Data for this report was collected for Pew Research Center. The survey was administered online by the GfK Group using its KnowledgePanel, in English and Spanish, to a nationally representative sample of 1,060 teens ages 13 to 17 and a parent or guardian from September 25 to October 9, 2014, and February 10 to March 16, 2015. In the fall sample, 1,016 parent-teen pairs participated in the survey. The survey was re-opened in the spring and 44 pairs were added to the sample for a total of 1060 parent-teen pairs. The study also included 12 focus groups conducted in three cities in November 2014 with a total of 70 teens, and four online focus groups, each with 10 teens from around the U.S., conducted in April 2014. Focus group participants were teens between the ages of 13 and 17. The groups were separated into middle school students and high school students and were segregated by gender. For four of the in-person focus groups, participants must have had some previous experience in a romantic relationship. Teen participants were paid an incentive. For more on the methods for this study, please visit the Methods section at the end of this report.
This report is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals who variously helped design (and translate) the quantitative instrument, conduct focus groups, analyze data, write the report and design graphics. The authors would also like to thank our outside reviewers who helped us think through our consent process with our teen respondents and question development for the qualitative and quantitative instruments; Amy Bleakley, danah boyd, Lisa Jones and Lois Scheidt. This is the third of three reports based on this data collection that broadly examine how teens use technology particularly in the context of peer friendships and romantic relationships. The first report was Teen Social Media and Technology Overview 2015 and the second report was Teens, Technology and Friendships. Find related reports online at www.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet
Amanda Lenhart, Associate Director Aaron Smith, Associate Director Monica Anderson, Research Analyst Maeve Duggan, Research Associate Andrew Perrin, Research Assistant Margaret Porteus, Information Graphics Designer Shannon Greenwood, Assistant Digital Producer Kim Parker, Director, Social & Demographic Trends Eileen Patten, Research Analyst Anna Brown, Research Assistant Seth Motel, Research Assistant Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, Research Associate Aleksandra Sandstrom, Copy Editor Lee Rainie, Director, Internet, Science and Technology Research
