Student Computing Survey 2008-2009: Undergraduate Results

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Summary

Results

 

Summary

Demographics:

This year, 1195 students or 18% of all undergrads responded to the survey, with slightly more women responding to the survey (53%) than men. About 33% were first-year students, 27% sophomores, 19% juniors, 19% seniors and the remaining with students who have been at Stanford for five or more years or co-terminal degree students. About 35% were in the School of Engineering, 23% in Humanities, 26% in Natural Sciences, 28% in Social Sciences, and the remaining either undeclared or other major.

Use of Computers and Related Equipment

Regarding equipment of those who responded to the survey:

  • Almost 100% have their own computer
  • 18% have 2 or more computers (not including other computing devices, such as handhelds)
  • 95% have a laptop
  • 9% run more than one operating system on the same machine
  • 35% have an iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Palm, or other handheld
  • 51% have their own printer
  • 49% have an iPod or other media player (not including iPhone, iPod touch)
  • 11% have a Game console (XBox, PlayStation, etc.)
  • 9% have a wireless access point or router (WiFi)

In terms of platform:

  • 64% have a Windows PC desktop or laptop
  • 48% have a Mac desktop or laptop
  • 10% have a Unix or Linux computer

Most students say they use their computers between four to eight hours a day, with 34% four to six hours a day, 31% six to eight hours a day, and 20% more than 8 hours a day.

Students were asked to rank how often they use their personal computers for activities in five broad categories. The most popular results were, in order:

  1. ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use)
  2. INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.)
  3. SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.)
  4. ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.)
  5. COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.)

With 95% of students with laptops, students were asked specifically where around campus they used their laptops. The top five locations listed were:

  1. Your room on campus (97%)
  2. Other students' rooms (64%)
  3. Classrooms (56%)
  4. Other residential common spaces (lounge etc.) (51%)
  5. Green Library (38%)

Students were also asked about their email use-- 56% of students said they forwarded their stanford.edu email to a different email service. Forty-four percent of students said they used the general Stanford email service (@stanford.edu) to check their email while 48% said they used GMail.

Students were asked to rank various ways of getting to know new people. The most popular results were, in order:

  1. Face to face
  2. Email
  3. Facebook
  4. Phone
  5. Texting
  6. Instant messaging

When asked about how they communicated with people who do NOT live in their residence, the most popular results were, in order:

  1. Email
  2. Face to face
  3. Phone
  4. Facebook
  5. Texting
  6. Instant messaging

For communicating with people who live in the SAME residence, the most popular results were, in order:

  1. Face to face
  2. Email
  3. Phone
  4. Texting
  5. Facebook
  6. Instant messaging

Many students commented on the need for better wireless coverage and connectivity in their residences. Many students also asked for more roaming IPs so that they would have better connectivity when using their computers in other residences. Some students also have trouble with the Health Check Tool, or the Stanford Network Registration Tool, that runs a series of security checks on their computers (e.g., checking for the latest security patches, searching for malicious software, making sure they are running some type of anti-virus software, etc.) and that students must run before being allowed to register their computers for use on the network.

Off-Campus Students

Almost all undergraduates live on campus, but this year, students who live off-campus were included in the survey. Of those who responded-- only 2% of those who answered the survey-- the most popular way of getting computer help were:

  1. Friends of family (63%)
  2. Non-Stanford websites (Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc.) (45%)
  3. IT Services website (24%)
  4. Residential Computing website (18%)
  5. Academic department tech support (18%)

To use their iPhone, computer, etc. while on campus, most off-campus students used the Stanford Network Self-Registration service (54%), Residential Computing registration system (typically students assigned to Oak Creek) (30%), or Academic department tech support (27%).

RCCs

Resident Computer Consultants (RCCs) are students who live in each residence and serve on house staffs as local network managers by supporting in-room network connections, educators by running residential programs on computing and working with students in general, consultants by helping residents with computer problems, cluster technicians by helping to take care of the residence clusters, and more. They are managed by the RCC Manager (and the Resident Fellow(s) where applicable) and receive support and training from the entire ResComp central staff. RCCs are the first line of support for residential students and are an integral part of residential life. For more information about RCCs, click here.

