Socioeconomic Status and the Early Diffusion of Personal Computing in the United States

Abstract

Here we analyze the socioeconomic factors associated with the adoption of a particular information technology ("home computing" or "personal computing") by households in the Umted States. Past research highlights the dominant role of socioeconomic status, particularly formal education, in accounting for the early adoption, use, and social impacts of microcomputers among households. Theoretical explanations for this role of socioeconomic status are identified, and then explored with data from a sample survey of U.S. households. Multivariate analytic techniques are utilized to explore the relationships of education, occupation, and income with the adoption of personal computers. Income played a more pivotal role in the early diffusion of personal computing than previously thought. Keywords: socioeconomic status, personal computing, microcomputers, information technology, communication technology, social impacts.