Digital distance: Geographic and cultural divides in access and use of ICT

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Digital distance Geographic and cultural divides
in access and use of ICT

• E. Dianne Looker
• Principal Investigator
• Equity and Technology Project
• Project Workshop
• Lunenburg, NS June 9-10, 2006

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Equity and Technology Project

• Two aspects of equity
• Equity in access and use of Information and
  Communication Technology (ICT)
• Effects of using ICTs on existing inequities,
  based on gender, geographic location, social
  background and culture.
• This analysis geographic location.
• Does location matter?

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Data analyses

• Student surveys in high schools 13 in Nunavut
  (N 583), 10 in NS (N1944).
• Focus on rural-urban and north-south
  similarities and differences
• Focus on
• Access
• Use
• Skills

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Access to ICT
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Use patterns
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Skills and expertise

• Composite skill measure
• How well can you? (19 items)
• 4 response categories
• I dont know how to do this
• I can do this but sometimes I need help
• I can do this without help
• I can teach others how to do this

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Mean Skills How well can you?
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Similar patterns

• Virtually no rural-urban differences in NS
• Large north-south differences
• Rural-urban differences in Nunavut

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Exploring northern patterns

• Issues how much is physical access and how
  much cultural difference?
• Need to compare Inuit non-Inuit differences in
  rural and urban areas

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Access by culture location
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Use by culture and location
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Skill level by culture location
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Overview of Nunavut findings

• Regression results
• Rural location SES predict home access
• Home access, SES, being Inuit, and facility with
  Inuktitut predict use levels (not rural)
• Access, use, rural location and being Inuit
  predict skill levels.
• It is not just rural-urban
• It is not just culture both contribute to
  access and use.

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Inuit non-Inuit differences

• Is it cultural resistance? No
• (time on the land and commitment to Inuktitut
  and/or Nunavut not relevant)
• Is it facility with English? Yes Inuktitut
  speakers use it less
• Is it access to service No - rural report fewer
  problems.

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North south differences

• Some differences are cultural
• Still some differences with whites in the north
  versus those in the south
• Skill differences for whites are predicted by
  SES, home access, use AND still by north vs.
  south location
• Access has an effect on use and facility, but it
  is not the sole determinant

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Nova Scotia

• Rural- urban differences in Nova Scotia are
  small but intriguing
• A key factor seems to be TYPE of connectivity at
  home
• High speed
• Dial up
• None

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NS Differential Access and Use
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NS Differential Access andSkill Level
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So?

• Important to recognize ongoing access issues
• Important to realize access is not the sole
  determinant of use and skill development
• Context matters not just culture.
• The impact of ICT will differ for different
  groups in different contexts. When is it an
  asset and when a liability?

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Next Steps

• Explore impact of ICT use on other outcomes
• Explore cultural variations within Nunavut
  (regional differences?)
• Explore choice and type of connectivity,
  especially in the south
• Focus on digital diversity and appropriateness
  of technology consumer choice.
• Work with schools and community groups to
  develop policy recommendations

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Welcome feedback

• Discussion today
• Contact me
• dianne.looker_at_msvu.ca
• Check the project website
• www.equityandtechnology.com