Web Survey Bibliography

Title Sex, gender and self-concept: Understanding Internet usage rates for relationship-building applications
Author Hupfer, M. E., Detlor, B.
Source Consumer Personality & Research Conference 2005
Year 2005
Access date 13.10.2005
Presentation Research concerning sex differences in Internet usage suggests greater interest among females in applications with relationship implications, and commonly refers to gender roles to explain such behaviors. However, we propose that a better understanding of sex differences in Internet usage can be achieved if agentic and communal traits were measured rather than assumed from biological sex. Here, the “male” agentic role is concerned with self, whereas the “female” communal role encompasses concern for others as well as the self. To test this proposition, we conducted a Web-based survey of approximately 400 business school respondents, and collected self-reports of usage frequency for Internet applications with relational implications. These included e-mailing close or more casual acquaintances, using instant messaging or chat, finding new friends and relationships, and using greeting card applications. In addition to respondent sex, we collected two scales that measured gender-related self-concept traits. Self-Orientation tapped agency (independent, self-reliant, self-sufficient, am my own person and make my own choices), while Other-Orientation reflected concern for others (understanding, compassionate, nurturing, sensitive to needs of others, and sympathetic). For each usage frequency variable, we conducted regression analyses that included parameters for sex and the polynomial mean function for Self- and Other-Orientation. With the exception of instant messaging, where neither sex nor self-concept predicted usage frequency, we found that the trait scales augmented or superseded sex as a predictor. Speaking generally, we found that higher levels of Other-Orientation were associated with higher use rates. The relationships among self-concept, sex and using the Web to form new relationships were the most complex among those observed. Higher levels of Other-Orientation were associated with higher use frequency while the opposite was true of Self-Orientation. Furthermore, a marginal interaction between Self- and Other-Orientation indicated that Self-Orientation had a greater impact when respondents had lower or moderate levels of Other-Orientation. Although in its preliminary stages, this research indicates that agentic and communal trait measures may add greater insight to our understanding of Internet usage behavior than sex alone.
Access/Direct link Conference (abstract)
Year of publication2005
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
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Web Survey Bibliography - Research on Internet (646)

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