Survey Questionnaire from GitHub 2017 Open Source Survey (English)



Open Source Survey


Hello! We're studying how people use and think about open source software. Whether you're a long-time maintainer, a new contributor, or an interested browser, we want to hear from you. This survey will take 15 minutes or less, and will be used to create an open data set that is freely available to researchers and members of the community to better understand the people who use and create open source technologies.

We're inviting you to take part based on having visited an open source project on GitHub or indicating interest in an open source project hosted elsewhere. This survey is open to anyone who uses, contributes to, or thinks about open source software, but we are sampling carefully in order to ensure that the data is unbiased, so please do not tweet or otherwise share this link.

All questions are optional. The data collected here is anonymous and will not be linked to any other data sources. We aim not to collect any personally identifying information, and will remove any that is provided before publicly releasing the data. This survey uses cookies, but only to prevent duplicate responses. To take the survey in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, or Russian, click the bar titled "Select another language" at the top of this page and choose your preferred language.

For the purposes of this survey, open source software is software available in source code form under terms that allow anyone to use, modify, and/or distribute the software for any purpose, subject, at most, to conditions that preserve provenance and openness. We acknowledge there are distinct ideologies behind Free/Libre and Open Source Software; we use the general term "open source" here for simplicity rather than as indication of support for one community over another.



Alias: PARTICIPATION-TYPE
multiple selection (checkbox)
1) People participate in open source in different ways. Which of the following activities do you engage in? Choose all that apply.
     Follow updates and discussions of open source projects
     Use open source applications
     Use open source software as dependencies in other projects
     Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)
     Other - please describe:   


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Alias: CONTRIBUTOR-TYPE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)")
grid
2) How often do you engage in each of the following activities?
    COLUMNS:
     Never
     Rarely
     Occasionally
     Frequently
    ROWS:  
     Contribute code
     Contribute documentation 
     Maintain project (e.g. review and merge contributions, manage releases) 
     Report or document bugs and unexpected behaviors 
     Offer ideas for new features
     Perform organizational or administrative functions (e.g. manage mailing lists, organize events)
 
 
 

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Alias: EMPLOYMENT-STATUS
Logic: Show/hide trigger exists. 
single choice
3) Which best describes your employment (paid work) status?
     Employed full time
     Employed part time
     Full time student
     Temporarily not working
     Retired or permanently not working (e.g. due to disability)
     Other - please describe:  


Alias: PROFESSIONAL-SOFTWARE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time")
single choice
4) In your main job, how often do you write or otherwise directly contribute to producing software?
     Frequently
     Occasionally
     Rarely
     Never


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Alias: FUTURE-CONTRIBUTION-INTEREST
single choice
5) How interested are you in contributing to open source projects in the future?
     Very interested
     Somewhat interested
     Not too interested
     Not at all interested

Alias: FUTURE-CONTRIBUTION-LIKELIHOOD
single choice
6) How likely are you to contribute to open source projects in the future?
     Very likely
     Somewhat likely
     Somewhat unlikely
     Very unlikely


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The following questions ask about the things that are important to you when choosing to use or contribute to software projects.



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Alias: OSS-USER-PRIORITIES
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Use open source applications","Use open source software as dependencies in other projects","Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)")
grid 
7) When thinking about whether to use open source software, how important are the following things?
    COLUMNS:
     Very important to have
     Somewhat important to have
     Not important either way
     Somewhat important not to have
     Very important not to have
     Don't know what this is 
    ROWS:
     An open source license
     A code of conduct
     A contributing guide
     A contributor's license agreement (CLA)
     Active development
     Responsive maintainers
     A welcoming community
     Widespread use
 
 
 
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Alias: OSS-CONTRIBUTOR-PRIORITIES
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)")
grid
8) When thinking about whether to contribute to an open source project, how important are the following things?
    COLUMNS:
     Very important to have
     Somewhat important to have
     Not important either way
     Somewhat important not to have
     Very important not to have
     Don't know what this is
    ROWS:
     An open source license
     A code of conduct
     A contributing guide
     A contributor's license agreement (CLA)
     Active development
     Responsive maintainers
     A welcoming community
     Widespread use
     