Seventy-eight percent of students said they have asked their RCC for computer related help or advice with the majority of them (97%) asking for help one to five times this past year (the survey was conducted near the end of the academic year). The majority of questions were related to use of the wireless network (75%). Other questions also included use of the cluster printer (24%), software programs (19%), and the wired network (19%). Eight percent of students said they also asked their RCCs questions unrelated to technology (e.g., academic or personal issues).

On average, 90% of requests were resolved within two days with 78% of those requests being resolved within 24 hours. Of course, in some cases it takes a longer time to resolve issues. In those cases, 61% of students responded that students felt that the RCC's response time was reasonable.

Eighty-nine percent of students rated their RCC's knowledge as excellent or good and 86% rated their RCC's availability to help as always or usually available.

Residence Computing Spaces

Residential Computing supports a computer cluster in every residence, roughly 360 public computers in 80 locations. Eighty-two percent of Students said it was important or very important to have study space WITHIN THEIR HOUSE equipped with technology such as computers, printers, and shared displays for laptops.

Eighty-five percent of students said they have used a residence computing space (computer cluster) this year for any purpose (computer use, printing, study, etc.). Of those students, most students said they either used it regularly (at least once a month) (41%) or rarely (once or twice a quarter) (37%).

The top five most significant reasons for using the residence clusters are:

  1. Printing (66% of cluster users)
  2. Availability of specialized software (Matlab, Mathematica, Photoshop, etc.) (61%)
  3. Study space away from room (56%)
  4. Availability of group/partner work space (46%)
  5. Personal computer is broken (42%)

We have been gradually rolling out color printing in the residences, but it has proven to be rather expensive to support, and we are considering ways to have it break even. When asked how palatable certain changes would be, students ranked the changes, in order:

  1. Paying more for color printing only, e.g. 25¢/page, with grayscale printing remaining the same
  2. Having only grayscale printers in the residences, with color printers available in Meyer and Tresidder
  3. Paying more for printing, e.g. 15¢/page

Many students commented on the need for cheaper or free printing. Students also said they wanted better lighting, more comfortable chairs, better air conditioning and other improvements to their computing spaces.

Public Computing Spaces

Student Computing, Residential Computing's parent organization, also provides central public computer clusters, equipment for checkout (e.g., laptop, video camera) and study space in Meyer Library, Green Library, other branch libraries, Tresidder LAIR and the community centers. Consulting support is also provided at the Meyer Tech Desk by Consulting and Multimedia Services (CAMS), another part of Student Computing. Sixty-four percent of students who answered the survey say they have used one of these spaces this year.

Students were asked how often they used specific public computing or study locations. Students said they used the following spaces regularly (at least once a month) or often (more than once a week), in order:

  1. Green Library (other study or computer spaces) (51% of cluster users)
  2. Meyer Lobby (1st floor) (41%)
  3. Any library other than Meyer or Green (35%)
  4. Meyer 2nd floor study/computing space (26%)
  5. Tresidder Computer Center (LAIR) (21%)

The most significant reasons students used public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library are, in order:

  1. Study space away from residence (74% of cluster users)
  2. General printing (54%)
  3. Availability of group/partner work space (53%)
  4. Avilability of specialized software (Matlab, Mathematica, Photoshop, etc.) (42%)
  5. Availability of general software (Web, email, Word) (38%)

The second floor of Meyer also houses the Multimedia Studio. Students who use the space use it for a variety of multimedia purposes, such as image scanning (58% of Multimedia Studio users), digital video editing (37%), and image editing (25%).

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Results

Total who responded to this survey: 1195.

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About Your Resident Computer Consultant (RCC)

Field summary for 1:
About how many times this year have you asked your Resident Computer Consultant (RCC) for computer related help or advice, or been contacted by your RCC to resolve a problem?
Answer Count Percentage
I didn't know I had an RCC (1) 11 0.98%  
I never asked for help or haven't been contacted (2) 240 21.37%  
Once (3) 283 25.20%  
2 to 5 times (4) 521 46.39%  
6 to 10 times (5) 40 3.56%  
More than 10 times (6) 28 2.49%  

 

