Use of Community Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs): Explaining the Use of Community Networks with Demographic Factors, Psychological Factors, and Alternative Service Accessibility

Abstract

This study reexamined the influence of demographic characteristics on the use of community‐based information and communication technologies (ICTs) along with two other predictors of use: psychological attributes and alternative service accessibility. Data were collected from 394 randomly selected community network users using survey questionnaires. Overall, demographic variables were not found to be significant predictors of use. When the sample was divided into two groups by users’ accessibility to an alternative service, the two groups were considerably different in their demographic characteristics, attitude, perceptions, and current and past use of the service, and use was explained by different sets of predictors in each group. Demographic variables predicted use among the people who did not use an alternative service ($$n=176$$ ). In contrast, psychological variables predicted use among the people who were using an alternative service ($$n=206$$ ). Most importantly, those without an alternative service were identified as people of lower socioeconomic status. Implications for future research and for practice in library and information professionals are discussed based on the findings.