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Alias: SEEK-OPEN-SOURCE
single choice
9) How often do you try to find open source options over other kinds of software?
     Always
     Sometimes
     Rarely
     Never


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Alias: OSS-UX
single choice
10) Do you believe that open source software is generally easier to use than closed source (proprietary) software, harder to use, or about the same? 
     Generally easier to use
     Generally harder to use
     About the same

Alias: OSS-SECURITY
single choice
11) Do you believe that open source software is generally more secure than closed source (proprietary) software, less secure, or about the same?
     Generally more secure
     Generally less secure
     About the same

Alias: OSS-STABILITY
single choice
12) Do you believe that open source software is generally more stable than closed source (proprietary), less stable, or about the same?
     Generally more stable
     Generally less stable
     About the same


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Alias: INTERNAL-EFFICACY
13) I have the skills and understanding necessary to make meaningful contributions to open source projects.
     Strongly agree
     Somewhat agree
     Neither agree nor disagree
     Somewhat disagree
     Strongly disagree

Alias: EXTERNAL-EFFICACY
single choice
14) The open source community values contributions from people like me.
     Strongly agree
     Somewhat agree
     Neither agree nor disagree
     Somewhat disagree
     Strongly disagree

Alias: OSS-IDENTIFICATION
single choice
15) I consider myself to be a member of the open source (and/or the Free/Libre software) community.
     Strongly agree
     Somewhat agree
     Neither agree nor disagree
     Somewhat disagree
     Strongly disagree


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Alias: USER-VALUES
grid
16) When using any kind of software, how important are the following things to you?
    COLUMNS:
     Extremely important
     Very important
     Moderately important
     Slightly important
     Not at all important
    ROWS:
     Stability 
     Innovation 
     Replicability
     Compatibility
     Security 
     Cost
     Transparency
     User experience
     Customizability/Modifiability 
     Availability of technical support
     Trusted producer 
     
     
 
 

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The following questions ask about practices and attitudes about privacy and transparency, both within open source and online in general.



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Alias: TRANSPARENCY-PRIVACY-BELIEFS
single choice
17) Which of the following statements is closest to your beliefs about attribution in software development?
     Records of authorship should be required so that end users know who created the source code they are working with.
     People should be able to contribute code without attribution, if they wish to remain anonymous.


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Alias: INFO-AVAILABILITY
single choice
18) In general, how much information about you is publicly available online?
     A lot of information about me
     Some information about me
     A little information about me
     No information at all about me


<page break>

Alias: INFO-JOB
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is not one of the following answers ("Retired or permanently not working (e.g. due to disability)")
single choice
19) Do you feel that you need to make information available about yourself or your work online for professional reasons?
     Yes
     No


<page break>

Alias: TRANSPARENCY-PRIVACY-PRACTICES-GENERAL
single choice
20) Which of the following best describes your practices around publishing content online, such as posts on social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), blogs, and other platforms (not including contributions to open source projects)?
     I include my real name.
     I usually use a consistent pseudonym that is easily linked to my real name online.
     I usually use a consistent pseudonym that is not linked anywhere with my real name online.
     I take precautions to use different pseudonymns on different platforms.
     I don't publish this kind of content online.


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Alias: TRANSPARENCY-PRIVACY-PRACTICES
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)")
single choice
21) In your open source contributions, which of the following best describes your own practices?
     I include my real name.
     I usually contribute using a consistent pseudonym that is easily linked to my real name online.
     I usually contribute using a consistent pseudonym that is not linked anywhere with my real name online. 
     I take precautions to use different usernames in different projects.


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The following set of questions ask about how people find and seek help within the open source community.


