Persisting Digital Inequality g g q y Eszter Hargittai Associate - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Persisting Digital Inequality g g q y Eszter Hargittai Associate Professor, Communication Studies Department Northwestern University & Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society Harvard University www.eszter.com @eszter gplus.to/

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Persisting Digital Inequality g g q y

Eszter Hargittai Associate Professor, Communication Studies Department Northwestern University & Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society Harvard University www.eszter.com @eszter

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

gplus.to/ eszter

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xkcd.com/435

Eszter

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Central Research Question: Who benefits most Who benefits most from their digital media uses?

Social Mobility vs Social Reproduction

Do ICT reduce or contribute to social inequality? Mere connectivity Effective efficient uses

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Mere connectivity Effective, efficient uses

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As we re ne w o ur sc ho o ls and highways, we’ll also r

enew our infor mation super

  • highway. I

t is unac c e ptable that the U nite d

infor mation super

  • highway. I

t is unac c e ptable that the U nite d State s ranks 15th in the wo rld in bro adband ado ptio n. He re , in the c o untry that inve nte d the inte rne t, ever

y child should have the chance to get online, and the y’ll ge t that c hanc e whe n I

’m Pre side nt – be c ause that’s ho w we ’ll stre ngthe n Ame ric a’s c o mpe titive ne ss in the wo rld.

December 16, 2008

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

December 6, 2008

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Overall Framework

Context

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Context

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Technical Social

Socio‐ Economic Status

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T f Skill

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Types of uses Skill

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Overall Framework

Context

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Academic

Context

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Productivity Achievement/ Job Performance

Technical Social

Socio‐ Economic Status Health and Well‐Being

The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.

T f

?

Skill

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Types of uses

?

Skill

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Domains of skill

  • Awareness and understanding
  • Efficient information seeking
  • Credibility assessment
  • Credibility assessment
  • Knowledge of privacy, security issues

Skill

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Do people’s skills differ in h using the Internet? What explains differences in people’s online skills? p p How are skills related to How are skills related to differentiated Internet uses? What are the implications f diff ti t d ?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

  • f differentiated uses?
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Data on Internet uses

  • Very much
  • Very detailed

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Data on Internet uses

  • Very much little
  • Very detailed basic

h l d The Digital Data Paradox

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Challenges of relying on log data

  • Becoming user of a service is not a random

event event

  • People understand and use sites/services

differently

  • Site usage is likely only one of many ways in

g y y y y which people engage for a particular behavior

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Reasons for little comparable data

  • n average users
  • Lack of established/universal terms
  • Moving target
  • Moving target
  • Rarely comparable across data sets

y p

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Data: Surveys of Internet uses and skills

f iki di

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

US Map from Wikipedia

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Data: Surveys of Internet uses and skills

f iki di

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

US Map from Wikipedia

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Why the University of Illinois Chicago?

Average temperature: Feb: 28.2°F Mar: 39.6°F

University of Illinois, Chicago?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Why the University of Illinois Chicago?

Average temperature: Feb: 28.2°F Mar: 39.6°F

University of Illinois, Chicago?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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  • Students enrolled in the one

Data & Methods

Students enrolled in the one required course on campus

(First‐Year Writing Program)

  • February‐March, 2007
  • February‐April, 2009
  • Paper/pencil survey
  • February March, 2007
  • 1,060 first‐years
  • 82% response rate
  • February April, 2009
  • 1,115 first‐years
  • 80 5% response rate
  • 82% response rate
  • 80.5% response rate
  • April‐July, 2010

Wave 2 (same people as 2009) April July, 0 0

  • 505
  • 45% response rate

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

  • 45% response rate
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Sample descriptives (2009)

99% 18‐19 years old 41% male; 59% female 41% male; 59% female 47% neither parent has a college degree Race & ethnicity: college degree

White 41% Asian/Asian American 22% Hi i 24% Hispanic 24% Black/African American 11% American Indian/Alaskan Native 5%