Field summary for 3:
What kinds of questions (if any) have you directed to your RCC this year?
Answer Count Percentage
Wireless network (1) 656 63.02%  
Wired network (2) 165 15.85%  
Virus/Spyware/Adware (3) 97 9.32%  
Computer or network security (4) 83 7.97%  
Copyright and File-sharing (5) 41 3.94%  
Hard drive (6) 127 12.20%  
Software programs (7) 167 16.04%  
Personal printer (8) 88 8.45%  
Cluster printer (9) 210 20.17%  
Cluster computer (10) 85 8.17%  
Other peripherals/devices (e.g. camera, scanner) (11) 68 6.53%  
Technology purchasing advice (12) 53 5.09%  
Unrelated to technology (e.g. academic or personal issues) (13) 76 7.30%  
None (14) 183 17.58%  
Other 56 5.38%  

 

Field summary for 4:
On average, how quickly have your computer related problems been resolved?
Answer Count Percentage
Same day (1) 449 44.46%  
24 hours (2) 225 22.28%  
2 days (3) 102 10.10%  
3-5 days (4) 33 3.27%  
More than 5 days (5) 20 1.98%  
Never received response (6) 35 3.47%  
Never asked for help (7) 146 14.46%  

 

Field summary for 4.L:
Sometimes it may take a longer time to resolve issues.  If your RCC took more than 2 days to resolve your problems, based on your understanding, do you think your RCC's response time was reasonable?
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 28 60.87%  
Other 18 39.13%  

 

Field summary for 5 [1]:
After contacting your RCC, how do you generally prefer to have your problems resolved?[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Email (1) 283 27.58%  
Phone (2) 19 1.85%  
In Person (3) 720 70.18%  
Other (please specify below) (4) 4 0.39%  

 

Field summary for 5 [2]:
After contacting your RCC, how do you generally prefer to have your problems resolved?[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Email (1) 563 54.87%  
Phone (2) 126 12.28%  
In Person (3) 235 22.90%  
Other (please specify below) (4) 7 0.68%  

 

Field summary for 5 [3]:
After contacting your RCC, how do you generally prefer to have your problems resolved?[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Email (1) 103 10.04%  
Phone (2) 564 54.97%  
In Person (3) 40 3.90%  
Other (please specify below) (4) 13 1.27%  

 

Field summary for 5 [4]:
After contacting your RCC, how do you generally prefer to have your problems resolved?[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
Email (1) 2 0.19%  
Phone (2) 16 1.56%  
In Person (3) 0 0.00%  
Other (please specify below) (4) 47 4.58%  

 

Field summary for 6:
How would you rate your RCC's knowledge?
Answer Count Percentage
Excellent (1) 488 47.47%  
Good (2) 339 32.98%  
Fair (3) 87 8.46%  
Poor (4) 17 1.65%  
No opinion (5) 97 9.44%  

 

Field summary for 7:
How would you rate your RCC's availability?
Answer Count Percentage
Always available (1) 167 16.36%  
Usually available (2) 625 61.21%  
Usually not available (3) 113 11.07%  
Never available (4) 20 1.96%  
Never asked for help (5) 96 9.40%  

 

Field summary for 8:
How would you rate your RCC's educational programs, workshops, or presentations?
Answer Count Percentage
Excellent (1) 96 13.04%  
Good (2) 106 14.40%  
Fair (3) 36 4.89%  
Poor (4) 32 4.35%  
No opinion (5) 466 63.32%  

 

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Off Campus Students

Field summary for 1:
How do you normally get computer help?
Answer Count Percentage
Friends or family (1) 7 70.00%  
Academic department tech support (2) 2 20.00%  
Stanford Campus Help Desk (5-HELP or HelpSU) (3) 1 10.00%  
Meyer second floor Tech Desk (4) 0 0.00%  
Residential Computing website (5) 1 10.00%  
IT Services website (6) 2 20.00%  
Other Stanford websites (7) 0 0.00%  
Non-Stanford websites (Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc.) (8) 4 40.00%  
Local computer store (including Stanford Bookstore) (9) 1 10.00%  
Books or manuals (10) 1 10.00%  
I don't (11) 1 10.00%  
Other 0 0.00%  

 

