Exit this survey Survey of Practicing Astronomers 1. Survey of Practicing Astronomers in the U.S. Information About You Question Title * 1. What do you believe influenced you and led you to a career in astronomy? Please select all that apply. An informal science experience at a museum, planetarium, science center, etc. A video or computer game A family member Doing a research project in science as a child A teacher or science class in a K-12 school A TV program, movie, or book Participating in a science fair or other science competition An instructor or science class in college A friend Money to be made as an astronomer Prestige associated with astronomy I'm unsure OTHER: An optional text box has also been included below for you to add additional details, or additional factors that may have influenced you and led you to a career in astronomy. Feel free to respond with either a bulleted list or narrative text. Question Title * 2. Which best describes your current employment situation?I am primarily employed ... (click on drop-down menu) - at a K-12 education institution - at a 2-year academic institution (e.g. community college, technical school) - at a college or university - at an informal science education institution (e.g. museum, science center, planetarium, etc.) - in private industry - at a research facility supported by government (e.g. National Observatory, NASA, etc.) - at a non-research institution supported by government (e.g. NSF, serving an internship on Capitol Hill, etc.) - at a NGO - I am self employed - I am retired but still active in the field of astronomy - I am currently unemployed Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. Please select all degrees completed. PhD MD MA MS MBA MPH BS BA JD Other professional/health degrees (e.g. EDM, EDD, DDS, DVM) Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. Gender (Please feel free to skip this question if you would like.) female male other Question Title * 5. Ethnicity (Please feel free to skip this question if you would like.)Select all that apply. Asian / Pacific Islander Black or African American Hispanic or Latino Native American or American Indian White Other (please specify) Question Title * 6. Into which astronomy sub-discipline(s) is your current professional scientific work and/or research best categorized? (Please check all that apply.) Archaeoastronomy Astrobiology Astrochemistry Astroengineering Astrometry Astronomy Education Astrophysics Celestial mechanics Computational astronomy Physical cosmology Extragalactic astronomy Galactic astronomy Gamma-ray astronomy Gravitational-wave astronomy Neutrino astronomy Observational astronomy Planetary science Radio astronomy Solar Astronomy Stellar astronomy X-ray astronomy Other (please specify) Question Title * 7. For how many years have you been a practicing astronomer? less than 2 years 2 - 5 years 5 - 10 years 11 - 15 years 16 - 20 years more than 20 years Question Title * 8. How long have you been at your current place of employment? Less than 2 years between 2 - 5 years between 5 - 10 years between 10 - 15 years between 15 - 20 years More than 20 years Question Title * 9. Throughout your professional career as a scientist, at how many different institutions have you been employed? none 1 institution 2 institutions 3 institutions 4 institutions 5 institutions 6 institutions 7 institutions 8 institutions more than 8 institutions The Practice of Astronomy: Attitudes Question Title * 10. In doing your work as an astronomer, how important are the following attitudes? no importance limited importance average importance much importance extreme importance honesty honesty no importance honesty limited importance honesty average importance honesty much importance honesty extreme importance considerate of others considerate of others no importance considerate of others limited importance considerate of others average importance considerate of others much importance considerate of others extreme importance think critically think critically no importance think critically limited importance think critically average importance think critically much importance think critically extreme importance objectivity objectivity no importance objectivity limited importance objectivity average importance objectivity much importance objectivity extreme importance compassion compassion no importance compassion limited importance compassion average importance compassion much importance compassion extreme importance respect for evidence respect for evidence no importance respect for evidence limited importance respect for evidence average importance respect for evidence much importance respect for evidence extreme importance commitment commitment no importance commitment limited importance commitment average importance commitment much importance commitment extreme importance imagination imagination no importance imagination limited importance imagination average importance imagination much importance imagination extreme importance intuition intuition no importance intuition limited importance intuition average importance intuition much importance intuition extreme importance empathy empathy no importance empathy limited importance empathy average importance empathy much importance empathy extreme importance no rush to judgment no rush to judgment no importance no rush to judgment limited importance no rush to judgment average importance no rush to judgment much importance no rush to judgment extreme importance open to uncertainty open to uncertainty no importance open to uncertainty limited importance open to uncertainty average importance open to uncertainty much importance open to uncertainty extreme importance Question Title * 11. When engaging in your activities as as astronomer, how important is it to consider no importance limited importance average importance much importance extreme importance the impact your research might have on society? the impact your research might have on society? no importance the impact your research might have on society? limited importance the impact your research might have on society? average importance the impact your research might have on society? much importance the impact your research might have on society? extreme importance the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? no importance the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? limited importance the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? average importance the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? much importance the impact your own personal opinions might have on your research? extreme importance the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? no importance the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? limited importance the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? average importance the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? much importance the impact your own personal biases might have on your research? extreme importance The Practice of Astronomy: Tools and Techniques Question Title * 12. In your work as an astronomer today, how many different investigations/research projects are you engaged in? NOTE: For the purpose of this study, a "research project" is defined as a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics investigation that could potentially lead to a journal article, book, or report, and that would have the potential of successfully going through a peer review process, and making it to publication. none 1 investigation/research project 2 investigation/research projects 3 investigation/research projects 4 investigation/research projects 5 investigation/research projects 6 investigation/research projects 7 investigation/research projects 8 investigation/research projects more than 8 investigation/research projects Question Title * 13. In your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, how often did you engage in How Often searching and/or reading literature related to your research or science interests? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never searching and/or reading literature related to your research or science interests? How Often menu thinking about and/or developing scientific questions? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never thinking about and/or developing scientific questions? How Often menu designing procedures for scientific investigations? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never designing procedures for scientific investigations? How Often menu designing new scientific equipment and/or instrumentation? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never designing new scientific equipment and/or instrumentation? How Often menu constructing or performing maintenance on scientific equipment and/or instrumentation? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never constructing or performing maintenance on scientific equipment and/or instrumentation? How Often menu writing or modifying computer programs/scripts or app development? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never writing or modifying computer programs/scripts or app development? How Often menu the development of computer simulations? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never the development of computer simulations? How Often menu the use of data from preexisting data archives for your own research project(s)? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never the use of data from preexisting data archives for your own research project(s)? How Often menu the collection of new scientific data for your own research project(s)? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never the collection of new scientific data for your own research project(s)? How Often menu the analysis and interpretation of scientific data? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never the analysis and interpretation of scientific data? How Often menu Question Title * 14. In your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, how often did you engage in the use of models (e.g. computer, physical, mathematical, etc.) to How Often help organize or explain observations? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never help organize or explain observations? How Often menu develop new hypothesis? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never develop new hypothesis? How Often menu come up with new questions? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never come up with new questions? How Often menu Question Title * 15. In your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, how often did you How Often use your imagination? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never use your imagination? How Often menu use your intuition to come up with new questions to study? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never use your intuition to come up with new questions to study? How Often menu use your intuition to identify new knowledge resulting from your research? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never use your intuition to identify new knowledge resulting from your research? How Often menu Question Title * 16. In your work as an astronomer, over the past year, how many hours were you at the instrument/telescope, or in the instrument/telescope control room, when data were being collected for your research project(s)? none (in the past year) 1 - 10 hours 10 - 20 hours 20 - 30 hours 30 - 40 hours 40 - 50 hours 50 - 100 hours 100 - 150 hours 150 - 200 hours 200 - 250 hours 250 - 300 hours more than 300 hours Question Title * 17. In your current work as an astronomer, which type of data are typically used by you for your research projects? Select all that apply. gamma-ray x-ray ultraviolet visible infrared microwave radio gravitational wave Other (please specify) Question Title * 18. In your current work as an astronomer, what kind of data do you typically work with for the research projects you are engaged in? Select all that apply. images spectral data (line or continuum) data from computer generated models Other (please specify) Question Title * 19. In doing your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, how often did you use the following types of mathematics? Daily Several times a week Several times a month ~7-11 times a year ~2-6 times a year once never Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) Daily Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) Several times a week Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) Several times a month Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) ~7-11 times a year Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) ~2-6 times a year Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) once Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) never Algebra Algebra Daily Algebra Several times a week Algebra Several times a month Algebra ~7-11 times a year Algebra ~2-6 times a year Algebra once Algebra never Geometry Geometry Daily Geometry Several times a week Geometry Several times a month Geometry ~7-11 times a year Geometry ~2-6 times a year Geometry once Geometry never Trigonometry Trigonometry Daily Trigonometry Several times a week Trigonometry Several times a month Trigonometry ~7-11 times a year Trigonometry ~2-6 times a year Trigonometry once Trigonometry never Statistics Statistics Daily Statistics Several times a week Statistics Several times a month Statistics ~7-11 times a year Statistics ~2-6 times a year Statistics once Statistics never Calculus Calculus Daily Calculus Several times a week Calculus Several times a month Calculus ~7-11 times a year Calculus ~2-6 times a year Calculus once Calculus never Other (please specify and state how often) Question Title * 20. In your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, what percentage of your time was spent working at your computer and/or tablet (e.g. iPad, etc.)? 