In survey research, it’s important to follow best practices to make sure the results are accurate and meaningful. Babbie (2014) explains that researchers should make queations clear, aviod asking about more than one idea at a time, and make sure participants are both able and willing to answer. Surveys should only include questions that relate to the topic and avoid wording that might confuse or lead respondents toward a certain answer. Following these steps helps make survey results more reliable and easier to interpert.

This study looks at how parents of young children manage their child’s use of technology: Thes research questions asks: How do parents of three-to five-year-olds navigate the perceived benefits and risks of their children’s technology use, and how do their feelings about this influence their household rules and media habits? Each survey questions uses a 0-10 scale, where 0 means not at all and 10 means a great amount. This type of scale allows parents to describe their opinions and behaviors in more detail than a simple yes or no answer.

For my dependent variable, whcih focuses on the children’s learning outcomes, I ask: “On a scale of 0-10, how much has screentime helped your child learn skills like reading and counting?” This question measures how parents view the educational benefits of technology. For my independent variable, which looks at parental involvement, I ask: “On a scale of 0-10, how often do you engage with your child when they are using devices?” This question shows how involved parents are when their child is using technology. These questions are short, clear, and follow Babbie’s (2014) recommendations for effective survey design.

Previous research highlights why these variables are important. Xiong, Gin, Wang, and Ren (2021) found “significant positive directional effects” between children’s academic achievement and parental involvement. Comer (1992) and Epstein (1985) also stated that “the notion that parents play a key role in children’s educational success has become conventional wisdom.” These findings suggest that what parents do, and how they feel about technology, can have a major influence on how children learn and develop. By keeping the survey design simple, focused, and consistent, this study aims to better understand how parents balance the benefits and risks of technology and how their involvement shapes their children’s media habits and learning experiences at home.