Field summary for 2:
If you use your computer, iPhone, etc. while you are on-campus, how did you register it for use on the network?
Answer Count Percentage
Academic department tech support (1) 1 11.11%  
Stanford Campus Help Desk (5-HELP or HelpSU) (2) 0 0.00%  
Stanford Network Self-Registration (3) 4 44.44%  
Residential Computing registration system (typically students assigned to Oak Creek) (4) 4 44.44%  
I don't, I didn't (5) 1 11.11%  
Other 0 0.00%  

 

Field summary for 3:
How easy was the process for registering your computer, iPhone, etc. for use on-campus?
Answer Count Percentage
Very easy (1) 0 0.00%  
Easy (2) 4 50.00%  
Neutral (3) 1 12.50%  
Difficult (4) 2 25.00%  
Very difficult (5) 1 12.50%  

 

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About Your Personal Computing

Field summary for 1:
Which of the following devices do you have?
Answer Count Percentage
Windows PC desktop/tower (1) 71 6.22%  
Windows PC laptop (2) 554 48.51%  
Apple Mac desktop/tower/iMac (3) 34 2.98%  
Apple laptop (4) 621 54.38%  
Unix or Linux computer (5) 62 5.43%  
computer running more than one operating system (check type above as well) (6) 98 8.58%  
iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Palm, or other handheld (7) 397 34.76%  
Printer (8) 579 50.70%  
iPod or other media player (not including iPhone, iPod touch) (12) 557 48.77%  
Game console (Wii, XBox, PlayStation, etc.) (14) 127 11.12%  
Wireless access point or router (WiFi) (16) 106 9.28%  
None (17) 4 0.35%  

 

Field summary for 2:
How many personal computers (desktop or laptop) do you own?
Answer Count Percentage
0 (1) 12 1.06%  
1 (2) 916 80.92%  
2 (3) 172 15.19%  
3 (4) 24 2.12%  
4 or more (5) 8 0.71%  

 

Field summary for 3.S1:
When did you acquire your current primary computer?
Answer Count Percentage
Before I was accepted by Stanford (1) 196 17.66%  
After I was accepted but before I arrived on campus (2) 544 49.01%  
After I arrived on campus (3) 370 33.33%  

 

Field summary for 3.S2:
How easy was the process for registering your computer, iPhone, etc. for use on-campus?
Answer Count Percentage
Very easy (1) 133 12.12%  
Easy (2) 454 41.39%  
Neutral (3) 329 29.99%  
Difficult (4) 159 14.49%  
Very difficult (5) 22 2.01%  

 

Field summary for 3.S3:
About how many total hours per day, on average, do you use your personal computer(s) (NOT public or cluster computers)?
Answer Count Percentage
More than 8 hours (1) 226 20.36%  
6 to 8 hours (2) 344 30.99%  
4 to 6 hours (3) 381 34.32%  
2 to 4 hours (4) 137 12.34%  
Less than 2 hours (5) 22 1.98%  

 

Field summary for 3.S4 [1]:
Please rank how often you use your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities. Don't rank activities in which you don't participate.[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use) (1) 641 57.64%  
INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.) (2) 165 14.84%  
SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.) (3) 206 18.53%  
ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.) (4) 99 8.90%  
COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.) (5) 1 0.09%  

 

Field summary for 3.S4 [2]:
Please rank how often you use your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities. Don't rank activities in which you don't participate.[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use) (1) 288 25.90%  
INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.) (2) 282 25.36%  
SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.) (3) 380 34.17%  
ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.) (4) 150 13.49%  
COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.) (5) 6 0.54%  

 

Field summary for 3.S4 [3]:
Please rank how often you use your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities. Don't rank activities in which you don't participate.[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use) (1) 142 12.77%  
INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.) (2) 310 27.88%  
SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.) (3) 283 25.45%  
ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.) (4) 310 27.88%  
COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.) (5) 44 3.96%  

 

Field summary for 3.S4 [4]:
Please rank how often you use your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities. Don't rank activities in which you don't participate.[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use) (1) 31 2.79%  
INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.) (2) 255 22.93%  
SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.) (3) 175 15.74%  
ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.) (4) 405 36.42%  
COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.) (5) 168 15.11%  

 