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

American Indian/Alaskan Native .5%

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The Wired Generation

(2009)

  • 100% either own or have easy access to a laptop or

desktop

  • 98% have access to the Internet at home
  • 95% had access to the Internet at home during
  • 95% had access to the Internet at home during

senior year in high school

  • 70% t

t d i th I t t l l i iddl

  • 70% started using the Internet regularly in middle

school or earlier

  • O

d h h b kl

  • On average, spend 17 hours on the Web weekly

(excluding email, chat and VoIP)

  • 87% h

k il d il (th j it h k l

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

  • 87% check email daily (the majority check several

times a day)

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Use of Facebook vs MySpace by Race/Ethnicity, 2007

For details, see:

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Hargittai, E. (2007) Whose Space? Differences among Users and Non-Users of Social Network

  • Sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 13(1).276-297.

http://webuse.org/p/a21

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Use of Facebook vs MySpace by Race/Ethnicity, 2009

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Hargittai, E. (In Press). Open Doors, Closed Spaces? Differentiated Adoption of Social Network Sites by User Background. In Race After the Internet. Edited by Peter Chow-White and Lisa Nakamura. Routledge.

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Data more representative than may first appear

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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The Wired Generation .. but not in every way UIC ‘09 = 4% UIC ‘10 = 18%

I refuse to switch to Twitter. I don’t know what that is or the purpose. I sound like an

  • ld person, I think, but I really don’t

understand Twitter understand Twitter. – Female Northwestern senior, Spring 2010 That’s narcissism to the Nth degree, I just can’t stand it, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

– Female Northwestern senior, Spring 2010

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Twitter use by race/ethnicity (2010)

For details, see: Hargittai, E. & Litt, E. (2011) The Tweet Smell of Celebrity Success: Explaining Twitter Adoption among a Diverse Group of Young Adults. New

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Media & Society. 13(5):824-842. http://webuse.org/p/a36

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Who uses Twitter?

African American Web skill in 2009 African American Web skill in 2009 + + + + Twitter use in 2010

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University http://webuse.org/p/a36

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Who uses Twitter?

African American Web skill in 2009 African American Web skill in 2009 Interest in 2009 in: Entertainment/celebrity news + Entertainment/celebrity news Science, research

  • +

+ Technology Politics, News + Technology Politics, News Twitter use in 2010 , ,

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University http://webuse.org/p/a36

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Who uses Twitter?

African American Web skill in 2009 African American Web skill in 2009 Web skill in 2009 Interest in 2009 in: Entertainment/celebrity news Web skill in 2009 + Entertainment/celebrity news Science, research

  • +

+ Technology Politics, News + Technology Politics, News Twitter use in 2010 , ,

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University http://webuse.org/p/a36

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Data on Internet skill?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Main data sources In‐person

  • bservations and

interviews interviews Surveys y

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Data: Observations of search and information seeking

100 randomly sampled adults

Observations of search and information seeking

100 randomly sampled adults Mercer County, NJ, 2001‐2002

L l l l Tax forms G ’t d t Political info Health info Job search Local cultural events Gov’t documents

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Data: Observations of search and information seeking

100 randomly sampled adults

Observations of search and information seeking

Cumulative Time Spent on All Tasks 1

100 randomly sampled adults Mercer County, NJ, 2001‐2002

eople .75

L l l l Tax forms G ’t d t Political info Health info Job search

Fraction of Pe .5

Local cultural events Gov’t documents

.25

M f t l kill i t t

Time in Minutes 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Measures of actual skill; survey instruments

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Measuring awareness & understanding Measuring awareness & understanding

How familiar are you with the following computer and Internet-related items? Please choose a number between 1 and 5 where 1 represents “no a d 5 e e ep ese ts

  • understanding” and 5

represents “full understanding” of the item

For details, see:

understanding” of the item.

