Assessing the Efficacy of the Rhetorical Composing Situation with FYC Students as Advanced Social Media Practitioners
by Elisabeth H. Buck
Appendix
Survey Questions
The following questions comprised the survey distributed to all first-year composition students. Seventy-four students began the survey and sixty-four completed it to its duration. This research was conducted with the approval of the Ball State Institutional Review Board (ID# 429411-1). Please note that I omit here the four questions pertaining to consent to participate in the survey and demographic data (gender, age, section of composition course enrolled in).
1) Which social media sites do you currently use? Check all that apply.
Google+
MySpace
Linked In
Tumblr
Other
I don't use social media sites
2) Which social media site do you use most frequently?
Google+
MySpace
Linked In
Tumblr
Other
I don't use social media sites
3) Approximately how many hours per day do you spend on social media sites?
Less than one hour
1-2 hours
2-4 hours
4-6 hours
More than 6 hours
4) When you post on a social media site (write a tweet, upload a Facebook status/picture, "pin" something, etc.) what is your main reason for doing so?
I want my friends to comment on or respond to my post.
I want to share my thoughts or images with other users on the Internet
I don't really give much thought to why I post
I have a different reason for why I post
5) When you post on social media, what audiences do you consider? Check all that apply.
I consider what my family will think about a post.
I consider what my friends will think about a post.
I consider what anonymous Internet users will think about a post.
I don't consider what anyone will think about a post.
6) Imagine that the author of this tweet is an individual that you follow on Twitter. Pick the adjective that you think best describes the author of this tweet.
Bored
Enthusiastic
Conceited
Obnoxious
I am not familiar enough with Twitter to answer this question.
7) Imagine that the author of this tweet is an individual that you follow on Twitter. Pick the adjective that you think best describes the author of this tweet.
Uneducated
Lonely
Immature
Shy
I am not familiar enough with Twitter to answer this question.
8) Imagine that this item was "pinned" by a user that you follow on Pinterest. Pick the adjective that you think best describes this Pinterest user.
Ambitious
Spoiled
Unfriendly
Trendy
I am not familiar enough with Pinterest to answer this question.
9) Imagine that this picture was posted by a user that you follow on Instagram. Pick the adjective that you think best describes this Instagram user.
Wealthy
Stylish
Boastful
Calm
I am not familiar enough with Instagram to answer this question.
10) Imagine that this individual is your friend on Facebook, and that this image was used as her profile picture. Pick the adjective that you think best describes this Facebook user.
Friendly
Vain
Annoying
Outgoing
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
11) Imagine that this status was posted by a user that you are friends with on Facebook. Pick the adjective that you think best describes this Facebook user.
Opinionated
Angry
Republican
Concerned
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
For the following questions (12-15), imagine that you are viewing a Facebook profile in which the male in the center of the picture has used this photo for his profile picture. Choose the adjective that you think best describes the male Facebook user, but consider how different individuals might perceive this photo.
12) If you were an 18-year-old male college freshman, what adjective might you use to describe the male Facebook user in this picture?
Enviable
Likable
Arrogant
Irresponsible
Unprofessional
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
13) If you were an 18-year-old female college freshman, what adjective might you use to describe the male Facebook user in this picture?
Enviable
Likable
Arrogant
Irresponsible
Unprofessional
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
14) If you were the parents of one of the females in this photo, what adjective might you use to describe the male Facebook user in this photo?
Enviable
Likable
Arrogant
Irresponsible
Unprofessional
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
15) If you were a prospective employer, what adjective might you use to describe the male Facebook user in this photo?
Enviable
Likable
Arrogant
Irresponsible
Unprofessional
I am not familiar enough with Facebook to answer this question.
16) Would you be willing to participate in a short follow-up interview? If so, you might be contacted by the researcher. Please provide your email in the space provided.