Field summary for 3.S4 [5]:
Please rank how often you use your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities. Don't rank activities in which you don't participate.[Ranking 5]
Answer Count Percentage
ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use) (1) 9 0.81%  
INFORMATION (online news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.) (2) 53 4.77%  
SOCIAL INTERACTION (Facebook, instant messaging, social email, etc.) (3) 43 3.87%  
ENTERTAINMENT (online music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.) (4) 95 8.54%  
COMMERCE (online shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.) (5) 706 63.49%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(1):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Classrooms]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 574 55.84%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 454 44.16%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(2):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Meyer]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 199 21.10%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 744 78.90%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(3):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Green Library]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 373 38.26%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 602 61.74%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(4):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Other libraries]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 140 15.52%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 762 84.48%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(5):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Tresidder Computer Center ("LAIR")]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 76 8.37%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 832 91.63%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(6):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Tresidder elsewhere]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 130 14.25%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 782 85.75%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(7):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Old Union]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 359 37.43%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 600 62.57%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(8):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Department or administrative offices]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 99 11.12%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 791 88.88%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(9):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Campus outdoor areas (White Plaza, Quad, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 281 29.80%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 662 70.20%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(10):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Your room on campus]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 1009 97.21%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 29 2.79%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(11):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Other students' rooms]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 634 63.85%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 359 36.15%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(12):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Residence computer cluster]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 237 25.32%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 699 74.68%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(13):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Dining hall (typically undergraduates)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 204 21.89%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 728 78.11%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(14):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Other residential common spaces (lounge etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 498 51.39%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 471 48.61%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(15):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Residential outdoor areas (courtyard, lawn, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 302 31.76%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 649 68.24%  

 

Field summary for 3.S5(16):
Do you regularly (once a week or more) use your laptop, if you have one, in the following locations?
[Graduate Student Center (typically graduates)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes, regularly (1) 17 2.20%  
No, not regularly (or not at all) (2) 755 97.80%  

 

Field summary for 5:
Do you forward your stanford.edu email to a different email service?
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (Y) 618 55.98%  
No (N) 486 44.02%  

 

Field summary for 6:
Which email service do you primarily use to check your email?
Answer Count Percentage
Stanford General (@stanford.edu) (1) 477 43.52%  
Stanford Department (e.g. @cs.stanford.edu) (2) 0 0.00%  
GMail (@gmail.com) (3) 528 48.18%  
Hotmail (@hotmail.com) (4) 8 0.73%  
Yahoo! (@yahoo.com) (5) 23 2.10%  
Other 61 5.57%  

 

Field summary for 7:
What tool do you mainly use to keep track of your schedule?
Answer Count Percentage
Google Calendar (1) 227 20.40%  
Microsoft Outlook Calendar (2) 30 2.70%  
iCal (3) 272 24.44%  
Calendar that comes with my cell phone (4) 57 5.12%  
Stanford Calendar (Zimbra) (5) 7 0.63%  
Paper planner/organizer (6) 334 30.01%  
None (7) 135 12.13%  
Other 52 4.67%  

 

Field summary for 8 [1]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 20 1.78%  
Texting (2) 31 2.76%  
Instant messaging (3) 13 1.16%  
Email (4) 44 3.92%  
Facebook (5) 99 8.82%  
Face to face (6) 915 81.55%  

 

Field summary for 8 [2]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 117 10.43%  
Texting (2) 120 10.70%  
Instant messaging (3) 84 7.49%  
Email (4) 222 19.79%  
Facebook (5) 413 36.81%  
Face to face (6) 85 7.58%  

 

Field summary for 8 [3]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 167 14.88%  
Texting (2) 231 20.59%  
Instant messaging (3) 109 9.71%  
Email (4) 246 21.93%  
Facebook (5) 187 16.67%  
Face to face (6) 39 3.48%  

 

Field summary for 8 [4]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 235 20.94%  
Texting (2) 183 16.31%  
Instant messaging (3) 152 13.55%  
Email (4) 167 14.88%  
Facebook (5) 141 12.57%  
Face to face (6) 24 2.14%  

 

Field summary for 8 [5]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 5]
strong>Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 230 20.50%  
Texting (2) 157 13.99%  
Instant messaging (3) 149 13.28%  
Email (4) 163 14.53%  
Facebook (5) 82 7.31%  
Face to face (6) 21 1.87%  

 

