Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Shelley Smith

Abstract

This project explores an association between the digital divide and status attainment. As Americans become more reliant on information technology, those excluded from the computer revolution will experience greater economic and social disadvantages. Taking data from Current Population Survey, I examine how internet behavior, speed and frequency predict weekly earnings and occupational prestige. Those with greater variety in internet behavior, faster connection speed, and higher internet frequency are predicted to have greater opportunity for status attainment. Greater variety in internet behavior is associated with greater cultural capital, where cultural capital is defined as cultural variety. The project argues that those with various internet behaviors will accumulate more diverse information and networks that will facilitate greater opportunity. A linear regression model is used to analyze the data.

Rights

© 2010, Joseph Jaehyun Park

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