Using Electronic Mail Surveys and Computer-Monitored Data for Studying Computer-Mediated Communication Systems

The methodology used in this study demonstrated an effective and relatively cost- and time-efficient means of studying a public telecomputing system using computer-mon itored data and a lengthy electronic mail survey. The 72-item questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 600 drawn from a relatively heterogeneous population of users. The response rate was 68%. Respondents tended to be experienced computer users who used the system more and perceived it as more accessible than did nonrespondents. Keywords: data collection methods, survey research, communication research, elec tronic mail, computer-mediated communication, computer networks.

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