Round 1 Survey Data: 

Sections 1, 2, and 4 Constructs

Debbie Denise Reese, Andrea Kavanaugh, John M. Carroll, Mary Beth Rosson
Center for Human-Computer Interaction
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0106, USA
kavan@vt.edu

Abstract

We statistically constructed composite variables from the EPIC survey Section 1: Community Involvement1, Section 2: Interests and Activities, and Section 4: Use of the Internet variables. Brief descriptions and alpha levels are reported for each construct. A set of tables listing all construct items by EPIC survey section follows the narrative.

Section 1, 2, and 4 constructs

For the questions on community involvement, correlation tests among variables and reliability tests showed 3 main constructs: informed/aware (alpha=.732, N=158), participation (alpha=.8749, N=158) and trust (alpha=.751, N=157).  All of these constructs are statistically derived from multiple variables, most of which are Likert ratings for the level of agreement, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Additional factor analysis (principal axis) revealed that the participation construct had 4 factors, explaining a total of 56% of the variance, which we named active participation (α=.8885, N=158), social participation (alpha=.6851, N=158), organizational participation (α=.698; N=158), and community attachment (alpha=.6672; N=158). The first factor (activism), with an eigenvalue greater than 5, explaining 39% of the variance, is dominated by moderately high loadings (>.648) for personal involvement in the local community, having ideas for improving things, getting together with others who know what’s going on, spending time on local problems, and working to bring change in the community. A sixth variable, participation in community activities, loads with this factor, but to a lesser extent (.499). The second factor in the participation construct (‘social participation’) is dominated by moderate loadings (>.453) for four variables related to spending time with or helping friends or neighbors. The third factor (organizational participation) is dominated by moderately high loadings (>.683) for belonging to local organizations and the number of membership organizations listed. The fourth factor (community attachment) is dominated by moderately high loadings (>.511) for sense of belong to and feeling part of the local community.

Activities and Interests

For questions regarding respondents’ activities and interests, correlation and reliability tests revealed four main constructs: interest in computers (alpha=.7079, N=157), politics (alpha=.7545, N=158), social activities (alpha=.8021, N=158)  and civic support (alpha=.7061, N=158).  All of these constructs are statistically derived from multiple variables, each a Likert rating for the frequency of particular interests or activities during the past six months, ranging from never or almost never to several times a day. 

 Internet Use

For the questions comprising the section on Internet use, we obtained 8 constructs: commerce, education/work, leisure, health, general Internet, political, social, and civic life.  The constructs (described below) are statistically derived from multiple variables, each a Likert rating for the frequency of particular online activity during the past six months.

The online commerce construct (alpha= .7316, N=129) is comprised of six variables relating to commercial activities, such as online banking, financial information seeking or purchasing. 

The online education/work construct (alpha=.6977, N=128) is comprised of four variables for educational or job-related activities, such as doing work for your job or school, communicating with teachers, learning about computers or helping others learn about the Internet. 

The online leisure/recreation construct (alpha=.7286, N=129) is comprised of eight variables relating to entertainment activities, such as playing games, seeking information for a hobby, sports or movies, and posting photos, artwork or drawings. 

The online health construct (alpha=.7267, N=129) is comprised of four variables relating to medical information or health, such as communicating with others about health concerns, providing personal or social support, getting help for a personal problem, and looking for health information.  Two of the four variables refer to a ‘personal problem’ rather than to physical health specifically, relating to one’s mental health as a source of stress or anxiety.

The general Internet construct (alpha=.7508, N=129) is comprised of four variables relating to information seeking activities of a generalized nature, for example, browsing the world wide web, downloading software, music, or video clips, and checking the weather.

The construct for online politics (alpha=.7756, N=129) is comprised of six variables measuring political activities and interests, such as, discussing politics, working online for a political party or candidate, obtaining political information, sending or receiving email with a government official.

The online civics construct (alpha=.8280, N=129) is comprised of 8 variables measuring involvement in civic life at the local or global level, including, looking for or posting information, ideas and opinions, getting news and participating in a local interest group online. 

The social construct (alpha=.7878, N=129) is comprised of 6 variables measuring Internet-based communication with friends and family, co-workers (about non-work issues).

EPIC Round 1 Section 1 Constructs: Community Involvement

composite

variable

alpha

Smaller 

composite

alpha

survey question

Informed

D1INFOR2

N=158; mean=3.57

SD=.70

knowcomm

0.732

I feel like I know what’s going
on in my local community

news

Keep up with news in your local community?

outcomm

I feel like I know what’s going on
outside of my local community

Participation

D1PART

N=158

mean=2.86 

SD =.70

actinv

0.8749

D1ACTIV2

N=158; mean=2.52 SD =.81

0.8885

In comparison to others you know, how active
and involved are you in your local community?

chngcom

Work to bring about change in your local community?

comwork

In the past three months, I have spent
a lot of time working with others in my local
community to solve problems of concern to us

gettog

Get together with people who know what’s
going on in your local community?

imprv

Have ideas for improving things
in your local community?

partcomm

I frequently participate in community activities

manyorg

D1ORGAFF

N=158; mean=2.44 SD =1.46

0.698

I belong to many organizations

numgrps

The number of groups I belong to.