0 - 10% of your time 10 - 20% of your time 20 - 30% of your time 30 - 40% of your time 40 - 50% of your time 50 - 60% of your time 60 - 70% of your time 70 - 80% of your time 80 - 90% of your time 90 - 100% of your time Question Title * 21. From start to conclusion, on average, how long have your astronomy-related research projects taken to complete? (Please consider the start point to be the time when you begin seriously thinking about the question and begin preliminary research relevant to the question, and the end point to be the submission of the work for publication.) less than 1 month 1 – 4 months 5 – 8 months 9 – 12 months 13 – 16 months 17 – 20 months 21 – 24 months 25 – 28 months 29 – 32 months 33 – 36 months More than 36 months (3 years) The Practice of Astronomy: Social Interactions Question Title * 22. In your work as an astronomer, on average over the past year, how often did you How Often engage in performing administrative/management duties? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in performing administrative/management duties? How Often menu engage in writing research articles or other scientific documentation? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in writing research articles or other scientific documentation? How Often menu engage in the review of documents for other scientists? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in the review of documents for other scientists? How Often menu engage in writing funding proposals or otherwise seeking funding for future projects? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in writing funding proposals or otherwise seeking funding for future projects? How Often menu engage in preparation to teach a class daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in preparation to teach a class How Often menu engage in teaching a class? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in teaching a class? How Often menu engage in mentoring others? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in mentoring others? How Often menu engage in education and public outreach (EPO) activities? daily several times a week several times a month once a month 7 - 11 times a year 2 - 6 times a year once a year never engage in education and public outreach (EPO) activities? How Often menu Question Title * 23. On how many different scientific research publications are you considered an author or co-author, or editor? (NOTE: For the purpose of this study a "scientific research publication" is defined as a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) journal article, book, or report that has successfully gone through the peer review process, and made it to publication or is currently in the process of being published.) none 1 - 5 publication(s) 6 - 10 publications 11 - 15 publications 16 – 20 publications 21 – 30 publications 31 – 40 publications 41 – 50 publications More than 50 publications Question Title * 24. In your work as an astronomer, over the past year, how many professional meetings or conferences did you attend? (Examples may include but are not limited to AAS, AAAS, AGU, etc.) none 1 - 2 professional meetings or conferences 3 - 4 professional meetings or conferences 5 - 6 professional meetings or conferences 7 - 8 professional meetings or conferences 9 - 10 professional meetings or conferences more than 10 Question Title * 25. In your work as an astronomer, over the past year, how many formal presentations did you make about your research at conferences, meetings, workshops, lunch talks, etc.? none 1 - 2 formal presentations made 3 - 4 formal presentations made 5 - 6 formal presentations made 7 - 8 formal presentations made 9 - 10 formal presentations made 11 - 15 formal presentations made 16 - 20 formal presentations made more than 20 Question Title * 26. In doing your work as an astronomer, over the past year, what is the average number of colleagues with whom you collaborated with in significant ways during a typical work-week? (The collaborations may have taken place via face-to-face communication, Skype, telephone, email, etc.) none 1 - 5 colleagues 6 - 10 colleagues 11 - 15 colleagues 16 - 20 colleagues 21 - 25 colleagues 26 - 30 colleagues 31 - 35 colleagues 35 – 40 colleagues more than 40 colleagues Question Title * 27. How many of the colleagues with whom you have collaborated with in significant ways over the past year are primarily located in a different country? none 1 - 3 colleagues 4 - 6 colleagues 7 - 9 colleagues 10 - 12 colleagues 13 - 15 colleagues 16 - 18 colleagues 19 - 21 colleagues more than 21 colleagues Question Title * 28. How many of the colleagues with whom you have collaborated with, in significant ways, over the past year work primarily in a science/engineering discipline other than astronomy? none 1 - 3 colleagues 4 - 6 colleagues 7 - 9 colleagues 10 - 12 colleagues 13 - 15 colleagues 16 - 18 colleagues 19 - 21 colleagues more than 21 colleagues Question Title * 29. If you responded "none" to the previous question, please skip this question.Into which science and engineering disciplines do your colleagues (from disciplines other than astronomy) with whom you collaborate best fit? Please check all that apply. I don't know Biological Sciences (food science, biochemistry, cell biology, environmental life science, etc.) Computer/information sciences Health Mathematics/statistics Physical Sciences - Chemistry Physical Sciences - Earth/atmospheric/ocean sciences Physical Sciences - Physics Psychology Social Sciences (e.g. economics, education, political sciences, etc.) Engineering - Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering Engineering - Chemical engineering Engineering - Civil engineering Engineering - Electrical/computer engineering Engineering - Materials/metallurgical engineering Engineering - Mechanical engineering Engineering - Other engineering Other (please specify) Question Title * 30. As an astronomer, over the past year, what is the average number of hours per week you spent engaged in all work related activities? 1 - 10 hours per week 11 - 20 hours per week 21 - 30 hours per week 31 - 35 hours per week 36 - 40 hours per week 41 - 45 hours per week 46 - 50 hours per week 51 - 55 hours per week 56 - 60 hours per week 61 - 65 hours per week 66 - 70 hours per week more than 70 hours per week Question Title * 31. You may choose to end the survey at this time, or answer three optional open-ended questions that will help enrich this study. The three questions are as follows:A. Through your responses in this survey you have identified what you as an astronomer do. In a "perfect world" how would you change what you as an astronomer do?B. What makes astronomy meaningful to you?C. As you think about your own Pre-Kindergarten through college learning, how do you think astronomy-related learning experiences could be changed to be more reflective of what astronomers do?You may choose to respond to these questions here, or request a telephone interview with the researcher to respond to the questions verbally.Please select the appropriate response below, and click "Next". Yes I would like to answer one or more of the optional open-ended questions now via this survey. I would like to answer one or more of the optional open-ended questions via a telephone interview. No thank you, I do not wish to respond to these questions. Please take me to the end of the survey now. Next