Senior Prom Questionnaire: Laura Paatelainen
High School Senior Proms Survey

My name is Laura Paatelainen. I am a student at the University of Tampere, Finland. This survey is part of the research for a paper on how U.S senior proms are often pictured in popular media. Is this picture accurate? If not, what is the reality?

Outside the United States the image people have of high school proms is mostly based on popular media. Proms are often pictured as the most important event in a teenager's life; as the ultimate "romantic" event when everything should be perfect, when all one's problems have been solved and one's true love is realised. Proms are also often presented as lavish and expensive events, and sometimes traumatic. My paper questions the extent to which this media portrayal is realistic.

I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to answer the following questions. All responses will be anonymous. Should you wish to read my completed paper, bookmark the URL in the thank-you note which will appear after your responses have been submitted. The paper should be online by mid-May. This questionnaire will be online from April 15th to April 24th. Thank you in advance for your time and interest!

  1. Your gender

    Male Female

  2. If you are currently in high school, which class are you in?

    Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

  3. If you have already graduated from high school, what was your graduation year?

  4. What is the name of your high school, and where is it located? (City, state)



  5. Where is the prom held in your high school?

    School gymnasium Country club Hotel ballroom Other, where?


  6. How important is / was it to you to attend / have attended your senior prom?

    Very important Important Not important, but I still attend / attended I won't / didn't attend


  7. Why was attending important / not important to you?



  8. What do females usually wear for the senior prom in your high school?

    Formal gown Cocktail dress Party dress Other, what?


  9. What do males usually wear for the senior prom in your high school?

    Dark suit Sport coat Tuxedo Dinner jacket Other, what?


  10. What type of transportation will / did you use on prom night?

    Your own or your parents' or a friend's car Rented limo Other, what?


  11. In your high school, is there a "formal" dinner before the prom?

    Yes No


  12. In your high school, is it common for singles to attend the prom?

    Yes No


  13. Did you have a date for the prom?

    Yes No


  14. Is a Prom Court chosen in your high school? If so, how are the members of the court chosen?
    In your opinion, is getting elected to the Prom Court a measure of overall popularity in your high school?




  15. Popular media often suggest that sex, drinking and/or drugs are an "expected" part of prom night.
    Were these "expected" or "common" in your school, or in nearby schools?

    Yes No


  16. Is there an after-prom party in your high school? If so, who arranges it and where is it held?




  17. How much money would you estimate was spent on your prom experience?
    (Clothes, transportation, tickets, etc.)?

    0-150 dollars 150-300 dollars 300-450 dollars More than 450 dollars


  18. Media often describe the high costs of arranging proms as being covered by ticket sales.
    Are students required to buy tickets in your school?

    Yes No


  19. What kind of music did you /will you have at your prom?

    DJ Live band


  20. Do you have any other comments from your prom experience you would like to add here?





        




Posted 15 April 2010