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