The Common Sense Census: Plugged-in Parents of Tweens and Teens in America, [United States], 2016 (ICPSR 38152)

Version Date: Sep 28, 2021

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Principal Investigator(s):
Alexis R. Lauricella, Northwestern University; Drew P. Cingel, Northwestern University; Leanne Beaudoin-Ryan, Northwestern University; Michael B. Robb, Common Sense Media; Melissa Saphir, Melissa Saphir Research Services; Ellen Wartella, Northwestern University

Series:

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38152.v1

Version V1

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Summary

The goal of this Common Sense research study was to provide current information about parent media use and their perceptions of their children and teens' (ages 8-18) media use. Data is from a nationally representative, probability-based, and cross-sectional online survey that was taken by parents of children and teens ages 8- to 18-years-old. Participants answered questions about their media use and their perception of their tweens or teens' media use. Media use included watching television, movies, and videos; playing video games; listening to music; using social media, reading either print or electronic books; and using digital devices for other purposes, such as browsing websites, playing games, or any other activity. We also asked about computer, smartphone, and tablet (and similar device) use for work purposes. Demographics include age, household income, parent education, race/ethnicity, gender, household size, and parent/caregiver employment status.

Citation

Lauricella, Alexis R., Cingel, Drew P., Beaudoin-Ryan, Leanne, Robb, Michael B., Saphir, Melissa, and Wartella, Ellen. The Common Sense Census: Plugged-in Parents of Tweens and Teens in America, [United States], 2016 . [distributor], 2021-09-28. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38152.v1

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Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Smallest Geographic Unit

State

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Time Period(s)

2016

Date of Collection

2016-08-07 -- 2016-26-07

Data Collection Notes

  1. For additional information on the Common Sense Census: Plugged-In Parents of Tweens and Teens, please visit Common Sense Media website.
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Study Purpose

The goal of this Common Sense research study was to present patterns of media usage among parents of tweens (age 8-12) and teens (age 13-18) in the United States.

Study Design

This report is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,786 parents of children age 8 to 18 living in the United States that was conducted from July 8, 2016, to July 25, 2016. The survey was administered by GfK, using their KnowledgePanel, a probability-based web panel designed to be representative of the population of the United States.

The survey questionnaire was offered in English and Spanish. When asked about media use, parents were asked to think of media use from the previous day. When asked about their children, parents were asked to think of only one child in their family, chosen at random by a computer algorithm.

A full explanation of the methodology, including definitions of the various types of media included in the survey and information on how time spent with media was measured and reported, is available in the report.

Sample

Data is from a nationally representative, probability-based cross-sectional survey of 1,786 adults with children age 8-18 in the United States. Members of the panel were randomly recruited to participate using address-based sampling and random-digit-dial telephone surveys. Households that were not already online were provided with notebook computers and dial-up Internet access for the purpose of participating.

Time Method

Cross-sectional

Universe

Parents in the United States who have children between the ages of 8 to 18.

Unit(s) of Observation

Individual

Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection

Description of Variables

Participants answered questions about media use, including the frequency of use, type of use (work vs. enjoyment), amount of devices, and amount of time devoted to a wide array of screen-based activities (watching TV shows, playing video games, and using social media) and non-screen-based media activists (reading and listening to music). For screen-based media activities, participants also answered questions about the devices they use (computers, smartphones, and tablets). Demographics include age, household income, parent education, race/ethnicity, gender, household size, and parent/caregiver employment status.

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Original Release Date

2021-09-28

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Weight

This collection contains one weight variable; WEIGHT, which gives the sample weights for all qualified respondents.

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Notes