
October 21-31, 1996
N=1,003 Online Users
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in Princeton, New Jersey. Several months ago
we were conducting a telephone opinion survey for leading newspapers and TV stations around the country, and we
spoke with a (INSERT SEX AND AGE) in your household. I'd like to ask (HIM/HER) a few additional questions
to follow up on that previous interview. Is (HE/SHE) available?
IF PEW RESPONDENT DOES NOT ANSWER THE PHONE, USE THE FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION
WHEN HE OR SHE DOES GET ON THE LINE:
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in Princeton, New Jersey. Several months ago
you participated in a telephone opinion survey we were conducting for leading newspapers and TV stations around
the country. I'd like to ask you a few additional questions to follow up on that previous interview.
Screener to be used for all respondents:
THE FIRST QUESTION IS...
Q.1 Do you ever use a computer at work, school or home to connect with other computers over the Internet,
with the World Wide Web, or with information services such as America Online or Prodigy?
98 Yes -- PROCEED TO Q.2
2 No -- IF RESPONDENT IS A FORMER ONLINE USER, GO TO Q.1a; IF RESPONDENT
IS A NON-ONLINE USER, SKIP TO D.4
0 Don't know/Refused -- IF RESPONDENT IS A FORMER ONLINE USER, GO TO Q.1a; IF
RESPONDENT IS A NON-ONLINE USER, SKIP TO D.4
100
Q.1a The last time we spoke with you, you said that you DID sometimes go online. Have you stopped going
online? Why is that? (open-end)) (IF NO: So would you say you DO use a computer to go online?)
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 'YES' THEY'VE STOPPED GOING ONLINE, ASK THE FOLLOW UP
QUESTION AND SKIP TO D.4.
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 'NO' THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED GOING ONLINE AND 'YES' THEY
DO USE A COMPUTER TO GO ONLINE, PROCEED TO Q.2.
Q.2 Do you happen to read any daily newspaper or newspapers regularly, or not?
June 1995
72 Yes 74
28 No 26
0 DK/Refused 0
100 100
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU SPENT YOUR DAY YESTERDAY ...
INTERVIEWER NOTE: FOR QUESTIONS 3-5 PLEASE DETERMINE WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT
IS. IF THE DAY OF THE WEEK IS SUNDAY, PLEASE READ "FRIDAY". IF THE DAY IS NOT
SUNDAY, READ "YESTERDAY".
Q.3 Did you get a chance to read a daily newspaper yesterday, or not?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' YES, READ NEWSPAPER IN Q.3 ASK:
Q.3a About how much time did you spend reading a daily newspaper yesterday? (DO NOT READ)
June 1995
55 Yes -- GO TO Q.3a 63
7 Less than 15 min. 7
18 15-29 min. 19
19 30-59 min. 25
10 1 hour or more 12
1 Don't know/Refused *
45 No -- GO TO Q.4 37
0 DK/Refused -- GO TO Q.4 *
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.4 Did you watch the news or a news program on television yesterday, or not?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' YES, WATCHED IN Q.4 ASK:
Q.4a About how much time did you spend watching the news or any news programs on TV yesterday?
June 1995
61 Yes -- GO TO Q.4a 63
4 Less than 15 min. 3
10 15-29 min. 10
24 30-59 min. 24
22 1 hour or more 26
1 Don't know/Refused 0
39 No -- GO TO Q.5 37
* DK/Refused -- GO TO Q.5 *
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.5 About how much time, if any did you spend listening to any news on the radio yesterday or didn't you
happen to listen to the news on the radio yesterday?
June 1995
52 Yes 51
20 Less than 15 min. 14
11 15-29 min. 11
9 30-59 min. 12
12 1 hour or more 14
47 Didn't listen 49
1 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
NO QUESTION 6-8
ASK ALL:
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.9 Generally, speaking, how much interest would you say you have in politics: a great deal, a fair amount,
only a little, or no interest at all?
24 Great deal
45 Fair amount
27 Only a little
4 None
* Don't know/Refused
100
Q.10 How often would you say you vote... (READ )
General Public
Pew Research Center
Oct 1996
51 Always 42
27 Nearly always 26
9 Part of the time, OR 11
7 Seldom? 11
4 Never vote (VOL--DO NOT READ) 8
2 Other response (VOL--DO NOT READ) 2
* Don't know/Refused (DO NOT READ) *
100 100
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS ...
