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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Online Survey ." National Academy of Engineering. 2008. Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12187.
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F ONLINE SURVEY 141

142 CHANGING THE CONVERSATION Copyright December 2006 500 Adults Online Survey FINAL 400 14-16 year olds (INTRO) Thank you for taking the time to participate in this online survey research project, which is sponsored by the National Academies, a non-governmental organization concerned with such issues as education, employment in scientific and technical fields, and the country’s economic health. The answers you give will help the National Academies better understand how to address some of the challenges facing the United States. Your responses will be combined with those of other survey participants, and only those grouped responses will be shared with the National Academies. In other words, no one will know your individual responses to the survey questions. To begin… (INFORMED ADULTS SCREENER) XI102. What is the last grade that you completed in school? 1. Some grade school TERMINATE 2. Some high school TERMINATE 3. Graduated high school TERMINATE 4. Technical/Vocational TERMINATE 5. Some college CONTINUE 6. Graduated college CONTINUE 7. Graduate professional CONTINUE XI102. Generally speaking, how much attention do you follow the news, including what’s happening local, statewide, or nationally -- a great deal, some, a little, not very much? 1. A great deal 2. Some 3. A little 4. Not very much 5. Not at all XI103. Generally speaking, how involved are you in your community as a volunteer -- a great deal, some, a little, not very much? 1. Very involved 2. Somewhat involved 3. A little involved 4. Not very involved 5. Not involved at all TERMINATE IF PUNCH 3-5 IN BOTH XI102 AND XI103

Appendix F 143 (ADULTS SCREENER) XA1. Are you eighteen years of age or over? 1. Yes CONTINUE 2. No TERMINATE 3. Don’t know/Refused TERMINATE XA2. For each of the following professions or careers someone just starting out in the work world may choose, please indicate whether you think it would be a very good choice, a good choice, a fair choice, or a bad choice as a career or profession. (SCRAMBLE CHOICES) Very Good Good Fair Bad Choice Choice Choice Choice Teacher Doctor Engineer Lawyer Architect Scientist (TEENS SCREENER) XT1. Are you between the ages of 14 and 17 years of age? 1. Yes CONTINUE 2. No TERMINATE 3. Don’t know/Refused TERMINATE XT2. When you graduate high school, how likely is it that you will attend college? 1. Definitely will attend college 2. Probably will attend college 3. Chances are 50-50 4. Probably not 5. Definitely not XT3. For each of the following professions or careers someone like yourself may choose, please indicate whether you think it would be a very good choice, a good choice, a fair choice, or a bad choice as a career or profession. (SCRAMBLE CHOICES) Very Good Good Fair Bad Choice Choice Choice Choice Teacher Doctor Engineer Lawyer Architect Scientist

144 Global Strategy Group CHANGING THESurvey National CONVERSATION 3/8 (MAIN SURVEY) 1. Please indicate how important each of the following is [(FOR TEENS) to you] /[(FOR ADULTS) should be to someone starting a career] in considering which career to get into. (SCRAMBLE CHOICES) Extremely Very Somewhat Not that Not important important important important important at all Salary Recognition Interesting Work Challenging Work Work that makes a difference, is meaningful Availability of jobs in the field Prestigious field 2. On the following one to ten scale, with ten being you know very well what a person in this profession does day-to-day and one being you don’t know at all what a person in this profession does day-to-day, please rate your knowledge of each profession. (SCRAMBLE CHOICES) 10 – 1 – Don’t Know 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 know at very well all Teacher Doctor Engineer Lawyer Architect Scientist 3. Thinking about the field of engineering… what words come to mind when you see or hear the word ENGINEERING? (OPEN END)

Global Strategy Group Appendix F National Survey 145 4/8 4. For each of the following, please indicate how well you think it describes engineers or the field of engineering. (SPLIT SAMPLE) (SCRAMBLE CHOICES) Describes engineers or the engineering profession… Not Somewhat Not very Very well well at well well all Creative The work is rewarding Fun Get results Hard working Have a positive effect on people’s everyday lives Inventors Leaders Nerdy Original thinkers Problem solvers Well-paid Must be smart to get into this field Must be good at math and science Builds, constructs and makes things Designs, draws and plans things Sits at a desk all day Mostly men Mostly white Well-respected Requires too many years of school to get a degree Entrepreneurial Boring Often work outdoors

146 CHANGING THE CONVERSATION Global Strategy Group National Survey 5/8 5. For the following examples of engineering, please indicate how appealing it is. In other words, how well does it create interest for you in engineering? If you don’t think it is a good example of engineering, please indicate that. (SPLIT SAMPLE) (SCRAMBLE) 1 – Not 4 – Very Not good 3 2 appealing appealing example at all Space exploration Designing video games Building an acoustically-perfect concert hall Designing the world’s fastest plane Developing new foods Creating more advanced M.R.I. machines to do better brain and body scans to diagnose health problems D.N.A. testing Using D.N.A. evidence to solve crimes Building cars that run on alternative fuels Making cars safer Growing organs for transplants Making smaller, faster computer processors Protecting the rainforest by developing new ways to farm that don’t require so much land Developing new fabrics Protecting the water supply Missile defense systems Smart traffic solutions High-definition television Building the world’s longest bridge iPod Wind power Making homes safer Velcro Reducing air pollution Turning deserts into farmland Solar energy Machines that allow blind people to see