<page break>
 
Alias: RECEIVED-HELP
single choice
22) Some people work on and use open source projects completely on their own, while others receive help from other users or contributors. Other people can help with technical problems, understanding community standards and norms, and making introductions to other people involved in the project or related ones.

Have you ever received any kind of help from other people related to using or contributing to an open source project?
     Yes
     No

Alias: FIND-HELPER
Logic: Hidden unless: #22 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
23) Thinking of the most recent case where someone helped you, how did you find someone to help you?
     I asked for help in a public forum (e.g. in a GitHub Issue, project mailing list, etc.) and someone responded.
     I asked a specific person for help.
     Someone offered me unsolicited help.
     Other - Please describe:  

Alias: HELPER-PRIOR-RELATIONSHIP
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #22 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
24) Which best describes your prior relationship with the person who helped you?
     We knew each other well.
     We knew each other a little.
     I knew of them through their contributions to projects, but didn't know them personally.
     Total strangers, I didn't know of them previously.

Alias: RECEIVED-HELP-TYPE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #22 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
25) What kind of problem did they help you with?
 Writing code or otherwise implementing ideas.
 Installing or using an application.
 Understanding community norms (e.g. how to submit a contribution, how to communicate effectively).
 Introductions to other people
 Other (please describe):  


<page break>


Alias: PROVIDED-HELP
single choice
26) Have you ever provided help for another person on an open source project?
     Yes
     No

Alias: FIND-HELPEE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #26 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
27) Thinking of the most recent case where you helped someone, how did you come to help this person?
     They asked for help in a public forum (e.g. in a GitHub Issue, project mailing list, etc.) and I responded.
     They asked me directly for help.
     I reached out to them to offer unsolicited help.
     Other (please describe):  

Alias: HELPEE-PRIOR-RELATIONSHIP
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #26 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
28) Which best describes your prior relationship with the person you helped?
     We knew each other well.
     We knew each other a little.
     I knew of them through their contributions to projects, but didn't know them personally.
     Total strangers, I didn't know of them previously.


Alias: PROVIDED-HELP-TYPE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #26 is one of the following answers ("Yes")
single choice
29) What kind of problem did you help them with?
     Writing code or otherwise implementing ideas.
     Installing or using an application.
     Understanding community norms (e.g. how to submit a contribution, how to communicate effectively).
     Introductions to other people.
     Other (please describe):  


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The next set of questions is about negative interpersonal experiences in the context of open source projects or communities.


<page break>

Alias: DISCOURAGING-BEHAVIOR
grid
30) Have you ever observed any of the following in the context of an open source project?
    COLUMNS:
     No
     Yes
    ROWS:
     Lack of response to contributions or questions
     Rejection of contributions without explanation 
     Dismissive responses to contributions or questions
     Documentation that is incomplete or difficult to understand
     Conflict or interpersonal tension between contributors
     Language or other content that made you feel unwelcome (e.g. profanity, racist jokes, sexual imagery, etc.)
 
 


<page break>

Alias: NEGATIVE-WITNESS
multiple selection
31) Have you ever witnessed any of the following behaviors directed at another person in the context of an open source project? (not including something directed at you)
     Hostility or rudeness
     Name calling
     Threats of violence
     Impersonation
     Harassment over a sustained period
     Harassment across multiple platforms
     Stalking
     Unsolicited sexual advances or comments
     Stereotyping based on perceived demographic characteristics
     Malicious publication of personal information (doxxing)
     Other (please describe):  
     None of the above


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Alias: NEGATIVE-EXPERIENCE
multiple selection
32) Have you ever experienced any of the following behaviors directed at you in the context of an open source project?
     Hostility or rudeness
     Name calling
     Threats of violence
     Impersonation
     Harassment over a sustained period
     Harassment across multiple platforms
     Stalking
     Unsolicited sexual advances or comments
     Stereotyping based on perceived demographic characteristics
     Malicious publication of personal information (doxxing)
     Other (please describe):  
     None of the above