Q.11 If the presidential election were being held TODAY, would you vote for the Democratic ticket of Bill
Clinton and Al Gore, for the Republican ticket of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp, or for the Reform party ticket
of Ross Perot and Pat Choate? (INTERVIEWER: CHOATE RHYMES WITH BOAT)
Q.11a Do you support (INSERT CHOICE FROM Q.11) strongly or only moderately?
Q.11b As of TODAY, do you lean more to Clinton, the Democrat, more to Dole, the Republican, or more to
Perot, the Reform party candidate?
General Public
Pew Research Center
Oct 1996
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS: [N=831]
48 Clinton/Lean Clinton 51
25 Strongly 25
23 Only Moderately 26
0 Don't Know *
38 Dole/Lean Dole 34
19 Strongly 17
19 Only Moderately 16
* Don't Know 1
11 Perot/Lean Perot 8
4 Strongly 3
7 Moderately 5
0 Don't Know *
3 Other Candidate/Undecided 7
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.12 Suppose the 1996 elections for U.S. Congress were being held TODAY, would you vote for the
Republican Party's candidate or the Democratic Party's candidate for Congress in your district?
Q.12a As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to the Republican or the Democrat?
General Public
Pew Research Center
Oct 1996
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS: [N=831]
50 Republican 42
45 Democrat 49
5 Other/Undecided 9
100 100
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
IN THE NEWS. NOT EVERYONE WILL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM.
Q.13 As far as you know, which presidential candidate calls for a 15 percent across-the-board income tax cut
and a 50 percent cut in the capital gains tax? Is it Bill Clinton, Bob Dole or Ross Perot?
Based On General Public
Markel/PSRA
Oct 1996
71 Dole (correct answer) 59
7 Clinton 8
4 Perot 9
18 Don't know/Refused 24
100 100
Q.14 Do you happen to know which political party has a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives?
Based On General Public
Pew Research Center
April 1996
81 Republican (correct answer) 70
6 Democratic 8
13 Don't know/Refused 22
100 100
Q.15 Do you happen to know which candidate has used the phrase "bridge to the future"? Is it Bill Clinton, Bob
Dole or Ross Perot?
Based On General Public
Pew Research Center
Late Sept 1996
55 Clinton (correct answer) 38
8 Dole 9
4 Perot 2
33 Don't know/Refused 51
100 100
NOW ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT...
Q.16 Which of the following two statements best describes how you feel?
6 I'm mostly alone and there aren't many people I can turn to when I need help
OR
93 There are people I can turn to for support when I need help
* Neither (VOL)
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.17 Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in
dealing with people?
Based On General Public
NORC
Jan 27 - May 31, 1994
57 Most people can be trusted 34
39 Can't be too careful 61
3 Other/Depends (VOL) 4
1 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
Q.18 How much of the time do you trust the government in Washington to do the right thing? Just about
always, most of the time, or only some of the time?
Based On General Public
W. Post/Kaiser/Harvard
Nov 29 - Dec 4, 1995
2 Just about always 4
25 Most of the time 21
66 Only some of the time 71
6 None of the time (VOL) 4
1 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
BEFORE WE GO ON, I NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD. FIRST...
Q.19 Are you self-employed, do you work for someone else, do you do both, or aren't you employed right now?
June 1995
13 Self-employed 12
64 Work for someone else 63
11 Both 14
12 Not employed -- GO TO Q.21 11
0 DK/Refused -- GO TO Q.21 0
100 100
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED: N = 889
Q.20 Do you use a computer at your workplace on at least an occasional basis? By computer I mean a PC,
mainframe, or minicomputer. This would NOT include items such as checkout scanners or terminals used
for routine transactions and the like.
June 1995
88 Yes 91
12 No 9
0 DK/Refused 0
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.21 Are you presently enrolled in school or in college classes?
June 1995
28 Yes 31
72 No--GO TO Q.23 69
0 Dk/Refused--GO TO Q.23 *
100 100
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL: N = 231
Q.22 Do you use a computer at your school on at least an occasional basis?
