世論 What Japan Thinks

I’ve got a couple of Nintendo DS learning games, but I don’t have a DS to play them on, but that’s another story. Today’s story is a survey from goo Research, in conjuction with the Research Institute for Digital Media and Content at Keio University into game machine and computer-based self-study.

Demographics

Between the 22nd and 25th of February 2008 (although the results were only posted on the 17th of June) 1,063 members of the goo Research consumer monitor group in employement completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The male:female split was 50:50, with the extra odd person being male. The age range is not noted, however. By employment status, 2.9% were senior management, 8.8% middle management, 10.2% lower management, 27.2% ordinary employees, 8.0% contract or dispatch employees, 13.7% part-time or temporary, 26.0% students, and 3.2% others.

At work we have various e-learning courses available that vary from free to quite expensive, with the company usually paying half of the fees, as long as you sit the exams at the end or complete most of the coursework, etc. I’m not sure how many people actually use the facilities though!

Here the term e-learning means online training on either the internet or intranet.

Research results

Q1: Other than e-learning, on what kinds of electronic devices have you studied on? (Sample size=1,063, multiple answer)

Nintendo DS (to SQ)	20.1%
Computer (to SQ)	10.8%
Apple iPod (to SQ)	3.5%
Nintendo Wii (to SQ)	1.9%
Sony PSP (to SQ)	1.1%
Other	1.0%
None in particular	69.2%

Q1SQ: What subjects have you studied? (Sample size=327, multiple answer)

Foreign languages	60.2%
Brain training	44.0%
Kanji	26.0%
Japanese language	11.0%
Mathematics	8.9%
Manners, etiquette	8.3%
Stocks and shares	7.0%
History	4.9%
Geography	3.1%
Bookkeeping	2.8%
Science	1.2%
Other	8.9%

Q2: Have you used e-learning on a personal basis? (Sample size=1,063)

Currently using (to SQ)	6.5%
Used to use (to SQ)	15.0%
Never used it	78.6%

Q2SQ: How effective was the e-learning? (Sample size=228)

Very effective	6.1%
Effective to some degree	55.7%
Barely effective	27.2%
Ineffective	3.5%
Don’t know	7.5%

Q3: Does your place of work, university, use e-learning? (Sample size=1,063)

Using it (to SQs)	17.3%
Using it, but I’m not taking courses	7.2%
Not using it	53.7%
Don’t know	21.8%

Q3SQ1: How effective is this e-learning? (Sample size=184)

Greatly effective	3.8%
Somewhat effective	77.7%
Ineffective	9.8%
Don’t know	8.7%

Q3SQ2: What are the merits of e-learning? (Sample size=184, multiple answer)

Free to study whenever, whereever, at my own pace	83.7%
Can repeat lessons	34.8%
Can take courses appropriate to my own level	22.3%
Easier to understand my own level, progress	22.3%
Can take many differnce courses	18.5%
Can take the latest courses	10.9%
Easier to understand that traditional methods	10.3%
Connected to obtaining qualifications	9.8%
Greater desire to learn	6.5%
Directly related to salary, promotion	2.7%
Has no merit	3.3%

Q3SQ3: How do you want to see e-learning training in the future? (Sample size=184)

Want all training to be e-learning based	6.5%
Not all training should be so, but want the e-learning based ratio to increase	32.6%
Want to maintain the current ratio of e-learning	35.9%
Want to decrease the current ratio of e-learning	11.4%
Don’t know	13.6%

Q3SQ4: Who pays for this e-learning? (Sample size=184)

Pay all myself (to SQ5)	13.6%
Depending on circumstances, company, university, etc support payment (to SQ4)	12.0%
Company, university, etc pay everything	74.5%

Q3SQ5: How much did you spend in the last year on e-learning? (Sample size=47)

Under 10,000 yen	70.2%
10,000 to 29,999 yen	17.0%
30,000 to 49,999 yen	2.1%
50,000 to 99,999 yen	4.3%
100,000 yen or more	6.4%