Methodological Challenges of Digital Divide Measurements

Abstract

The term "digital divide" has been used for almost a decade and typically relates to sociodemographic differences in the use of information and communication technology. However, the corresponding measurement is still relatively imprecise. Very often it is simply reduced to comparisons of Internet penetration rates. This article extends the measurements above the usual bivariate comparisons. Within this context, three essential approaches are presented and critically evaluated. First, loglinear modeling is used to address the interactions among the factors affecting the digital divide. Second, compound measures (i.e., the Digital Divide Index) that integrate a number of variables into a single indicator are discussed. Third, time-distance methodology is applied to analyze changes in the digital divide. The article argues that these approaches often yield entirely different conclusions compared to simple bivariate analysis. The examples are presented as a general warning against an oversimplified methodological approach to digital divide studies.

Educators’ Perspectives About Ict Enabled Teaching

“…From their perspectives, these concerns are biased towards blaming the institutional structures. The educators' sentiments are acknowledged in Vehovar, et al, (2006) suggesting that nonusers of ICTs would be more willing to engage with new technology if their assumptions, fears, and preconceived ideas about ICTs are properly addressed. However, our analysis indicates that not only the institutional structures but also agential structures (educators) have a major role to play in either promoting or resisting the integration of e-learning system tools in pedagogy.…”

Factors of collective psychological empowerment of active users in the online health community med.over.net

“…Prvi se nanaša na vprašanje digitalne izključenosti, ki je povezano z dostopom do svetovnega spleta in informacijskih veščin, ki so potrebne za uporabo SZS (38). Raziskave namreč kažejo, da je (tudi v Sloveniji) med najbolj socialno izključenimi skupinami prebivalcev običajno tudi največji delež digitalno izključenih (39).…”

O impacto da exclusão digital na utilização potencial de um mercado eletrónico de serviços de cuidados de saúde e serviços sociais

“…O termo digital divide refere-se à diferença entre indivíduos, empresas, regiões e países no acesso e utilização das TIC (Barzilai-Nahon, 2006;Selwyn, 2004;van Dijk, 2006;Yu, 2006). O conceito pode ser usado para explicar as diferenças sócio-económicas decorrentes da utilização das TIC e as características sociais, demográficas e económicas dos utilizadores (Bonfadelli, 2002;Robinson, DiMaggio & Hargittai, 2003;Vehovar et al, 2006), permitindo revelar as desigualdades de uma sociedade da informação global (van Dijk, 2006), o que por sua vez afeta o crescimento económico e o desenvolvimento de cada um dos países individualmente (van Dijk, 2006). É de salientar que, quer os países desenvolvidos, quer os países em vias de desenvolvimento, investem no reforço de uma sociedade onde as pessoas possam usar as TIC para partilhar informação e conhecimento, para melhorar a sua qualidade de vida e promover o desenvolvimento económico (Bach, Zoroja & Vukšić, 2013a, 2013bVicente Cuervo & Menéndez, 2006).…”