Factors Affecting Home Internet Use in Central Queensland

This paper reports on a social survey that was conducted in 2001 in Central Queensland, Australia, in order to identify the disadvantaged groups in relation to accessing the Internet from home. The research found that people in younger age groups, with higher education levels, being married , having children at home, owning a house/flat, with the higher income level, or being employed, had higher levels of Internet access from home respectively, compared to their counterparts. Regression analysis found that variation of any factors of education levels, marital status, children at home, income level and employment status may affect the decision to access the Internet from home. It also found that unemployment and low education levels were two major factors detrimentally affecting home Internet access and that seniors (>55 years of age) were disadvantaged because of lack of awareness and capability to use the Internet.