We plan on conducting a study to determine the nature of computing at Swarthmore with respect to the happiness of its students. We will distribute questionnaires and analyze the data both quantitatively (statistically) and qualitatively (through a contextual consideration of the makeup of the student body).We will attempt to ellicit data from a representative, random sampling of Swarthmore students. We are primarily concerned with results that may suggest any relationship, causal or correlative, that exists between student depression (and social phobia) and their usage of computers, both in terms of the amount of time spent on computers and the activities pursued when on the computer.
We understand that similar studies have been done at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University. We will not try to duplicate their results; rather, we will look for similarities and differences; we expect to see some differences due to the vastly different environments considered. The nature of our research is different. We expect unique results.