June 1995
84 Yes 87
16 No 13
0 Don't know/Refused 0
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.23 Do you have any type of personal computer, including laptops -- such as an IBM PC or a Macintosh in
your home? These do not include game machines such as Nintendo or Sega.
June 1995
86 Yes 81
14 No -- GO TO Q.25 19
0 DK/Refused--GO TO Q.25 0
100 100
BASED ON THOSE WHO HAVE A HOME PC: N = 875
Q.24 Do you yourself use the home personal computer on at least an occasional basis? (IF YES, PROBE: Is
this every day, 3 to 5 days per week, 1 or 2 days per week, once every few weeks or less often?)
June 1995
41 Every day 37
30 3 to 5 days per week 33
18 1 or 2 days per week 21
8 Once every few weeks 5
1 Less often 2
2 No, don't use home PC 2
* Don't know/Refused 0
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.25 Earlier you said that you sometimes go-online. Do you do this from home, from work, or from school?
(ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES)
68 Home (INTERVIEWER: home business/work at home would go here)
47 Work
16 School
4 Other locations (VOL)
* Don't know/Refused
INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS AT THIS POINT THAT HE/SHE DOES NOT
GO ONLINE, SKIP TO D.4
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO GAVE MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE IN Q.25: N = 320
Q.25a Would you say you do this MOST OFTEN from home, work or school?
54 Home
38 Work
4 School
4 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.26 When did you first start going online, was it within the last 6 months, a year ago, two or three years ago, or
more than three years ago?
26 Within last 6 months
38 1 year ago
24 2-3 years ago
12 More than 3 years ago
* Don't know/Refused
100
Q.27 Did you happen to go online yesterday? (IF YES, ASK: From where did you go online... home, work,
school, or some combination of these?) (ENTER ALL THAT APPLY)
June 1995
38 Yes (NET) 32
Yes, home (INTERVIEWER:
Again home business/work at
26 home would go here) 19
15 Yes, work 15
3 Yes, school 2
1 Yes, other locations *
62 No, didn't go online 67
* Don't know/Refused 1
100 100
NO QUESTION 28
Q.29 Do you PERSONALLY subscribe to any of the commercial information services such as Compuserve,
Prodigy, America Online, or to one of the direct Internet access providers? (IF YES: Which ones do you
belong to?) (ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES; PROBE ONCE: Any others?)
June 1995
29 America Online 20
7 Compuserve 14
6 Prodigy 15
2 Microsoft n/a
1 AT&T Worldnet n/a
18 Internet Access Provider 9
4 Other (SPECIFY) 6
40 No, subscribe to none 46
3 Don't know/No answer 4
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO ANSWERED '2' WORK OR '3' SCHOOL IN Q.25: N = 577
Q.29a Do you have access to the Internet at work or school? (IF YES: Is that through a commercial online
service such as America Online, an Internet access provider, or a direct Internet connection?)
(INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT OFFERS A SPECIFIC ONLINE SERVICE SUCH AS
AMERICA ONLINE OR PRODIGY CODE AS '1')
22 Commercial online service
15 Internet access provider
45 Direct Internet connection
1 Other (SPECIFY)
4 No, do not have access
13 Don't know/Refused
100
BASED ON THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO AN ONLINE SERVICE OR HAVE ACCESS THROUGH
WORK OR SCHOOL: N = 831
Q.30 How often do you go online to (this service/these services/via the direct Internet provider -- BASED ON
RESPONSE TO Q.29/29a) ... every day, 3 to 5 days per week, 1 or 2 days per week, once every few
weeks, less often, or never?
June 1995+
25 Every day 20
29 3 to 5 days per week 26
28 1 or 2 days per week 29
13 Once every few weeks 16
5 Less often 6
* Never 2
* Don't know/Refused 1
100 100
+ 1995 TRENDS REFER SPECIFICALLY TO ONLINE USERS WHO SUBSCRIBE TO AN ONLINE SERVICE
NO QUESTION 31 OR 32
ASK ALL:
Q.33 Some people go online for work-related activities, some do it for pleasure, and for others it's some of each.
How about you... all work, all pleasure, or a mix?
June 1995
14 All work -- GO TO Q.35 31
19 All pleasure -- GO TO Q.35 19
67 Mix -- GO TO Q.34 49
* Don't know/Refused -- GO TO Q.35 1
100 100
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO ANSWERED 'MIX' IN Q.33: N = 674
Q.34 How would you describe the mix... mostly work, mostly pleasure, or about half-and-half?
