Proposed Data Collection: Public's Views and Comments; Title of Proposed Collection: Public Attitudes About Technology

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68312-68314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32863]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Data Collection: Public's Views and Comments; Title of 
Proposed Collection: Public Attitudes About Technology

    The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, is 
interested in obtaining the public's views and attitudes toward year 
2000 computer readiness.
    Specifically, we are seeking input and comments from all interested 
persons on their views of the value of computer technology in their 
lives, and in their familiarity with and level of comfort when using 
computers and their familiarity with problems that may result from year 
2000 computer conversion issues.
    In an effort to obtain the public's input and useful information, 
the National Science Foundation has developed the questions that 
follow. Responses from the public will be used only in the aggregate, 
and only to help NSF in its efforts to better explain itself and its 
activities to the American public.
    We hope you will provide us with your thoughts on the following 
questions. Detailed comments are also welcome and greatly appreciated.
    Responses and comments can be mailed to Public Attitudes about Year 
2000 Conversion, c/o Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1245, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Comments can also be sent via email to nstw@nsf.gov, or faxed to (703) 
306-1057.
    All comments should be received by Monday, December 21, 1998.

    Dated: December 4, 1998.
Julia Moore,
Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

Y2K Millennium Readiness Poll

December 9-13, 1998

    1. As you may know, most computer systems around the world have to 
be reprogrammed so that they can accurately recognize the date once we 
reach the Year 2000. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the 
Year-2000 issue will cause major problems, minor problems, or no 
problems at all?

1  Major problems
2  Minor problems
3  No problems at all
4  CATASTROPHE/REALLY BIG PROBLEMS (vol.)
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    2. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue 
will cause major problems, minor problems or no problems at all for you 
personally?

1  Major problems
2  Minor problems
3  No problems at all
4  CATASTROPHE/REALLY BIG PROBLEMS (vol.)
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    3. How much have you seen or heard about the Year 2000 computer bug 
problem, sometimes called the Millennium Bug or the Y-2-K bug, before 
now-- a great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all?

1  A great deal
2  Some
3  Not much
4  Nothing at all
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    The rest of the questions on this survey will deal with Year 2000 
computer issue. For convenience we will refer to it throughout the 
survey as the ``Y2K'' computer bug.
    4. Overall, how concerned are you about the Y2K computer bug 
problem--[READ 1-4]?

1  Very concerned
2  Somewhat concerned
3  Not too concerned
4  Not at all concerned
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    5. To the extent Y2K computer problems occur, how long do you think 
they will last--[FORM A: READ 1-4; FORM B: READ 4-1]?

1  For only a few days around January 1, 2000
2  For several weeks (or)
3  For several months to a year (or)
4  For more than a year
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    6. For each of the following, please say whether that is something 
you probably will or will not do in order to protect yourself against 
problems associated with the Y2K computer bug. How about... READ AND 
ROTATE A-F

1  Yes
2  No
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED
a. Obtain special confirmation or documentation of your bank account 
balances, retirement funds, or other financial records
b. Stockpile food and water

[[Page 68313]]

c. Buy a generator or wood stove
d. Withdraw all your money from the bank
e. Withdraw and set aside a large amount of cash
f. Avoid travelling on airplanes on or around January 1, 2000

    7. Thinking about the U.S. economy, which of the following 
statements best describes the possible effect you think the Y2K bug 
will have on the economy--[FORM A: READ 1-4; FORM B: READ 4-1]?

1  It will cause a total economic breakdown or catastrophe
2  It will cause serious problems in the economy such as slowing 
production or creating a recession (or)
3  It will cause only minor problems in the economy (or)
4  It will have no negative impact on the economy
5  OTHER (vol.)
6  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    8. Thinking more generally about the kind of problems which could 
possibly be created by the Y2K computer bug, which of the following 
best describes how serious these problems will be in the United 
States--[FORM A: READ 1-4; FORM B: READ 4-1]?

1  Y2K will result in disasters which could cause the loss of human 
life
2  Y2K will cause economic and social disruptions, but will not be life 
threatening
3  Y2K will cause only minor disruptions and inconveniences
4  Y2K will have no negative impact on people's lives
5  OTHER (vol.)
6  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    9. Next I'm going to read some specific problems. As I read each 
one, please say whether you think it likely or unlikely to occur as a 
result of Y2K. First, ... Next, ... READ AND ROTATE A-H:

1  Likely
2  Unlikely
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED
a. Air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in 
jeopardy
b. Banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors in 
employee paychecks, government payments, and other automated financial 
transactions
c. Food and retail distribution systems will fail, possibly causing 
grocery and other store shortages
d. Household appliances such as VCR's, video cameras and air 
conditioning systems will fail to turn on or work properly
e. Hospital equipment and services will fail, putting patients at risk
f. City or county emergency ``911'' communication systems will fail, 
putting citizens at risk
g. Passenger cars and trucks will fail to work properly, possibly 
causing social and economic disruption
h. Nuclear power or defense systems could fail, causing a major 
accident

    10. As you may know, efforts are currently underway throughout the 
country to upgrade computer systems in order to correct the Y2K 
computer problem. We'd like to know whether you are generally confident 
or NOT confident that each of the following levels of government and 
business will have upgraded their computer systems before any Y2K 
problems can occur. = How about... READ AND ROTATE A-G:

1  Yes, confident they will have upgraded
2  No, not confident
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED
a. The U.S. government, including all federal offices and agencies
b. Your state government
c. Your local government
d. U.S. corporations and large businesses
e. Small U.S. businesses
f. Foreign governments of other developed and industrialized countries
g. Foreign governments of Third World and other less developed 
countries

    11. Do you have a personal computer in your household, or not?

1  Yes  continue
2  No  skip to q. 13
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    12. If have computer in household (Q. 11 `1'): Do you, personally, 
use your home computer to connect to the Internet or an online service 
such as Prodigy or America Online?

1  Yes
2  No
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    13. Do you use a computer at work or school?

1  Yes  continue
2  No
3  DON'T WORK/GO TO SCHOOL skip to note before q. 15
4  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    14. If use computer at work or school (Q. 13 `1'): Do you, 
personally, use the Internet or other computer on-line service at your 
place of work or school?

1  Yes
2  No
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

If Q. 11 `1' continue; all others skip to Q. 17

    15. Do you know for sure whether your home computer or computers 
are programmed to comprehend the Year 2000 date field correctly, or are 
you unsure?

1  Yes, programmed correctly skip to q. 17
2  No,  unsure  continue
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    16. If not sure about home computer (Q. 15 `2,3'): Do you plan to 
take steps to make sure your computer is programmed correctly or are 
you going to wait and see what happens?

1  Yes, going to take steps
2  No, wait and see what happens
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    17. Which of the following currently applies to you--Are you READ 
1-5:

1  Employed for pay continue
2  Unemployed
3  Retired
4  A Homemaker, or skip to demographics
5  A Student
6  NONE/OTHER (vol.)
7  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    18. Is your employer or place of business taking sufficient steps 
to correct any problems it might face because of Y2K problems, is it 
NOT taking sufficient steps, or are you unsure?

1  Yes, taking sufficient steps
2  No, not taking sufficient steps
3  Unsure
4  REFUSED

(DEMOGRAPHICS START HERE)
    That completes the interview. I'd just like to ask you a few 
questions for background and statistical purposes only.

 this is the samePLEASE RECORD AND VERIFY PHONE NUMBER: +______+ 
+______+ +______+ =A632=A633=A634=A6 - =A635=A636=A637=A6 - 
=A638=A639=A640=A641=A6 +______+ +______+ +________+
AREA CODE  EXCHANGE  NUMBER
    D1. CHECK RESPONDENT'S SEX:

1  Male=20
2  Female

    D2. What is your age? =20

1  1 =20
2  2
3  3
4  4
5  5
6  6
7  7
8  8
9  9
0=3D Don't know

    D3. What is the last grade or class that you completed in 
school?=09

1  None, or grade 1-4
2  Grades 5, 6 or 7=20
3  Grade 8

[[Page 68314]]

4  High school incomplete (Grades 9-11)
5  High school graduate, Grade 12
6  Technical, trade, or business after high school
7  College/university incomplete
8  College/university graduate or more
9  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    D3a. If College grad (D3 `8') Do you have any post-graduate 
education beyond a 4-year bachelors degree?

1  Yes (includes masters degree, doctorate, law degree, etc.)
2  No
3  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    D4. Are you, yourself of Hispanic origin or descent, such as 
Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish background?

1  Yes
2  No
3  DON'T KNOW
4  REFUSED

    D4a. What is your race? Are you white, African-American, or some 
other race?

01  Other (list)
02  (DK)
03  (Refused)
04  HOLD
05  HOLD
06  White
07  African-American/Black
08  (Hispanic)--(Continue)

    D4b. (If code ``08'' in D4a, ask:) Do you consider yourself to be 
white-Hispanic, or black-Hispanic?

01  Other (list)
02  (DK)
03  (Refused)
04  HOLD
05  HOLD
06  White-Hispanic
07  Black-Hispanic
08  (Hispanic/Respondent refuses to discriminate)

    D5. Is your total annual household income before taxes $20,000 or 
more or is it less than $20,000?

(IF ``UNDER'' ASK:) Is it over or under $15,000?
(IF ``UNDER'' ASK:) Is it over or under $10,000?
(IF ``OVER'' ASK:) Is it over or under $30,000?
(IF ``OVER'' ASK:) Is it over or under $50,000?
(IF ``OVER'' ASK:) Is it over or under $75,000?
01  Less than $10,000 05 $30,000-49,999
02  $10,000-14,999 06 $50,000-74,999
03  $15,000-19,999 07 $75,000 and over
04  $20,000-29,999 08 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    D6. How important would you say religion is in your own life--
extremely important, very important, fairly important, or not very 
important?

1  Extremely important
2  Very important
3  Fairly important
4  Not very important
5  DON'T KNOW/REFUSED

    D7. Next, we need to record how many different residential phone 
lines you have in your household--that is, the number of different 
phone numbers that are used by adult members of your household. Please 
do not count phone lines that are used primarily for business purposes, 
for children, or for electronic equipment--such as computers and fax 
machines. How many residential phone numbers are there in your 
household?

1  One
2  Two
3  Three
4  Four
5  Five or more
6  DON'T KNOW
7  REFUSED

Programmer Note: Collect 50 Names

    D8. This completes the interview, however, Gallup is working with 
USA Today on this poll and they would like to talk further with a few 
survey participants about the topics we've discussed. So that reporters 
can choose from a cross-section of people, Gallup would provide them 
with background information which may include any or all of the answers 
you've given in this poll. Would you be willing to talk with a reporter 
at a later date?

1  Yes
2  No/(Ref)

    IF YES TO BE RE-INTERVIEWED READ:
    So that a reporter might reach you more easily, may I please have 
your name?

[FR Doc. 98-32863 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P