Field summary for 8 [6]:
Please rank how often you use the following in getting to know new people.[Ranking 6]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 122 10.87%  
Texting (2) 116 10.34%  
Instant messaging (3) 269 23.98%  
Email (4) 116 10.34%  
Facebook (5) 50 4.46%  
Face to face (6) 18 1.60%  

 

Field summary for 9 [1]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 153 13.70%  
Texting (2) 206 18.44%  
Instant messaging (3) 65 5.82%  
Email (4) 238 21.31%  
Facebook (5) 158 14.15%  
Face to face (6) 297 26.59%  

 

Field summary for 9 [2]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 221 19.79%  
Texting (2) 197 17.64%  
Instant messaging (3) 91 8.15%  
Email (4) 183 16.38%  
Facebook (5) 227 20.32%  
Face to face (6) 177 15.85%  

 

Field summary for 9 [3]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 201 17.99%  
Texting (2) 208 18.62%  
Instant messaging (3) 89 7.97%  
Email (4) 196 17.55%  
Facebook (5) 186 16.65%  
Face to face (6) 185 16.56%  

 

Field summary for 9 [4]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 216 19.34%  
Texting (2) 156 13.97%  
Instant messaging (3) 94 8.42%  
Email (4) 187 16.74%  
Facebook (5) 184 16.47%  
Face to face (6) 158 14.15%  

 

Field summary for 9 [5]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 5]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 150 13.43%  
Texting (2) 100 8.95%  
Instant messaging (3) 151 13.52%  
Email (4) 147 13.16%  
Facebook (5) 183 16.38%  
Face to face (6) 130 11.64%  

 

Field summary for 9 [6]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who DO NOT live in your same residence.[Ranking 6]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 78 6.98%  
Texting (2) 90 8.06%  
Instant messaging (3) 299 26.77%  
Email (4) 85 7.61%  
Facebook (5) 63 5.64%  
Face to face (6) 87 7.79%  

 

Field summary for 10 [1]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 27 2.44%  
Texting (2) 38 3.44%  
Instant messaging (3) 21 1.90%  
Email (4) 54 4.88%  
Facebook (5) 18 1.63%  
Face to face (6) 948 85.71%  

 

Field summary for 10 [2]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 215 19.44%  
Texting (2) 277 25.05%  
Instant messaging (3) 79 7.14%  
Email (4) 278 25.14%  
Facebook (5) 129 11.66%  
Face to face (6) 65 5.88%  

 

Field summary for 10 [3]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 281 25.41%  
Texting (2) 237 21.43%  
Instant messaging (3) 86 7.78%  
Email (4) 174 15.73%  
Facebook (5) 163 14.74%  
Face to face (6) 31 2.80%  

 

Field summary for 10 [4]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 194 17.54%  
Texting (2) 161 14.56%  
Instant messaging (3) 93 8.41%  
Email (4) 182 16.46%  
Facebook (5) 208 18.81%  
Face to face (6) 18 1.63%  

 

Field summary for 10 [5]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 5]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 114 10.31%  
Texting (2) 82 7.41%  
Instant messaging (3) 127 11.48%  
Email (4) 171 15.46%  
Facebook (5) 223 20.16%  
Face to face (6) 15 1.36%  

 

Field summary for 10 [6]:
Please rank how often you use the following to communicate with people who live in your SAME RESIDENCE.[Ranking 6]
Answer Count Percentage
Phone (1) 72 6.51%  
Texting (2) 70 6.33%  
Instant messaging (3) 268 24.23%  
Email (4) 87 7.87%  
Facebook (5) 107 9.67%  
Face to face (6) 10 0.90%  

 

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Residence Computing Spaces

Field summary for 1:
How important is it to have a study space WITHIN YOUR HOUSE equipped with technology such as computers, printers, and shared displays for laptops?
Answer Count Percentage
Very important (1) 620 56.01%  
Important (2) 292 26.38%  
Not terribly important (3) 152 13.73%  
Not important at all (4) 29 2.62%  
No opinion (5) 14 1.26%  

 