For details, see: * Hargittai, E. & Hsieh, Y.P. (2012). Succinct Measures of Web-Use Skills. Social Science Computer Review. * Hargittai, E. (2009). An Update on Survey Measures of Web-Oriented Digital

  • Literacy. Social Science Computer Review. 27(1):130-137.

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

http://webuse.org/pubs/

* Hargittai, E. (2005). Survey Measures of Web-Oriented Digital Literacy. Social Science Computer Review, 23(3):371-379.

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For details, see: For details, see: * Hargittai, E. & Hsieh, Y.P. (2012). Succinct Measures of Web-Use Skills. Social Science Computer Review. * Hargittai, E. (2009). An Update on Survey Measures of Web-Oriented Digital

  • Literacy. Social Science Computer Review. 27(1):130-137.

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

http://webuse.org/pubs/

* Hargittai, E. (2005). Survey Measures of Web-Oriented Digital Literacy. Social Science Computer Review, 23(3):371-379.

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Basic Internet‐related terms

R 14 65 Range: 14‐65 Mean: 47 St.dev.: 10

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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34% could not identify the correct description of bcc functionality on a multiple‐choice question (UIC ‘10) multiple‐choice question (UIC 10)

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Advanced Internet‐related terms

R 14 65 Range: 14-65 Mean: 47 St.dev.: 10 Range: 14‐70 Mean: 37 St dev : 13 St.dev.: 13

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Relationship of skill & gender

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Hargittai, E. & Shafer, S. (2006). Differences in Actual and Perceived Online Skills: The Role of Gender. Social Science Quarterly. 87(2), 432-448.

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xkcd.com/385

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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H itt i E & W l jk G (2008) Th P ti i ti Di id C t t

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Hargittai, E. & Walejko, G. (2008). The Participation Divide: Content Creation and Sharing in the Digital Age. Information, Communication and Society.11(2):239-256.

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Relationship of skill & race/ethnicity

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Relationship of skill & socioeconomic status

Low High S i i t t

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Socioeconomic status

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Relationship of skill & socioeconomic status

4 10 4.10 2.73

Low High S i i t t

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Socioeconomic status

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How about skill differences nationally? 4.10 2.73

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

US Map from Wikipedia

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How about skill differences nationally?

?

4.10

? ?

2.73

? ?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

US Map from Wikipedia

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Explaining skill differences nationally Explaining skill differences nationally

(2009)

?

Skill

Source: Federal Communications

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Commission broadband survey

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Explaining skill differences nationally Explaining skill differences nationally

(2009)

Income

+ +

Skill

+

Education Age (=<50)

x

Source: Federal Communications

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

Commission broadband survey

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Is there a participation gap?

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Number of online engagement activities by gender

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Number of online engagement activities by race

Range: 0‐5 Mean: 1.8 St.dev.: 1.6

*** * ***

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University * p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001

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Number of online engagement activities by parental education p

* * ** ** *

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

* p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001

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Number of online engagement activities by parental education p 3.02 3.02

* * **

1.07

** *

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

* p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001

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Number of online engagement activities by skill

Low High

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

* p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001

g Skill

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Why is it helpful to focus on skill? Why is it helpful to focus on skill?

$

Skill

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Important next step

Updating skill instrument to reflect social media uses and skills media uses and skills

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Conclusions

  • People’s Internet skills differ considerably
  • Gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status

, / y, all relate to people’s skills

  • Adoption of a service is not a random event
  • Adoption of a service is not a random event
  • People’s background and online skill relates

h h d li to what they do online

  • Studies based on logs of a specific

site/service/community must be conscious of the biases related to use of said

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

site/service/community in the first place

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Thanks to funders: Thank you!

Robert and Kaye Hiatt Fund for Research

  • n Media Technology and Society
  • n Media, Technology, and Society

Thanks to students/former students: Thanks to students/former students:

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University

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Thank you! y

eszter.com webuse.org @eszter gplus.to/eszter

Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University Eszter Hargittai, Northwestern University