Global Strategy Group National Survey 6/8 Appendix F 147 6. Next you will read some statements that people have made about engineering. After you read each statement, please answer the questions below. (STATEMENTS SCRAMBLED) a. Engineers are creative problem-solvers. They have a vision for how something should work, and are dedicated to making it better, faster or more efficient. b. Engineers connect science to the real world. They collaborate with scientists and other specialists (such as animators, architects or chemists) to turn bold new ideas into reality. c. Engineering is essential to our health, happiness and safety. From the grandest skyscrapers to microscopic medical devices, it is impossible to imagine life without engineering. d. Engineers help shape the future. They use the latest science, tools and technology to bring ideas to life. e. Engineers make a world of difference. From new farming equipment and safer drinking water to electric cars and faster microchips, engineers use their knowledge to improve people’s lives in meaningful ways. Qa. How appealing this statement is to you, personally? 1. Not appealing at all 2. Not that appealing 3. Somewhat appealing 4. Very appealing Qb. How believable is this statement? 1. Not at all believable 2. Not that believable 3. Somewhat believable 4. Very believable Qc. How much do you, personally, care about what this statement says and the examples included in it? 1. Do not care at all 2. Don’t care that much 3. Care somewhat 4. Care very much 7. And of these statements, which is most appealing to you, personally? (STATEMENTS SCRAMBLED) a. Engineers are creative problem-solvers. They have a vision for how something should work, and are dedicated to making it better, faster or more efficient. b. Engineers connect science to the real world. They collaborate with scientists and other specialists (such as animators, architects or chemists) to turn bold new ideas into reality.

148 CHANGING THE CONVERSATION Global Strategy Group National Survey 7/8 c. Engineering is essential to our health, happiness and safety. From the grandest skyscrapers to microscopic medical devices, it is impossible to imagine life without engineering. d. Engineers help shape the future. They use the latest science, tools and technology to bring ideas to life. e. Engineers make a world of difference. From new farming equipment and safer drinking water to electric cars and faster microchips, engineers use their knowledge to improve people’s lives in meaningful ways. 8. And of these statements, which is least appealing to you, personally? (STATEMENTS SCRAMBLED IN SAME ORDER AS IN Q.7) 9. The following are some taglines or slogans that might be used to describe engineering. Please indicate how appealing that tagline or slogan is to you, personally. SCALE TO CODE: 1. Not appealing at all 2. Not that appealing 3. Somewhat appealing 4. Very appealing (SLOGANS OR TAGLINES SCRAMBLED) (WILL APPEAR AS LIST ON SCREEN) a. Bolder by design. b. Because dreams need doing. c. Turning ideas into reality. d. Life takes engineering. e. The power to do. f. Behind the next big thing. g. Designed to work wonders. The following questions are for statistical purposes only. ADULT A101. What is your age? 1. 18-24 2. 25-29 3. 30-34 4. 35-39 5. 40-44 6. 45-49 7. 50-54 8. 55-59 9. 60-64 10. 65-69 11. 70+

Appendix F 149 Global Strategy Group National Survey 8/8 TEEN T101. What is your age? 1. 14 2. 15 3. 16 4. 17 ADULT A102. What is the last grade that you completed in school? 1. Some grade school 2. Some high school 3. Graduated high school 4. Technical/Vocational 5. Some college 6. Graduated college 7. Graduate professional ADULT A107. Do you currently have any children under 18 living at home with you? 1. Yes 2. No ADULT A108. What is your current or most recent occupation? (OPEN END) D300. And just to make sure we have a representative sample of Americans, could you please tell me your race? (ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES) 1. Black/African-American 2. White/Caucasian 3. Hispanic/Latino 4. Asian-American 5. Other D100. Gender 1. Male 2. Female D400. STATE

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Can the United States continue to lead the world in innovation? The answer may hinge in part on how well the public understands engineering, a key component of the 'innovation engine'. A related concern is how to encourage young people--particularly girls and under-represented minorities--to consider engineering as a career option.

Changing the Conversation provides actionable strategies and market-tested messages for presenting a richer, more positive image of engineering. This book presents and discusses in detail market research about what the public finds most appealing about engineering--as well as what turns the public off.

Changing the Conversation is a vital tool for improving the public image of engineering and outreach efforts related to engineering. It will be used by engineers in professional and academic settings including informal learning environments (such as museums and science centers), engineering schools, national engineering societies, technology-based corporations that support education and other outreach to schools and communities, and federal and state agencies and labs that do or promote engineering, technology, and science.

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