hlpneigh

D1BELONG

N=158; mean=3.3 SD =.68

0.7274

I spend a lot of time helping friends
or neighbors in need

alpha = .6851 Social  Engagement D1SOCENG N=158 mean=3.17 SD=.77

grpfrds

I belong to a group of friends that takes
part in common activities

timefrds

I spend a lot of time with my friends

dtmealon 

I spend a lot of time by myself (rev)

ddtbelon

I don’t feel I really belong in my
local community (rev)

alpha = .6672 Community Attachment D1COMATT N=158 mean=3.67 SD=.86

flpart

I feel part of the community

Trust

D1TRUST

N=157 mean=3.71 

SD =.69

comtrst

0.751

I feel most people in my community can be trusted

inclnd

I feel most people are inclined to help others

dnummvd

How many times have you moved
in the last five years? 

dtakadv

I feel if you don’t watch yourself, people
will take advantage of you (rev)

dwdmove

If I had a chance to move to another
community, I would move (rev)

yrslvd

How many years have you lived
in your local community? 

EPIC Round 1 Section 2 Constructs: Activities and Interests 

Construct

ALPHA

Variable Name

Survey Question

COMPUTER

D2INTCOM

N=157; mean=3.90 

SD =1.60

.7079

PLAYGAME

Play a video or computer game

COMPHME

Use a computer at home

SREMAIL

Send or receive email

POLITICAL

D2INTPOL

N=158; mean=1.34 

SD =.64

.7545

GOVOFF

Write or call a government official

ATTDPOL

Attend a political talk or meeting

SOCIAL

D2INTSOC

N=158; mean=3.04 

SD =.77

.8021

gvatdinn 

Give or attend a dinner party

dinnout 

Go out to dinner with others

talkphne 

Talk on phone with friends/ family

visitfr 

Visit a friend or relative

tmfriend 

Spend time with friends

entertn

Entertain at home

teamsprt

Play a team sport

playcrds

Play cards or board games w/others

CIVIC/SUPPORT/

RELIGIOUS

D2INTCIV

N=158; mean=2.50 

SD =.73

.7061

Tkclass

Take a class(outside of school)

pubmtg 

Attend a public meeting

voluntr

Do volunteer work

vstsick 

Visit a sick or disabled person

errndsnd

Do errands for someone in need

protrans

Provide transportation, childcare etc

attdserv 

Attend a religious service

lcgpmtg

Attend a local group meeting

readnews

Read newspapers

Not Used

dispol

Discuss politics

Not Used

WTCHTV

Watch TV

Not Used

Readleis

Read a book for leisure

EPIC Round 1 Section 4 Constructs: Internet Use

Commerce

D4ACTCOM

N=129; mean=2.01 

SD =.83

.7316 

BUYSELLP

Buy or sell a product or service

BUYSELLA

Buy or sell stocks, bonds, or mutual funds

BANKOL

Bank on-line

RESPRDT

Research a product or service before buying it

TRAVRES

Make a plane or travel reservation 

FININFO

Get financial information

Education/work

D4ACTEDU

N=128; mean=2.51 

SD =1.23

.6977

WKJOBSCH

Do work for your job or school

COMMTEA

Communicate with teachers

LRNCOMM

Learn about computers and/or the Internet

HELPLRN

Help others learn about computers and/or the Internet

Leisure/

Entertainment

D4ACTLEI

N=129

mean=2.18 

SD =.86

.7286

GAMESOWN

Play games on your own

DNLDMUS

Listen to or download music

GAMESOTH

Play games with others

VIDAUD

Watch a video clip or listen to an audio clip

INFOHOBB

Look for information for a hobby

SPORTINF

Check sports scores or highlights

ENTERINF

Look for information on movies, books, or other leisure activities

POSTART

Post art/drawing, photos, or other creative work

Health

D4ACTHEA

N=129; mean=1.93 

SD =.92

.7267

COMMHEAL

Communicate with others about health concerns

MEDHEAL

Look for health/medical information

PROSUPP

Provide people with personal or social support

HELPPERS

Get help with personal problem

General Internet

D4ACTINT

N=129; mean=3.16 

SD =1.22

.7508

INSEARCH

Do an Internet search to answer a question

INSOFT

Download software from the Internet

BROWSWWW

Browse the World Wide Web

CHKWEATH

Check the weather

Political

D4ACTPOL

N=130; mean=1.7

SD =.66

.6972

DISCPOL 

Discuss politics 

EMAILGOV

Send email to a government official 

RECEMGOV

Receive email from a government official 

POLPARTY

Work online for a political party or candidate

LOCPOLIN

Obtain local political information 

NATPOLIN

Obtain national political information

Social

D4ACTSOC

N=129; mean=2.64

SD =1.12

.7878

COMMNWI

Communicate with co-workers about non-work issues

comlocfa

Communicate with family in the local area

comlocfr

Communicate with friends in the local area

comdisfr

Communicate with friends not in the local area

comdisfa

Communicate with family not in the local area

MEETPEO

Meet new people

Civic

D4ACTCIV

N=129; mean=2.50

SD =1.05

.8280

GETNEWS

Get the news

NATGLOB

Look for information on national or global events

ANSWERQ

Answer questions or provide information

POSTFACT

Post factual information

LOCEVENT

Look for information about local event/activities

ACCOMWB

Access a community web site

EXPRIDEA

Express ideas and opinions

LOCGROL

Participate in a local interest group online