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The Ethnographic Research of the Digital Divide

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The Ethnographic Research of the Digital Divide DIGITAL DIVIDE IN ISTRIA A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Igor Matic August 2006 The dissertation entitled DIGITAL DIVIDE IN ISTRIA by IGOR MATIC has been approved for the School of Telecommunications and the College of Communication by Karen E. Riggs Professor, School of Telecommunications Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, College of Communication ABSTRACT MATIC, IGOR, Ph. D., August 2006, Mass Communication DIGITAL DIVIDE IN ISTRIA (209 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Karen E. Riggs This dissertation covers the Digital Divide phenomena in the Istrian region. Istria is a Northern Adriatic peninsula that is administratively divided between three European countries: Croatia (which covers approximately 90% of the peninsula), Slovenia (app. 7%), and Italy (app. 3%). In this dissertation my goal was to articulate the most influential theoretical frameworks that are used to explain the Digital Divide today and I try to give an explanation of the issue through ethnographic procedures. The goals of this research include the examination of the current Digital Divide debate, extension of the theory toward the local understanding and perception of this global phenomenon. Additionally, I wanted to identify different interpretations of the Digital Divide in three countries within one region and compare the differences and similarities in new technology usage and perceptions. Also, I was interested to see how age - which is described as one of the major Digital Divide factors - influences the relationships between older and younger generations, specifically relationships between parents and children, instructors, students and co-workers. I conclude that in the researched region, age of the respondents makes an important distinction between computer and Internet users and that individuals shape their attitudes toward the ICTs in accordance with their perceived role in the society (primarily as parents and children). In order to give a more understandable picture of the Digital Divide phenomena, I use the Bourdieu’s “Theory of Practice” framework and his notions about the literacy to accentuate the importance of exchange between community members and their possible change of attitude toward the new technologies that can occur in that exchange process. I suggest three approaches toward the solution of the problem: education (which should involve the members of the community that are not currently involved in educational processes), family interaction (where younger family members have a possibility to influence the older members to change the approach toward the new technologies) and market changes (that should promote competition and more accessible services). Approved: Karen E. Riggs Professor, School of Telecommunications This dissertation is dedicated to my guardian angels; my sister Irena and my best friend Sinisa. You showed me the meaning of hope, and for that, I am forever grateful. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation is dedicated to my family. Their understanding and infinite trust in me helped me to understand the meaning of devotion. To the Ron Brown Fellowship program, Institute of International Education in New York and the United States Embassy in Zagreb. They considered my projects, spent time to evaluate them, and finally they financially supported my studies and research in the United States and Croatia. To my first advisor at the Ohio University, Professor Drew McDaniel. He introduced me to mass-communication research and shaped my future learning process. To my doctoral advisor, Professor Karen Riggs. She showed me the potential and deepness of the qualitative research and taught me about the research rigor. To all my friends around the world that in one way or the other showed me their support and collaboration in order to fulfill this project. 7 Table of content Page ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 10 Regional Perspective ...................................................................................... 15 Main Goals...................................................................................................... 19 Structure of the Dissertation............................................................................ 23 2. LITTERATURE OVERVIEW........................................................................... 27 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 27 Digital Divide Definitions ................................................................................. 29 Development of the New Medium ................................................................... 39 Digital Divide and Computer Literacy.............................................................. 42 International Discrepancies in Internet Access ............................................... 55 Theory Gaps ................................................................................................... 61 Regional Perspectives .................................................................................... 65 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 69 3. METHODS...................................................................................................... 73 Research in the Field of Mass Communication............................................... 74 Ethnography as a Research Method............................................................... 78 Media Ethnography......................................................................................... 82 Internet and the Digital Divide Research......................................................... 85 8 Fieldwork......................................................................................................... 92 National identities and Language Usage ........................................................ 97 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 99 4. PARENTS AND ICT ..................................................................................... 101 Introduction ................................................................................................... 101 Characteristics of the Baby Boom Generation in Istria.................................. 102 Socio-cultural Background of the Baby Boom Generation in Istria................ 105 Ethnographic Procedures ............................................................................. 108 Family Environment ...................................................................................... 111 Interviews...................................................................................................... 113 Ethnicity as a Digital Divide Factor................................................................ 127 Generational Gaps........................................................................................ 135 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 144 5. YOUNG ADULTS AND ICT.......................................................................... 149 Introduction ................................................................................................... 149 Hardware ...................................................................................................... 151 Internet Speed .............................................................................................. 167 Internet Connectivity ..................................................................................... 172 Anti-German Feelings ................................................................................... 178 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 184 6. CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................... 187 Theoretical Perspectives............................................................................... 187 Digital Divide theories and Bourdieu ............................................................. 189 9 Digital Immigrants ......................................................................................... 193 Digital Natives............................................................................................... 196 Self-Reflexivity .............................................................................................. 197 Considerations for the Future Research ....................................................... 199 References: ...................................................................................................... 201 Appendix A: Map of the Istrian Peninsula......................................................... 208 Appendix B: Demographic Indicators ............................................................... 209 10 1. INTRODUCTION As an international student in the United States and as a person who had a unique opportunity to experience the richness and different varieties of cultural diversities
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