Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.22693/NIAIP.2020.27.1.036

Impact of Digital Divide on Online Political Participation: With Focus on the Gap of Operational Skills of Digital Device Users  

Jang, Changki (Graduate School of Public Policy and Information Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
Sung, WookJoon (Graduate School of Public Policy and Information Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
Publication Information
Informatization Policy / v.27, no.1, 2020 , pp. 36-54 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study empirically analyzes the impact of digital divide between digital device usage motivation and operational skills on online political participation. The analysis was performed using the National Information Society Agency's 2018 digital divide survey data from September to December 2018 and applying the Heckman selection model to control the sample selection bias that may occur between internet users and non-users. The result shows the gap in motivation and device operational skills of individual citizens using digital devices has significant impact on online political participation. In socio-economic terms, it shows the age, education level and regional factors also have significant impact on online political participation, while gender and income levels do not. This study holds significance in that there are different patterns of digital divide between digital devices, identifying the motivation to use a digital device as an important factor for mobile device users, and the device operational skills, for personal computer users.
Keywords
digital divide; online political participation; participation inequality; digital inclusion; heckman selection model;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Philip, L., Cottrill, C., Farrington, J., Williams, F. & Ashmore, F. (2017). "The Digital Divide: Patterns, Policy and Scenarios for Connecting the 'Final Few' in Rural Communities across Great Britain." Journal of Rural Studies, 54, 386-398.   DOI
2 Steinberg, A. (2015). "Exploring Web 2.0 Political Engagement: Is New Technology Reducing the Biases of Political Participation?" Electoral Studies, 39, 102-116.   DOI
3 Keum, H. & Cho, J. (2010). "Smartphone, Communication Gap, and Political Participation: The Moderating Role of Smartphone Use in the Effects of Social Media on Participation." Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies 54(5), 348-371.
4 Kim, G. (2014). "An Exploratory Analysis on Relationship between Digital Divide and Social Exclusion in Korea." Journal of Korean Associastion for Regional Information Society, 17(2), 61-88.
5 Kim, L. (2015). "The Empirical Study on Factors Influencing Relations between Digital Divide and Internet Based Participation: Focusing on Moderating Effect of Networking." Journal of the Korean Association for Governance, 22(3), 259-283.
6 Krueger, B. (2002). "Assessing the Potential of Internet Political Participation in the United States: A Resource Approach." American Politics Research, 30(5), 476-498.   DOI
7 Lee, M. & Park, K. (2009). "The Issue Change of Digital Divide Studies and Its Implication." Information Policy, 16(3), 3-17.
8 Lee, S. & Yu, H. (2010). "The Effects of Social Capital on Political Participation." Korean Political Science Review 44(4), 287-313.   DOI
9 Lee, Y. & Lee, J. (2009). "Research Examining Factors Affecting Individuals Intention to Participate in Political Activities." Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 53(5), 316-339.
10 Marchenko, Y. & Genton, M. (2012). "A Heckman Selection-t Model." Journal of the American Statistical Association, 107(497), 304-317.   DOI
11 Mutz, D. (2002). "The Consequences of Cross-Cutting Networks for Political Participation." American Journal of Political Science, 46(4), 838-855.   DOI
12 Martin, J. (2015). "Mobile News Use and Participation in Elections: A Bridge for the Democratic Divide?" Mobile Media & Communication, 3(2), 230-249.   DOI
13 Keum, H. (2009). "The Effects of New Media Environments on Political and Civic Participation: Interplay of Dispositional Factors and Content Preferences." Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 53(4), 5-26.
14 Min, H. & Yun, S. (2015). "A Critical Review on the Study of Online Political Participation: Focused on the Demestic and International Issues." Information Policy, 22(2), 3-18.
15 Min, S. (2010). "From the Digital Divide to the Democratic Divide: Internet Skills, Political Interest, and the Second-Level Digital Divide in Political Internet Use." Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 7(1), 22-35.   DOI
16 Min, Y. (2011). "The Digital Divide among Internet Users : An Analysis of Digital Access, Literacy, and Participation." Journal of Communication Research, 48(1), 150-187.   DOI
17 Nam, T. (2015). "Internet Effects on Generational, Socioeconomic, and Demographic Representativeness in Political Activity." Information Policy, 22(3), 61-93.
18 Norris, P. (2001). Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide. NY: Cambridge University Press.
19 Park, D. (2006). "Political Participation and the Internet: How Does the Internet Influence Politics?" The Journal of Asiatic Studies, 49(2), 79-111.
20 Park, E. (2018). "An Empirical Study on the Factors Influencing Online Citizen Participation." Korean Society and Public Administration, 29(1), 187-210.
21 Pearce, K. & Rice, R. (2013). "Digital Divides From Access to Activities: Comparing Mobile and Personal Computer Internet Users." Journal of Communication, 63(4), 721-744.   DOI
22 Puhani, P. (2000). "The Heckman Correction for Sample Selection and Its Critique." Journal of Economic Surveys, 14(1), 53-68.   DOI
23 Sung, W. (2014). "A Study on Digital Literacy and Digital in the Smart Society." Korean Society and Public Administration, 29(1), 53-75.
