Information Systems Research Forum: Researching Trends in Internet Use
12 February 2008
Studio Ciborra, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Ellen Helsper was invited to present OxIS research at the Information Systems Research Forum (Studio Ciborra) at the Information Systems Group at the LSE.
Researching trends in Internet Use
The Internet is argued to have reached its teenage years. After its baby shoes (which fitted only a few geeks, the military, and academic researchers) the bigger boots now seem to fit most UK citizens. Nevertheless, the Internet's identity crisis is not over, and new uses, applications and interpretations of the Internet bubble to the surface every day. People have as yet not made up their minds (and perhaps never will) about what the Internet is particularly good at.
Researchers can no longer complain that there is a lack of data about which types of people do what on the Internet. However, the interpretation of trends in these data and the distinction between generational and lifestage effects remains problematic. Ellen Helsper's presentation used the Oxford Internet Surveys to look at the changing patterns of gender and income gaps in Internet use. The findings were used to discuss the issues that arise when researching Internet use and behaviour in this volatile environment.
The analyses show that generational difference are not the only explanation for differences in Internet use. When it comes to gender differences, life stage plays an equal if not more important role. The differences between men and women differed at different stages in their life, sometimes even more than they differed at different ages.
Note: the analyses presented were based on data for users and non-users, and fixed gender and age as explanatory variables.