June 1995
28 Mostly work 32
26 Mostly pleasure 29
45 Half and half 39
1 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.35 How much would you miss going online if you could no longer do this? (READ CATEGORIES)
June 1995
34 A lot 32
37 Some 34
20 Not much 19
9 Not at all 14
* Don't Know/Refused 1
100 100
Q.36 Do you ever send or receive e-mail or electronic mail? (IF YES, ASK: Is this everyday, 3 to 5 days per
week, 1 or 2 days per week, once every few weeks, or less often?)
June 1995
26 Everyday 23
19 3-5 days per week 15
19 1-2 days per week 15
13 Once every few weeks 12
6 Less often 7
17 No/never -- GO TO Q.41 28
0 DK/Refused -- GO TO Q.41 *
100 100
BASED ON THOSE WHO USE E-MAIL: N = 837
Q.37 How often do you check your e-mail?
June 1995
21 More than once a day 22
29 Everyday 29
19 3-5 days per week 16
17 1-2 days per week 19
13 Less often 13
1 Don't know/Refused 1
100 100
Q.38 Did you send or receive any e-mail yesterday? (IF YES: Is that sent or received?)
June 1995
2 Yes, sent 3
7 Yes, received 5
26 Yes, both 19
48 No 44
* Don't know/Refused 1
17 Do not use e-mail 28
100 100
BASED ON E-MAIL USERS WHO SENT E-MAIL YESTERDAY: N = 305
Q.39 About how many messages did you send yesterday?
June 1995
16 One 12
25 Two 24
12 Three 19
8 Four 6
23 Five to Nine 17
10 Ten to Nineteen 10
5 Twenty or more 10
1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
BASED ON E-MAIL USERS WHO RECEIVED E-MAIL YESTERDAY: N = 352
Q.40 About how many e-mail messages did you receive yesterday?
June 1995+
* Zero 3
12 One 16
15 Two 15
12 Three 9
8 Four 5
21 Five to Nine 16
16 Ten to Nineteen 15
4 Twenty to Twenty-nine 7
11 Thirty or more 12
1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
+ 1995 TRENDS REPRESENT ONLY THOSE MESSAGES NOT RECIEVED AS PART OF A LISTSERV.
ASK ALL:
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GO
ONLINE ...
Q.41 When you go online would you say you are usually looking for specific information or simply browsing?
67 Looking for specific information
20 Browsing
12 Some of both (VOL)
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.42 Please tell me how often, if ever, you engage in each of the following online activities. First, how often do
you go online to (READ AND ROTATE)... everyday, 3-5 days per week, 1 or 2 days per week, once
every few weeks, less often, or never?
Once
3-5 1-2 Every
Every Days Days Few Less
day Week week Weeks Often Never DK
a. Communicate with other
people through online
forums, discussion
lists, or chat groups 6 7 10 12 15 50 *=100
June, 1995 4 7 12 12 9 55 1=100
b. Get financial information
such as stock quotes or
corporate information or
to buy stocks or bonds 5 7 10 12 10 56 *=100
June, 1995 3 4 7 8 4 74 *=100
c. Do research for school 3 6 13 12 7 59 *=100
d. Do research for work 9 17 22 15 9 28 *=100
e. Get news and information
on current events, public
issues or politics 7 11 21 20 13 28 *=100
f. Get travel information
or services 1 2 7 19 26 45 *=100
June, 1995 1 1 2 10 13 73 *=100
g. Play games 2 3 7 9 9 70 0=100
June, 1995 1 1 5 6 6 81 *=100
h. Get information about
hobbies, movies,
restaurants or other
entertainment-related
activities 2 9 19 24 15 31 *=100
June, 1995 1 6 12 16 9 56 *=100
Q.43 Do you ever engage in online discussions about politics? (IF YES, ASK: Is this everyday, 3 to 5 days per
week, 1 or 2 days per week, once every few weeks, or less often?)