<page break>


Alias: NEGATIVE-RESPONSE
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #32 is one of the following answers ("Hostility or rudeness","Name calling","Threats of violence","Impersonation","Harassment over a sustained period","Harassment across multiple platforms","Stalking","Unsolicited sexual advances or comments","Stereotyping based on perceived demographic characteristics","Malicious publication of personal information (doxxing)","Other (please describe)")
multiple selection
33) Thinking of the last time you experienced harassment, how did you respond? Choose all that apply.
     Asked the user(s) to stop the harassing behavior
     Solicited support from other community members
     Blocked the user(s) harassing me
     Reported the incident to project maintainers
     Reported the incident to the hosting service or ISP
     Consulted legal counsel/ an attorney
     Contacted law enforcement
     Other (please describe):  
     I did not react / ignored the incident


<page break>

Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #33 is one of the following answers ("Asked the user(s) to stop the harassing behavior","Solicited support from other community members","Blocked the user(s) harassing me","Reported the incident to project maintainers","Reported the incident to the hosting service or ISP","Consulted legal counsel/ an attorney","Contacted law enforcement")
grid
How effective were the following responses?
    COLUMNS:
     Not at all effective
     A little effective
     Somewhat effective
     Mostly effective
     Completely effective
    ROWS:
     Piped From selections in #33. 

<page break>


Alias: NEGATIVE-CONSEQUENCES
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #31 is not exactly equal to ("None of the above") OR Question "Have you ever experienced any of the following behaviors directed at you in the context of an open source project?" #32 is not exactly equal to ("None of the above"))
multiple selection
34) As a result of experiencing or witnessing harassment, which, if any, of the following have you done?
      Stopped contributing to a project
      Started contributing under a pseudonym
      Worked, asked questions, or collaborated in private channels more often
      Changed or deleted a username
      Removed or changed content on my public online presence
      Suggested the creation or modification of a Code of Conduct
      Engaged in private discussion with community members about the issue
      Engaged in public discussion with community members about the issue
      Made changes in my life offline (e.g. stopped attending meetups or conferences, etc.)
      Other (please describe):  
      None of the above`


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Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time")

The following set of questions asks about your relationship to open source software in the context of your professional work.


<page break>


Alias: OSS-AS-JOB
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)") AND response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time"))
single choice
35) Do you contribute to open source as part of your professional work? In other words, are you paid for any of your time spent on open source contributions? 
     Yes, directly- some or all of my work duties include contributing to open source projects.
     Yes, indirectly- I contribute to open source in carrying out my work duties, but I am not required or expected to do so.
     No.


Alias: OSS-AT-WORK
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time")
single choice
36) How often do you use open source software in your professional work?
     Frequently
     Sometimes
     Rarely
     Never


<page break>

Alias: OSS-IP-POLICY
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time")
single choice
37) How does your employer's intellectual property agreement/policy affect your free-time contributions to open source unrelated to your work?
     I am not permitted to contribute to open source at all.
     I am permitted to contribute to open source, but need to ask for permission.
     I am free to contribute without asking for permission.
     My employer doesn't have a clear policy on this.
     I'm not sure.
     Not applicable


Alias: EMPLOYER-POLICY-APPLICATIONS
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time")
single choice
38) Which is closest to your employer's policy on using open source software applications?
     Use of open source applications is encouraged.
     Use of open source applications is acceptable if it is the most appropriate tool.
     Use of open source applications is rarely, if ever, permitted.
     My employer doesn't have a clear policy on this.
     I'm not sure.
     Not applicable


Alias: EMPLOYER-POLICY-DEPENDENCIES
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time") AND response to #4 is one of the following answers ("Frequently","Occasionally"))
single choice
39) Which is closest to your employer's policy on incorporating open source dependencies into your code base?
     Use of open source dependencies is encouraged.
     Use of open source dependencies is acceptable if it is the most appropriate tool.
     Use of open source dependencies is rarely, if ever permitted.
     My employer doesn't have a clear policy on this.
     I'm not sure.
     Not applicable


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Alias: OSS-HIRING
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #1 is one of the following answers ("Participate in open source software development (including making feature requests, filing bugs, contribution of documentation or code, project maintenance, etc.)") AND response to #3 is one of the following answers ("Employed full time","Employed part time"))
single choice
40) How important do you think your involvement in open source was to getting your current job?
     Very important
     Somewhat important
     Not too important
     Not at all important
     Not applicable-I hadn't made any contributions when I got this job.