24 Barzilai-Nahon, K. (2006). "Gaps and Bits: Conceptualizing Measurements for Digital Divide/s." The Information Society, 22(5), 269-278.   DOI
25 Boulianne, S. (2009). "Does Internet Use Affect Engagement? A Meta-Analysis of Research." Political Communication, 26(2), 193-211.   DOI
26 Rice, R. & Katz, J. (2003). "Comparing Internet and Mobile Phone Usage: Digital Divides of Usage, Adoption, and Dropouts." Telecommunications Policy, 27(8), 597-623.   DOI
27 Riggins, F. & Dewan, S. (2005). "The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions." Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 6(12), 298-336.   DOI
28 Scheerder, A., van Deursen, A. & van Dijk, J. (2017). "Determinants of Internet Skills, Uses and Outcomes. A Systematic Review of the Second- and Third-level Digital Divide." Telematics and Informatics, 34(8), 1607-1624.   DOI
29 Schlozman, K., Verba, S. & Brady, H. (2010). "Weapon of the Strong? Participatory Inequality and the Internet." Perspectives on Politics; Cambridge, 8(2), 487-509.   DOI
30 Serrano-Cinca, C., Munoz-Soro, J. & Brusca, I. (2018). "A Multivariate Study of Internet Use and the Digital Divide." Social Science Quarterly, 99(4), 1409-1425.   DOI
31 Tolbert, C. & McNeal, R. (2003). "Unraveling the Effects of the Internet on Political Participation?" Political Research Quarterly; Salt Lake City, 56(2), 175-185.   DOI
32 van Deth, J. (2014). "A Conceptual Map of Political Participation." Acta Politica; London, 49(3), 349-367.   DOI
33 van Dijk, J. (2006). "Digital Divide Research, Achievements and Shortcomings." Poetics, 34(4), 221-235.   DOI
34 van Deursen, A. & Helsper, E. (2015). "The Thirdlevel Digital Divide: Who Benefits Most from Being Online?" Communication and Information Technologies Annual, 29-52.
35 van Deursen, A. & van Dijk, J. (2009). "Improving Digital Skills for the Use of Online Public Information and Services." Government Information Quarterly, 26(2), 333-340.   DOI
36 van Deursen, A. & van Dijk, J. (2019). "The First-level Digital Divide Shifts from Inequalities in Physical Access to Inequalities in Material Access." New Media & Society, 21(2), 354-375.   DOI
37 Choi, J. (2016). "The Effects of SNS Use on Political Participation: Focusing on the Moderated Mediation Effects of Politically-Relevant Social Capital and Motivations." Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies 60(5), 123-144.   DOI
38 Bourguignon, F. & Verdier, T. (2000). "Oligarchy, Democracy, Inequality and Growth." Journal of Development Economics, 62(2), 285-313.   DOI
39 Bruno, G., Esposito, E., Genovese, A. & Gwebu, K. (2011). "A Critical Analysis of Current Indexes for Digital Divide Measurement." The Information Society, 27(1), 16-28.   DOI
40 Cho, J. (2011). "An Empirical Analysis on the Relationship between the Development of ICTs and Political Participation." Korean Political Science Review, 45(5), 273-296.   DOI
41 Dahl, R. (2006). On Political Equality. CT: Yale University Press.
42 Feezell, J. (2016). "Predicting Online Political Participation: The Importance of Selection Bias and Selective Exposure in the Online Setting." Political Research Quarterly; Salt Lake City, 69(3), 495-509.
43 Fukuyama, F. (2011). "Poverty, Inequality, and Democracy: Dealing with Inequality." Journal of Democracy; Baltimore, 22(3), 79-89.   DOI
44 Hargittai, E. (2002). "Second-Level Digital Divide: Differences in People's Online Skills." First Monday, 7(4).
45 Westerwick, A., Johnson, B. & Knobloch-Westerwick, S. (2017). "Confirmation Biases in Selective Exposure to Political Online Information: Source Bias vs. Content Bias." Communication Monographs, 84(3), 343-364.   DOI
46 Jensen, J. (2013). "Political Participation Online: The Replacement and the Mobilisation Hypotheses Revisited." Scandinavian Political Studies, 36(4), 347-364.   DOI
47 Kern, A. & Hooghe, M. (2018). "The Effect of Direct Democracy on the Social Stratification of Political Participation: Inequality in Democratic Fatigue?" Comparative European Politics; London, 16(4), 724-744.   DOI
48 Verba, S. & Nie, N. (1987). Participation in America: Political Democracy and Social Equality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
49 Wei, K., Teo, H., Chan, H. & Tan, B. (2011). "Conceptualizing and Testing a Social Cognitive Model of the Digital Divide." Information Systems Research, 22(1), 170-187.   DOI
50 Wellman, B., Haase, A., Witte, J. & Hampton, K. (2001). "Does the Internet Increase, Decrease, or Supplement Social Capital?: Social Networks, Participation, and Community Commitment." American Behavioral Scientist, 45(3), 436-455.   DOI
51 Gainous, J., Marlowe, A. & Wagner, K. (2013). "Traditional Cleavages or a New World: Does Online Social Networking Bridge the Political Participation Divide?" International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society; New York, 26(2), 145-158.   DOI
52 Gibson, R. & Cantijoch, M. (2013). "Conceptualizing and Measuring Participation in the Age of the Internet: Is Online Political Engagement Really Different to Offline?" The Journal of Politics, 75(3), 701-716.   DOI