June 1995
1 Everyday *
1 3-5 days per week 1
2 1-2 days per week 3
4 Once every few weeks 3
3 Less often 3
89 No/never 90
0 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
Q.44 Do you ever contact or e-mail any groups, organizations or public officials about political issues or public
policy questions? (IF YES, ASK: Is this everyday, 3 to 5 days per week, 1 or 2 days per week, once
every few weeks, or less often?)
1 Everyday
* 3-5 days per week
1 1-2 days per week
6 Once every few weeks
9 Less often
83 No/never
0 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.45 Have you ever used the World Wide Web? (IF YES, ASK: Did you use the web yesterday? IF NO,
ASK: Have you done this in the past week?)
June 1995
22 Yes, ever 9
23 Yes, yesterday 6
28 Yes, in past week 6
26 No/Never -- GO TO Q.47 39
1 DK/Refused -- GO TO Q.47 40
100 100
BASED ON THOSE WHO USE THE WEB: N = 738
Q.46 How do you use the World Wide Web... through a commercial online service such as America Online or
Compuserve, a direct dialup service, or a direct connection located at work or school? (ENTER ALL
THAT APPLY)
June 1995
44 Commercial online service 33
28 Direct dialup service 23
35 School or Work connection 53
1 Other (SPECIFY) 8
3 Don't know/Refused 1
ASK ALL:
Q.47 Does the computer you use most often to go online have a modem that allows you to connect to other
computers? (IF YES ASK: Do you happen to know the speed of that modem -- such as 9600 baud, 14
point 4, 28 point 8 or something else?)
3 Lower than 9600
4 9600
21 14,400
28 28,800
2 33,600
2 Other (SPECIFY)
7 No modem
33 Don't know/Refused
100
BASED ON THOSE WHO HAVE A MODEM: N = 623
Q.48 How satisfied are you with the speed of your modem... would you say you're very satisfied, somewhat
satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?
32 Very satisfied
47 Somewhat satisfied
12 Not too satisfied
8 Not at all satisfied
1 Don't know/Refused
100
ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT ...
ASK Q.49 ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED '1-5' IN Q.42e:
Q.49 Do you sometimes go online to get ... (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE)
Not an
online
Yes No DK news user+
a. Political news 33 39 * 28=100
b. Business news 38 34 * 28=100
c. Sports news 33 39 0 28=100
d. International news 32 40 0 28=100
e. News about science and health 42 30 0 28=100
f. News about technology 46 26 * 28=100
g. Weather 34 38 0 28=100
h. Entertainment news 36 36 * 28=100
i. Local news 19 53 0 28=100
+ THESE RESPONDENTS WERE SKIPPED OUT OF Q.49
NO QUESTION 50
BASED ON RESPONDENTS WHO ANSWERED '1-5' IN Q.42e: N = 724
Q.51 What online source would you say you use the most often when you are looking for news and information
on current events, public issues and politics? (open-end) (ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES; PROBE
ONCE: Any others?)
19 America Online
7 Yahoo
6 World Wide Web
6 CNN
5 Netscape
4 Prodigy
3 Compuserve
3 Search Engines (unspecified)
2 Internet Browser (unspecified)
2 MSNBC
2 NYT Online
2 Infoseek
2 USA Today Online
2 Lycos
1 Microsoft Network
1 Magellan
1 Pointcast Network
1 Wall Street Journal
1 Alta Vista
1 Webcrawler
1 Reuters
1 Internet Newsgroups
1 Time
1 ESPN Net
1 Washington Post
1 Excite
15 Other
32 Don't know/No Answer
ASK ALL:
Q.52 When you go online are you ever EXPOSED to news and information on current events, public issues or
politics when you may have been going online for a purpose other than to get the news?
53 Yes
45 No
2 Don't know/Refused
100
NO QUESTION 53
Q.54 Have you ever gone online to follow-up or get more information on a news story you saw or heard in a
newspaper or magazine or on TV?
42 Yes
58 No
* Don't know/Refused
100
Q.55 Do you ever go online to get news or information about the 1996 elections? (IF YES, ASK: How often
do you go online to get news about the elections... more than once a day, everyday, 3-5 days per week, 1-2
days per week, or less often?)
