Comparing Cell Phone and Internet Coverage Use in the USA and South Korea

• Activity Number: 578
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Eun-Hee Choi*+ and Sun-Woong Kim and Chan-Hyoung Cho and Mick Couper
• Companies: Dongguk University and Dongguk University and Korea Internet & Security Agency and University of Michigan
• Keywords: Internet ; cell phone ; landline ; communication ; activities

Abstract

Many surveys have relied on data collection methods such as landline telephone interviews, Web surveys, and recently cell phone interviews. Much of the research on these modes of data collection comes from the USA or Western Europe. To what extent do the findings apply to other countries, especially those in Asia where both cell phone and Internet penetration is high? This study compares the USA and South Korea, both countries with high levels of cell phone and Internet penetration. We analyze data from comparable surveys on information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and use in the two countries, in particular examining whether the demographic correlates of access and use often found in the USA also hold for South Korea. We will compare the relative strength of covariates of technology use in the two countries, with the goal of identifying similarities and differences in technology adoption. We discuss the implications of these analyses for surveys conducted in the two countries using various modes of data collection, and especially in the extent to which methodological findings from one country can be generalized to others.