Computer administration of a school-based adolescent health survey

Objective: To examine the utility of notebook computers in the collection of data in large scale surveys. Methodology: A notebook computer administered survey of health in adolescents was conducted in 1992 using a multi-instrument questionnaire. Students in school years 7, 9 and 11 in private and government schools in Melbourne and rural Victoria participated. Results: Parental consent was obtained with an 83% response rate. Each student answered questions directly onto the computer taking an average of 68 min to complete the highly branched confidential but not anonymous questionnaire. Students were presented with on average 33% of the 897 possible questions. Over 90% of students reported enjoying using the computer. Those who reported answering the questions honestly all the time ranged from 68 to 85%, increasing with grade level. Conclusions: The use of computers in survey research provides many advantages in data collection including exposure only to relevant questions and the opportunity of asking sensitive questions.