* More than once a day
2 Everyday
2 3-5 days per week
8 1-2 days per week
10 Less often
78 No/never -- GO TO Q.64
0 Don't know/Refused -- GO TO Q.64
100
Q.56 - Q.63 BASED ON THOSE WHO GO ONLINE TO GET ELECTION NEWS: N = 215
Q.56 Where do you go most often for news and information about the 1996 elections? (READ CATEGORIES)
(ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES) (N=215)
38 The news sites of commercial online services such as America Online or Compuserve
50 The Web sites of major news organizations such as CNN or the Wall Street Journal
15 Political information sites such as Politics Now
25 Web sites set up by the candidates themselves
7 Or some other source (SPECIFY)
6 Don't know/Refused
Q.57 What ONE online source would you say you use the most often when you are looking for news or
information about the 1996 elections? (open-end) (INTERVIEWER: PROBE FOR A SPECIFIC
SOURCE; ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES, BUT DO NOT PROBE FOR MORE THAN ONE)
(N=215)
20 CNN
17 America Online
7 Yahoo
4 Prodigy
4 Wall Street Journal
3 World Wide Web
3 Internet Browser (unspecified)
2 MSNBC
2 Compuserve
2 Pointcast Network
2 NYT Online
1 Magellan
1 Reuters
1 Netscape
1 USA Today Online
25 Other
16 Don't know/No Answer
Q.58 When you go online to get information about the elections, do you ever do any of the following things.
First, do you ever (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE)? (N=215)
Yes No DK
a. Participate in online discussions or "chat" groups 31 69 *=100
b. Download or copy information to keep for yourself 56 44 0=100
c. Register your own opinions by participating in an
electronic poll 34 66 0=100
d. Give out information about yourself -- such as your
e-mail or mailing address 31 69 0=100
Q.59 Which of the following comes closest to describing WHY you go online to get news and information about
the 1996 elections? (READ CATEGORIES; ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES) (N=215)
26 Because you can get information on the Web that is not available elsewhere
45 Because getting information online is more convenient for you
24 Because the Web offers news sources that reflect your own interests or values
Because you don't get all the news and information you want from traditional news
53 sources such as the daily newspaper or the network TV news, OR
5 Some other reason (SPECIFY)
4 Don't know/Refused
Q.60 Do you generally go online to get news and information about the 1996 elections because you need this
information for work or school? (N=215)
17 Yes
82 No
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.61 Some people go online for campaign news because they are very interested in politics and enjoy following
it. Others get no enjoyment out of following politics, but they keep up with it because they feel it's their
duty to be well-informed. Which view comes closer to your own? (N=215)
38 Enjoy politics
59 Duty to be well-informed
2 Neither (VOL)
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.62 When you go online to get news and information about the 1996 elections, are you usually looking for
information on the presidential election, the congressional elections, or the local elections in your town,
county or city? (ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES) (N=215)
90 Presidential
33 Congressional
24 Local
1 Don't know/Refused
Q.63 Has any of the information you have received online about the 1996 elections influenced your choice of
candidates? (N=215)
31 Yes
69 No
0 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK Q.64-66 ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED '1-5' IN Q.42e
INTRO. TO Q'S 64-66: NOW I AM GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC WEB SITES ...
Q.64 Do you ever go onto (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE) to get news and information on current events, public
issues or politics? (CONTINUE WITH Q'S 65-66 BEFORE REPEATING QUESTION FOR NEXT
ITEM.)
Not an
online
Yes No DK news user+
a. The Web sites of the Broadcast
TV networks -- ABC, NBC or CBS 23 49 * 28=100
b. The Web sites of national newspapers
such as the Washington Post, The New
York Times and or Los Angeles Times 27 45 * 28=100
c. The Wall Street Journal Home Page 18 54 * 28=100
d. C-SPAN's Web site 11 60 1 28=100
e. MSNBC 12 59 1 28=100
f. Congressional Quarterly's
American Voter '96 2 69 1 28=100
g. CNN/Time AllPolitics 16 56 * 28=100
h. PoliticsNow 5 66 1 28=100
i. Rock the Vote 4 67 1 28=100
j. Citizens '96 2 70 * 28=100
k. Clinton/Gore campaign Web sites 7 65 * 28=100
l. Dole/Kemp campaign Web sites 7 64 1 28=100
m. The Web sites of the Democratic
and Republican National Committees 8 64 * 28=100
n. The House of Representatives Home Page 6 65 1 28=100
o. The Senate Web Page 6 66 * 28=100
p. The White House Web page 15 57 * 28=100
q. A Web site devoted to news or
information about your
local community 19 53 * 28=100
+ THESE RESPONDENTS WERE SKIPPED OUT OF THE Q.64-Q.66 SERIES.