Field summary for 2:
Have you used a residence computing space (computer cluster) this year for any purpose (computer use, printing, study, etc.)?
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (Y) 928 85.14%  
No (N) 162 14.86%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y1:
How often do you use your residence computing space?
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 206 22.42%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 374 40.70%  
Rarely (once or twice a quarter) (3) 339 36.89%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(1):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Personal computer is broken]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 376 46.13%  
No (2) 439 53.87%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(2):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Availability of general software (Web, email, Word)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 275 34.42%  
No (2) 524 65.58%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(3):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Availability of specialized software (Matlab, Mathematica, Photoshop, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 526 64.22%  
No (2) 293 35.78%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(4):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Multimedia production (scanning, video editing, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 401 50.31%  
No (2) 396 49.69%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(5):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Printing]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 542 65.86%  
No (2) 281 34.14%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(6):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Study space away from room]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 501 60.73%  
No (2) 324 39.27%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(7):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Availability of group/partner work space]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 394 49.31%  
No (2) 405 50.69%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(8):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Workshop, course, section, or presentation space]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 117 15.56%  
No (2) 635 84.44%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(9):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Social environment, atmosphere]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 162 21.37%  
No (2) 596 78.63%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y2(10):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use your residence computing space?
[Other (please specify below)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 17 4.75%  
No (2) 341 95.25%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y3 [1]:
We have been gradually rolling out color printing in the residences, but it has proven to be rather expensive to support, and we are considering ways to have it break even.  Please rank how palatable the following changes would be to you.[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Having only grayscale printers in the residences, with color printers available in Meyer and Tresidder (1) 344 39.27%  
Paying more for printing, e.g. 15¢/page (2) 69 7.88%  
Paying more for color printing only, e.g. 25¢/page, with grayscale printing remaining the same (3) 463 52.85%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y3 [2]:
We have been gradually rolling out color printing in the residences, but it has proven to be rather expensive to support, and we are considering ways to have it break even.  Please rank how palatable the following changes would be to you.[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Having only grayscale printers in the residences, with color printers available in Meyer and Tresidder (1) 285 32.53%  
Paying more for printing, e.g. 15¢/page (2) 213 24.32%  
Paying more for color printing only, e.g. 25¢/page, with grayscale printing remaining the same (3) 286 32.65%  

 

Field summary for 3.Y3 [3]:
We have been gradually rolling out color printing in the residences, but it has proven to be rather expensive to support, and we are considering ways to have it break even.  Please rank how palatable the following changes would be to you.[Ranking 3]
strong>Answer Count Percentage
Having only grayscale printers in the residences, with color printers available in Meyer and Tresidder (1) 184 21.00%  
Paying more for printing, e.g. 15¢/page (2) 450 51.37%  
Paying more for color printing only, e.g. 25¢/page, with grayscale printing remaining the same (3) 73 8.33%  

 

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Public Computing Spaces

Field summary for 1:
Have you used a public computer cluster or study space this year in Tresidder, Meyer, Green or any other library?
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (Y) 679 63.58%  
No (N) 389 36.42%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(1):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Tresidder Computer Center (LAIR)]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 30 4.77%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 102 16.22%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 497 79.01%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(2):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Meyer Lobby (1st floor)]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 66 10.49%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 220 34.98%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 343 54.53%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(3):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Meyer 24-hour Study Room (1st floor)]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 38 6.21%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 123 20.10%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 451 73.69%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(4):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Meyer 2nd floor study/computing space]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 32 5.25%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 137 22.46%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 441 72.30%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(5):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Meyer Multimedia Studio (on 2nd floor)]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 13 2.23%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 69 11.84%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 501 85.93%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(6):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Green Library Group Study Rooms]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 23 3.84%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 104 17.36%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 472 78.80%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(7):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Green Library (other study or computer spaces)]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 115 18.34%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 234 37.32%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 278 44.34%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y1(8):
More specifically, how often have you used the following public computing or study locations this year?
[Any library other than Meyer or Green]
Answer Count Percentage
Often (more than once a week) (1) 37 6.56%  
Regularly (at least once a month) (2) 109 19.33%  
Never or rarely (once or twice a quarter or less) (3) 418 74.11%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(1):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Personal computer is broken]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 141 24.96%  
No (2) 424 75.04%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(2):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Availability of general software (Web, email, Word)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 206 36.33%  
No (2) 361 63.67%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(3):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Availability of specialized software (Matlab, Mathematica, Photoshop, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 222 39.15%  
No (2) 345 60.85%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(4):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Multimedia production (scanning, video editing, etc.)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 158 28.83%  
No (2) 390 71.17%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(5):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[General printing]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 299 52.83%  
No (2) 267 47.17%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(6):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Poster printing]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 55 10.30%  
No (2) 479 89.70%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(7):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Equipment checkout (e.g. laptop, video camera)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 172 31.56%  
No (2) 373 68.44%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(8):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Study space away from residence]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 467 78.09%  
No (2) 131 21.91%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(9):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Availability of group/partner work space]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 315 55.46%  
No (2) 253 44.54%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(10):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Social environment, atmosphere]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 174 31.69%  
No (2) 375 68.31%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(11):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Residential cluster computers are all in use]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 52 9.72%  
No (2) 483 90.28%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(12):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Residential cluster is, shall we say, unappealing]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 131 24.30%  
No (2) 408 75.70%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y2(13):
For each item: is this a significant reason that you use the public computing or study spaces in Meyer, Tresidder Computer Center, or Green Library?
[Other (please specify below)]
Answer Count Percentage
Yes (1) 58 18.89%  
No (2) 249 81.11%  

