study commenced. Participants also provided their informed consent before taking part in

the study.

 All participants were given the option to receive a paper copy of the survey booklet

used in this study or to complete an Internet version of the survey. Any members of the

sample who desired more information about the study before they decided whether to

participate were contacted by the researcher. These contacts were made by telephone or

e-mail (depending on the couples' preference and the contact information available).

 Couples who were mailed a paper copy of the survey were each sent $1.00 as a

small token incentive for taking part in the study; Dillman (2000) suggested a token

incentive of a dollar or two may significantly increase response rate and is more effective

than a larger award or chance at a prize promised after completion of the survey. Couples

choosing to complete the Internet version of the survey were provided with links to

Internet resources that may be of interest to new parents as an incentive for participating.

Participants contacted through the baby fair who indicated they would complete the

survey were allowed to choose a nominal gift. In addition to these small incentives,

couples who chose to participate in the study were eligible to take part in a workshop

offered after the study's completion or to receive an article containing the information

that was to be presented in the workshop; participants completing the survey online were

only offered the option of receiving the written information whereas participants

completing the paper-based survey were given both options. Of the couples who

completed the paper-based survey, 19 asked to receive the written information; of the

participants who completed the Internet version, 51 expressed an interest in receiving the

written information. Only 3 couples (who each lived in a different part of the country)