IF YES IN Q.64, ASK:
Q.65 Do you ever go onto this Web site to get news or information about the 1996 elections?
BASED ON ALL ONLINE USERS
Who Visit Site For BASED ON ELECTION
Ever Campaign News NEWS CONSUMERS
Use Site Yes No DK/Ref Yes No
a. The Web sites of the
Broadcast TV networks
-- ABC, NBC or CBS 23 7 16 0 25 73
b. The Web sites of
national newspapers
such as the Washington
Post, The New York Times
and or Los Angeles Times 27 10 17 * 38 58
c. The Wall Street Journal
Home Page 18 5 13 0 18 80
d. C-SPAN's Web site 11 6 5 0 24 73
e. MSNBC 12 5 7 * 21 75
f. Congressional Quarterly's
American Voter '96 2 2 * 0 6 91
g. CNN/Time AllPolitics 16 10 6 * 40 57
h. PoliticsNow 5 4 1 0 16 79
i. Rock the Vote 4 3 1 0 9 88
j. Citizens '96 2 1 1 * 5 92
k. Clinton/Gore campaign
Web sites 7 6 1 0 24 74
l. Dole/Kemp campaign Web
sites 7 6 1 0 26 71
m. The Web sites of the
Democratic and Republican
National Committees 8 6 2 * 25 72
n. The House of
Representatives Home Page 6 2 4 0 11 87
o. The Senate Web Page 6 2 4 0 8 90
p. The White House Web page 15 5 10 0 18 80
q. A Web site devoted to
news or information about
your local community 19 6 13 0 21 77
BASED ON THOSE WHO 'EVER' GO ONTO EACH SITE
Q.66 Would you say you find this Web site to be very useful, somewhat useful, or not useful?
Some DK/
Very what Not Ref. (N)
a. The Web sites of the Broadcast
TV networks -- ABC, NBC or CBS 25 64 10 1=100 (222)
b. The Web sites of national newspapers
such as the Washington Post, The New
York Times and or Los Angeles Times 28 67 4 1=100 (276)
c. The Wall Street Journal Home Page 34 59 6 1=100 (199)
d. C-SPAN's Web site 30 59 8 3=100 (119)
e. MSNBC 28 63 8 1=100 (118)
f. Congressional Quarterly's American
Voter '96 -- -- -- -- (23)
g. CNN/Time AllPolitics 36 59 4 1=100 (167)
h. PoliticsNow -- -- -- -- (44)
i. Rock the Vote -- -- -- -- (35)
j. Citizens '96 -- -- -- -- (18)
k. Clinton/Gore campaign Web sites 30 58 9 3=100 (66)
l. Dole/Kemp campaign Web sites 16 71 10 3=100 (73)
m. The Web sites of the Democratic
and Republican National Committees 18 70 12 *=100 (78)
n. The House of Representatives
Home Page 29 60 7 4=100 (72)
o. The Senate Web Page 23 67 7 3=100 (68)
p. The White House Web page 20 56 22 2=100 (155)
q. A Web site devoted to news or
information about your local
community 34 52 14 *=100 (191)
ON A RELATED SUBJECT...
ASK ALL:
Q.67 Do you ever visit Web sites that provide information about specific issues or policies that interest you such
as the environment, gun control, abortion, or health care reform? (IF YES, ASK: Which sites do you visit
most often? -- PROBE ONCE: Any others?; ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES)
5 Environment
5 Gun control/NRA
5 Health care/Health related sites
3 Abortion
1 Political Sites
1 Major online newspaper/Journal sites
1 Business related sites
1 CNN
1 Religion related sites
1 University sites
1 Military sites
10 Other
11 Don't know/Refused
66 No, does not visit web sites that provide information about specific issues
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.68 Which of the following statements comes closer to your opinion of the Internet?
These days you're more likely to find accurate information about what's going on in the world on
56 the Internet than in the daily newspapers or on the network news
OR
22 A lot of what you find on the Internet cannot be believed.
12 Neither (VOL)
10 Don't know/Refused
100
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