New technology is being trialled during the pilot of Youth’07, a nationwide survey on the health and wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students. Some of the students selected to participate in the pilot, will be answering questions using Nokia 770 Internet tablets (read our review).

Questions will be displayed on the screen and also read out over headphones and then answered by the students using touch-screen responses.

The pilot survey involves students and staff from three New Zealand secondary schools . The pilot will test the data collection methodology and the questionnaires.

One of the lead Youth’07 researchers, Dr Simon Denny from the Adolescent Health Research Group of the University of Auckland, says the pilot is very important in ensuring the actual survey is successful.

“The pilot will allow us to refine the questionnaire to make it meaningful for the actual respondents and ensure that we get the information that we require.

“Many young people show interest in new technology. It is expected that the use of the tablets will motivate the students to participate in the survey and to answer honestly and accurately, as tablets are more private than bigger laptop computers.”

The actual survey (to be held in terms 2 and 3 of 2007) will involve 10,000 young people aged 12-18 from schools around the country and will provide a comprehensive look at current and emerging youth health issues.

Youth’07 is a follow up to Youth2000, one of New Zealand’s first comprehensive national youth health and wellbeing studies, also conducted by the University of Auckland. The survey will question students about ethnicity and culture, physical and emotional health, family and living arrangements, and attitudes towards diet and physical activity.

The survey is being funded by both the Health Research Council of New Zealand and a consortium of government ministries and agencies who have each contributed funds to the research project.