Virtual Inequality Researching the Digital Divide Mary Stansbury, PhD SLIS – Kent State U....

Virtual Inequality

Researching the Digital Divide

Mary Stansbury, PhD

SLIS – Kent State U.

mstansbu@kent.edu

Premises

More than access Low-income not understood Uninformed policy-making Consequences are dire

Project

Interdisciplinary team $103,000+ in funding Monograph in production at

Georgetown University Press

Project Methodology

National telephone survey Targeted low-income Extensive questionnaire Multiple regression analyses

Access Divide

Least likely to have a computer at home Poor Less-educated Older

Access Divide

Least likely to have a computer at home Latino African-Americans

Access Divide

Least likely to have Internet at home Poor

39% for low; 63% for high Older

43% for 61 year olds; 67% for 28 year olds

Access Divide

Least likely to have Internet at home Less educated

44% for high school; 65% for college Democrats

54%; 64% for Republicans

Access Divide

Least likely to have Internet at home African Americans

37%; 54% for Whites Latinos

41%; 54% for Whites

Access Divide

Most willing to use public access points Affluent Educated African Americans

Access Divide

Sees libraries as “community gathering places” Poor Women Latinos African Americans

Skill Divide

Types of questions Particular skills Attitudes toward skills Preferences for learning

Skill Divide -- Percentages

Assistance needed (all respondents) Using a mouse and typing – 22% Using e-mail – 31% Using word processing – 52%

Skill Divide -- Percentages

Assistance needed (all respondents) Finding books in a library – 37% Finding information on the Internet – 37%

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Most likely to need assistance

Older52% for 61 year olds20% for 28 year olds

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Most likely to need assistance

Less educated42% for high school25% for college

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Most likely to need assistance

Poor42% for low30% for high

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Most likely to need assistance African Americans

45%34% for Whites

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Importance of skills Needed to “keep up with the times”

Latinos – 80%65% for Whites

African Americans – 78%65% for Whites

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Importance of skills Needed to “get ahead”

Young73% for 28 year olds 55% for 61 year olds

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Importance of skills Needed to “get ahead”

African Americans76%66% for Whites

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Importance of skills Needed to “get ahead”

Unemployed74%67% for Employed

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Importance of skills Needed to “get ahead”

Women67%63% for Men

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Instructional preferences One-on-One instruction

EducatedYoungWomen

Skill Divide -- Probabilities

Instructional preferences Group instruction

EducatedYoungLatinosAfrican Americans

Digital Experience

Proficiency--Number of Tasks Respondent can Complete

7.06.05.04.03.02.01.00.0

400

300

200

100

0

48

185

245

289303

160139

322

Conclusions

1. The Digital Divide exists.

2. The Digital Divide is multifaceted.

Conclusions

3. Market cannot correct the problem.

4.Policy issues are access, skill, and education.

Conclusions

5. Take advantage of the opportunities in attitudes and interest.

Questions or Comments?

Mary Stansbury, PhD

mstansbu@kent.edu

330-672-0015