<page break>

The following questions are about your personal demographic characteristics and background. This is the last section of the survey.


<page break>


Alias: IMMIGRATION
single choice
41) Do you currently live in a country other than the one in which you were born?
 Yes, and I intend to stay permanently.
 Yes, and I intend to stay temporarily.
 Yes, and I am not sure about my future plans.
 No, I live in the country where I was born.


Alias: MINORITY-HOMECOUNTRY
Logic: Hidden unless: Response to #41 is one of the following answers ("Yes, and I intend to stay permanently.","Yes, and I intend to stay temporarily.","Yes, and I am not sure about my future plans.")
single choice
42) Thinking of where you were born, are you a member of an ethnicity or nationality that is a considered a minority in that country?
     Yes
     No
     Not sure
     Prefer not to say

Alias: MINORITY-CURRENT-COUNTRY
single choice
43) Thinking of where you currently live, are you a member of an ethnicity or nationality that is a considered a minority in that country?
     Yes
     No
     Not sure
     Prefer not to say


<page break>

Alias: GENDER
single choice
44) What is your gender?
     Man
     Woman
     Non-binary or Other
     Prefer not to say

Alias: TRANSGENDER-IDENTITY
single choice
45) Do you identify as transgender?
     Yes
     No
     Not sure
     Prefer not to say

Alias: SEXUAL-ORIENTATION
single choice
46) Do you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, or any other minority sexual orientation?
     Yes
     No
     Not sure
     Prefer not to say


<page break>

Alias: WRITTEN-ENGLISH
single choice
47) How well can you read and write in English?
     Very well
     Moderately well
     Not very well
     Not at all

Alias: AGE
dropdown menu, single choice
48) What is your age?
     17 or younger
     18 to 24 years
     25 to 34 years
     35 to 44 years
     45 to 54 years
     55 to 64 years
     65 to 74 years
     75 years or older
     Prefer not to say

Alias: FORMAL-EDUCATION
single choice
49) What is the highest level of formal education that you have completed?
     Less than secondary (high) school
     Secondary (high) school graduate or equivalent
     Some college, no degree
     Vocational/trade program or apprenticeship
     Bachelor's degree
     Master's degree
     Doctorate (Ph.D.) or other advanced degree (e.g. M.D., J.D.)

Alias: PARENTS-FORMAL-EDUCATION
single choice
50) What is the highest level of formal education that either of your parents completed?
     Less than secondary (high) school
     Secondary (high) school graduate or equivalent
     Some college, no degree
     Vocational/trade program or apprenticeship
     BachelorŐs degree
     MastersŐ degree
     Doctorate (Ph.D.) or other advanced degree (e.g. M.D., J.D.)


<page break>

Alias: AGE-AT-FIRST-COMPUTER-INTERNET
single choice
51) How old were you when you first had regular access to a computer with an internet connection?
     Younger than 13 years old
     13 - 17 years old
     18 - 24 years old
     25 - 45 years old
     Older than 45 years old

Alias: LOCATION-OF-FIRST-COMPUTER-INTERNET
single choice
52) Where did you first have regular access to a computer with internet connection?
     At home (belonging to me or a family member)
     In a classroom, computer lab, or library at school
     At a public library or community center
     At an internet cafe or similar space
     Other (please describe):  

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Thank You!

Thank you for participating in the Open Source Survey. We appreciate your time and willingness to contribute to this project. You can follow the project and data release in our public GitHub repo at https://github.com/github/open-source-survey.