Toward a Model of the Networked Community

• Systemic Model of Local Community

• Demographics of Diffusion

• Diffusion via Social Networks

• Social Engagement vs Civic Engagement

• Four Community Network Cases Studies

• Community Organizations and the Net

• Best Practices among CN projects

Social Status and Community Involvement

Income and Education by Community Involvement(Pearson Correlation)

N Sig Community Involvement

• Education 407 .002 .153**

• Income 377 .000 .203**

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level

Internet Use and Community Involvement

Internet Users versus Non-users

and Community Involvement(Pearson Correlation)

Community

SD N Sig Involvement• Use Internet .6582 504 .004 .127**• Use CN .4157 420 .002 .149**

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)

Social Status and Early Adoption

Income and Education by Length of Internet Use(Pearson Correlation)

SD N Sig Years of Use

• Education .8895 390 .000 .269**

• Income 3.27 360 .003 .156**

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)

Differences by Length of Internet Use(ANOVA)

Early Later Adopter

Civic Engagement Mean Mean Significance Test

Work to bring change 2.31 2.06 F=6.793, p<.01

Distribute Political Info 1.66 1.44 F=4.161, p<.05

Attend Civic Org Meetings 2.05 1.93 F=6.961, p<.01

Early Adopters Online Civic Engagement

Early Later AdopterOnline Political Activity Mean Mean Significance

Test

Online petition 1.49 1.27 F=4.446, p<.05

Email Govt Official 1.96 1.58 F=10.309, p<.001

Discuss Issues Online 1.71 1.35 F=10.309, p<.05

Volunteer activity 1.28 1.12 F=4.669, p<.05

Obtain Political Info 2.62 1.88 F=22.605, p<.001

Visit Political Website 2.22 1.66 F=16.279, p<.001

Visit Local Civic Site 3.09 2.75 F=5.822, p<.05

Increased Involvement since Net Access

Early Later AdopterMean Mean Significance

Test

• Involved w/Issues 2.42 2.27 F=5.533, p<.05

• Involved w/Community 2.07 1.92 F=13.228, p<.001

• Connected w/People 2.45 2.23 F=11.515, p<.001