title: Computer availability and principals' perceptions of online surveys(*).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School-based risk behavior surveys traditionally have been administered via paper-and-pencil. This study assessed the feasibility of conducting in-class online surveys in US high schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  A paper-and-pencil questionnaire assessing computer availability and perceptions of online surveys was mailed to a nationally representative sample of public and private high school principals in fall 2008. Completed surveys were returned by principals from 580 of 704 selected schools. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most high schools have at least 1 computer lab, most computers in computer labs are connected to the Internet, and just under half of schools with a stationary computer lab had a sufficient number of computers to accommodate an in-class online survey administration. The 2 most common problems associated with online surveys were logistics of providing enough computers for an entire class and rotating classes into computer labs. Nearly two thirds of principals preferred online to paper-and-pencil surveys when administered to 4 randomly selected classes that met at different times during the school day, but less than half reported this preference when administered to 4 randomly selected classes that met at the same time during the school day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many schools do not have sufficient computer capacity to participate in a voluntary in-class online survey. An online survey could impose significant perceived and actual burden on schools and therefore could result in unacceptably low school participation rates. Online administration for in-class surveys of students in US high schools are not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and School Health, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. dhe0@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Danice K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kann
authors.forename: Alice M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Tonja M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.forename: Katherine H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: Alexander L R
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D016288:Computer Terminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology