Prepared By:Prepared By:

GPAH, Ltd.GPAH, Ltd.

Suzanne Anderson, Sheena Guide, Jeff Hall, MyLinh PhamSuzanne Anderson, Sheena Guide, Jeff Hall, MyLinh Pham

A Survey of Email Users from across the Continental U.S.

Prepared for:Prepared for: Kristina Ray, Vice President Kristina Ray, Vice President

Katz & Associates, 4250 Executive Sq # 670, Katz & Associates, 4250 Executive Sq # 670, La Jolla, CA 92037 La Jolla, CA 92037

RESEARCH BACKGROUNDRESEARCH BACKGROUND

There is lack of organizational awareness concerning the application of new There is lack of organizational awareness concerning the application of new

media technologies as they pertain to civic involvement and decisions media technologies as they pertain to civic involvement and decisions

concerning local issuesconcerning local issues

Many times people living in an area are not aware of the meetings and polling Many times people living in an area are not aware of the meetings and polling

taking place in their own communities. This lack of knowledge has often led to taking place in their own communities. This lack of knowledge has often led to

community backlash and a hampering of agencies’ abilities to enact progress community backlash and a hampering of agencies’ abilities to enact progress

toward future projectstoward future projects

Information NeedsInformation Needs

•To examine the likelihood of questionnaire respondents to use email as To examine the likelihood of questionnaire respondents to use email as a tool to affect public participation and contact public officialsa tool to affect public participation and contact public officials

• To determine if questionnaire responses are representative of the To determine if questionnaire responses are representative of the general populationgeneral population

• To discover whether different characteristics of the population To discover whether different characteristics of the population contribute to the likelihood of people to use email as a tool to get contribute to the likelihood of people to use email as a tool to get engaged in public participationengaged in public participation

MethodsMethods• Study based on client information needsStudy based on client information needs

• Depth- interviews conducted face-to-faceDepth- interviews conducted face-to-face with 45 San Diego area participants in with 45 San Diego area participants in Sept. 2008; information used to constructSept. 2008; information used to construct telephone questionnairetelephone questionnaire

• Telephone surveys conducted of 489 Telephone surveys conducted of 489 respondents from across the contiguous respondents from across the contiguous U.S. in Nov. 2008U.S. in Nov. 2008

• Based on initial sample of 6,596, completed Based on initial sample of 6,596, completed questionnaires,14.3% response rate, 31.5% refusal rate and 54.6% questionnaires,14.3% response rate, 31.5% refusal rate and 54.6% noncontact rate noncontact rate

Sample Characteristics IISample Characteristics II

Sample Characteristics ISample Characteristics I

Sample Characteristics IIISample Characteristics III

From Depth Interview… From Depth Interview…

““It would be nice if our city could e-mail us It would be nice if our city could e-mail us

on certain issues so I can know what’s going on on certain issues so I can know what’s going on

within the area. We don’t really know what’s within the area. We don’t really know what’s

going on because town hall meetings are not going on because town hall meetings are not

very interesting. If they were to e-mail us, I’d be very interesting. If they were to e-mail us, I’d be

a lot more interested and involved.”a lot more interested and involved.”

-Melania, 33, Mother of four-Melania, 33, Mother of four

Impact of Age on Email UseImpact of Age on Email Use

The Impact of Income on Email UseThe Impact of Income on Email Use

The following charts represent how voting habits in The following charts represent how voting habits in the last 3 elections had an effect on email usage and the last 3 elections had an effect on email usage and

the likelihood to email a public officialthe likelihood to email a public official

Voting Habits among Email Users in Past 3 Elections Voting Habits among Email Users in Past 3 Elections

How voting habits in past 3 elections relates to How voting habits in past 3 elections relates to sending email to public officialssending email to public officials

Impact of Voter Registration on Sending an Email to Impact of Voter Registration on Sending an Email to a Public Officiala Public Official

FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…

““I feel that the use of the internet and e-mail were the I feel that the use of the internet and e-mail were the

most effective way to directly reach these public most effective way to directly reach these public

officials and get their immediate attention. I have officials and get their immediate attention. I have

always received a response back, even if it wasn’t always received a response back, even if it wasn’t

directly from the person I had intended to reach”directly from the person I had intended to reach”

-Ellen, 52, Poway, CA-Ellen, 52, Poway, CA

Impact of Education on Email UseImpact of Education on Email Use

Impact of Education on Sending Emails to Public OfficialsImpact of Education on Sending Emails to Public Officials

FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…

“ “The only method of contacting any city official that The only method of contacting any city official that

came to mind was writing an email. I figured if I came to mind was writing an email. I figured if I

hand-wrote a letter it would probably never reach hand-wrote a letter it would probably never reach

whoever I was sending to, plus that’s such an whoever I was sending to, plus that’s such an

ancient form of communication anyways!”ancient form of communication anyways!”

-Mary, 46, case manager for health care appeals -Mary, 46, case manager for health care appeals

Impact of Trust in Government on Email UseImpact of Trust in Government on Email Use

FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…FROM DEPTH INTERVIEW…

““All I remember is when email and instant All I remember is when email and instant

messaging started becoming messaging started becoming

popular, around the 6th grade [1999]. popular, around the 6th grade [1999].

Before that, I don’t even remember how Before that, I don’t even remember how

we communicated, other than we communicated, other than

telephones, and got information.”telephones, and got information.”

-Nolan, SDSU Senior -Nolan, SDSU Senior

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO USE EMAIL CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO USE EMAIL AND/OR WOULD SEND EMAIL TO PUBLIC OFFICIALSAND/OR WOULD SEND EMAIL TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Although a relationship was detected for each of Although a relationship was detected for each of the following, they were not found to be the following, they were not found to be statistically significant;statistically significant;

Of those who are currently registered to vote, Of those who are currently registered to vote, those who are registered as Independent are those who are registered as Independent are more likely to use emailmore likely to use email

Those who made greater than $75K were Those who made greater than $75K were somewhat to very likely to send email to a somewhat to very likely to send email to a public officialpublic official

Email use was also affected by the region of Email use was also affected by the region of the USA where respondent lives the USA where respondent lives

CHARACTERISTICS THAT DID NOT CHARACTERISTICS THAT DID NOT AFFECT EMAIL USAGE FOR PUBLIC AFFECT EMAIL USAGE FOR PUBLIC

PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

GenderGender

Whether respondent owns or Whether respondent owns or rents his/ her homerents his/ her home

FINDINGSFINDINGS

Statistical evidence indicates that an individual’s voting status has a Statistical evidence indicates that an individual’s voting status has a significant effect on their likelihood of using email to contact a public official. significant effect on their likelihood of using email to contact a public official. Those registered to vote were far more likely to email a public official about a Those registered to vote were far more likely to email a public official about a matter they feel strongly about.matter they feel strongly about.

   Statistical evidence also points to a significance in an individuals education Statistical evidence also points to a significance in an individuals education

level as it pertains to overall email usage and propensity to use email to level as it pertains to overall email usage and propensity to use email to contact a public official. As the educational levels increase so does the contact a public official. As the educational levels increase so does the likelihood of using these communication techniques.likelihood of using these communication techniques.

FINDINGS (CONT.)FINDINGS (CONT.)

Statistical evidence also points to a significance in the number of times an Statistical evidence also points to a significance in the number of times an individual has voted in the last 3 elections as it pertains to overall email usage individual has voted in the last 3 elections as it pertains to overall email usage and propensity to use email to contact a public official. and propensity to use email to contact a public official.

Statistical evidence indicates that an individual’s trust in the government has a Statistical evidence indicates that an individual’s trust in the government has a significant effect on the frequency of their email usage. Those that had more significant effect on the frequency of their email usage. Those that had more trust in the government were more likely to use email.trust in the government were more likely to use email.

The age and income level of the individual also had a significant effect on the The age and income level of the individual also had a significant effect on the frequency of email usage. frequency of email usage.

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Increase the security level of all computer Increase the security level of all computer applications as they pertain to public applications as they pertain to public participation.participation.- Our study has indicated that many people - Our study has indicated that many people frequently do their banking online and feel frequently do their banking online and feel secure doing so. If the security of computer secure doing so. If the security of computer applications can be brought to the level of online applications can be brought to the level of online banking and people are made aware of this fact, banking and people are made aware of this fact, they would be more likely to use computer they would be more likely to use computer applications to affect public participationapplications to affect public participation

People who have at least some college People who have at least some college education, but preferably a 4- year degree or education, but preferably a 4- year degree or higher, should be sought when trying to obtain higher, should be sought when trying to obtain input on public participation using email as a input on public participation using email as a communication technique. communication technique.