Digital Divide in Estonia

PRAXIS, in co-operation with the leading Estonian public opinion research institute, Emor, launched a study on social aspects of information and communication technology use in Estonia.

The objectives of the research project were:

• To identify the societal and social factors that inhibit the engagement of new users of information and communication technologies into the information society;
• To identify those population segments in Estonia that represent a much lesser use of computers and the Internet when compared to their active ICT users reference group, and to clarify the needs, attitudes, prejudices and expectations towards ICT products and services;
• To identify relevant and effective arguments and channels for the communication of ICT products and services to the above-mentioned segments.

Methodology used:

• E-track survey was used to determine the segments whose Internet use was subjected to further survey.
• The defined segments were then studied qualitatively in the form of focus group interviews.
• A value orientations survey report on the basis of the focus group interviews and the RISC study of the value orientations of Estonian inhabitants was conducted.
• Interviews with experts. Experts were asked to give a general evaluation of Estonia’s IT developments so far, of the relevance of the digital divide problem in society and its underlying reasons, potential solutions and specific recommendations to reduce the digital divide.
• An expert forum was carried out on 15 July 2002. The expert forum involved specialists in information technology, economics and social sciences, and discussed the collected quantitative data on the light users’ and non-users’ segments.

The project was also co-funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the Information for Development Program (infoDev) though the grant allocated to the PRAXIS Center for Policy Studies - ICT Infrastructure and E-Readiness Assessment (Grant # ICT 016). Translation of the report into English and Russian, and the creation of Internet version was funded by Open Society Institute – Budapest.