 

Field summary for 2.Y3:
For what activities (if any) do you primarily use the Multimedia Studio in Meyer?
Answer Count Percentage
Image scanning (1) 86 14.24%  
Text document scanning (OCR) (2) 22 3.64%  
Digital video editing (3) 73 12.09%  
DVD burning (4) 32 5.30%  
Image editing (5) 51 8.44%  
Video duplication/conversion (6) 32 5.30%  
Non-multimedia activities (7) 16 2.65%  
I don't use the studio (8) 444 73.51%  

 

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Background Information

Field summary for 1:
Gender:
Answer Count Percentage
Female (1) 591 53.39%  
Male (2) 507 45.80%  
Other (3) 2 0.18%  
Decline to state (4) 7 0.63%  

 

Field summary for 2.U1:
Entry Status:
Answer Count Percentage
Entered Stanford as a freshman (1) 1098 99.28%  
Entered Stanford as a transfer (2) 8 0.72%  

 

Field summary for 2.U2:
Major Area of Study:
Answer Count Percentage
Engineering (1) 388 35.24%  
Humanities (2) 249 22.62%  
Natural Sciences (3) 289 26.25%  
Social Sciences (4) 311 28.25%  
Undeclared (5) 113 10.26%  
Other 19 1.73%  

 

Field summary for 2.U3:
Years at Stanford:
Answer Count Percentage
First Year (1) 362 32.58%  
Second Year (2) 301 27.09%  
Third Year (3) 209 18.81%  
Fourth Year (4) 216 19.44%  
Fifth + Year (5) 5 0.45%  
Co-term (6) 18 1.62%  

 

Field summary for 2.G1:
School:
Answer Count Percentage
Business (1) 0 0.00%  
Earth Sciences (2) 0 0.00%  
Education (3) 0 0.00%  
Engineering (4) 0 0.00%  
Humanities and Sciences (5) 0 0.00%  
Law (6) 0 0.00%  
Medicine (7) 0 0.00%  

 

Field summary for 2.G2:
Degree program:
Answer Count Percentage
Masters (1) 0 0.00%  
MBA (2) 0 0.00%  
MFA (3) 0 0.00%  
JD (4) 0 0.00%  
MD (5) 0 0.00%  
PhD/EdD (6) 0 0.00%  
Other 0 0.00%  

 

Field summary for 3:
Citizenship:
Answer Count Percentage
US citizen/permanent resident (1) 1035 93.67%  
International (non-US citizen/permanent resident) (2) 70 6.33%  

 

Field summary for 4:
Ethnicity (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only):
Answer Count Percentage
Black/African-American (1) 42 4.30%  
Asian American/Pacific Islander (2) 233 23.85%  
American Indian/Native American (3) 14 1.43%  
Asian Indian/South Asian (4) 34 3.48%  
Mexican American/Chicano (5) 58 5.94%  
Other Latino/a-American (6) 25 2.56%  
White/Caucasian/Non-Minority (7) 450 46.06%  
Multiracial/Multi-ethnic (or choose Other below and elaborate if you like) (8) 93 9.52%  
Other 26 2.66%  

 

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