HOUSEHOLD USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
PURPOSE
To measure the extent to which information technology is used by Australian households. Interactive content creation and Electronic information services are classified as cultural industries in the ACLC Industry Classification. This collection provides some measures of consumption of the output of those industries. It also provides an indication of the extent to which households are using information technology for leisure purposes.
DESCRIPTION
The Household Use of Information Technology collection was conducted in early 2002 as a supplement to the General Social Survey (GSS). The GSS covers all people aged 18 years and over who are usual residents of private dwellings in all but sparsely settled parts of Australia. Dwellings included in the survey were selected at random using a multi-stage area sample. Data were collected by personal interview with a randomly selected resident in each dwelling. The total sample for this survey (after allowing for sample loss and non-response) was just over 15,500.
In 2001, information on this topic was collected on the Survey of Education, Training and Information Technology, and prior to that the information was collected on the Population Survey Monitor (PSM) in respect of 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Annual
DATA ITEMS
As this survey was conducted as a supplement to the General Social Survey all of the data items shown in the General Social Survey are available for analysis alongside the data items shown below. These data items include geographic, demographic and various social and economic characteristics.
Number of households
The total number of households in Australia.
Computer access status
Indicates whether a household had access to a home computer.
Internet access status
Indicates whether a household had access to the Internet.
Type of connection
Records a household's type of connection to the Internet. The type categories are:
Dial-up
Broadband
Both
Don't know
Type of broadband connection
For households with broadband connection, records the type of connection. The type categories are:
Digital subscriber line
Cable
Other (includes satellite and microwave)
Don't know
Number of computers
The number of computers in a household.
Computer use status
Indicates whether a home computer is used at least once a week.
Internet use status
Indicates whether a home computer is used to access the Internet.
Reason for not having Internet access
Records the main reason for a household not having Internet access at home. The categories of reason are:
Insufficient capacity of computer
Costs too high
Lack of confidence or skills with computer
Lack of interest
Poor opinion of Internet
No-one in household knows how to use Internet
Concern that children may access inappropriate sites
Have Internet access elsewhere
No use for Internet
Privacy concerns
Other
Don't know
Household technologies
Records the types of technology a household uses at home. The technologies are:
Telephone (fixed or cordless)
Answering machine
Facsimile machine (fax)
Mobile telephone
Pay television service
Standard television set (analogue)
Digital television set
Set top conversion box (for analogue television)
Video recorder
DVD player (not computer drive)
Games machine (PlayStation, Nintendo or similar)
None of the above
Don't know
Frequency of Internet access
Records the range of frequency with which the Internet is accessed. The ranges are:
Every day
Two to six days a week
One day a week
One day a fortnight
One day a month
Less than one day a month
Don't know
This data item is used to classify:
Frequency of access of the Internet within the household
Frequency with which an adult accesses the Internet at home
Frequency with which an adult accesses the Internet at work
Frequency with which an adult accesses the Internet at other sites
Number of adults
The total number of adults in Australia.
Adult computer use status
Indicates whether an adult used a computer during the last 12 months.
Adult Internet access status
Indicates whether an adult accessed the Internet during the last 12 months.
Place of use or access
Records the types of places at which an adult used a computer during the last 12 months. Also records the types of places at which an adult accessed the Internet during the last 12 months.The types of places are:
Home
Work (including unpaid or voluntary work)
School
TAFE or tertiary institution
Public library
Government agency/department/shopfront
Internet/cyber cafe or similar
Community or voluntary organisation
Neighbour, friend or relative's house
Other
None of the above
Purpose for use of computer at home
Records all purposes and the main purpose for which an adult used a computer at home. The types of purpose are:
Work/business
Education/study
Volunteer/community groups
Personal/private
Other
Purpose for accessing the Internet at home
Records all purposes and the main purpose for which an adult accessed the Internet at home. The types of purpose are:
Work/business
Education/study
Volunteer/community groups
Personal/private
Other
Activities for which Internet accessed
Records whether or not an adult accessed the Internet for each of the following activities:
Using email or accessing chat sites
Buying or selling shares for private purposes
Purchasing or ordering goods or services for private use
Accessing government services for private purposes
Goods and services purchased or ordered via the Internet
Records the types of goods and services purchased or ordered by adults via the Internet during the last twelve months. The categories are:
Food and groceries
Alcohol
Toys
Videos/DVDs
Music/CDs
Books and magazines
Computer software
Computer hardware or peripherals
Clothing, shoes, etc.
Sporting equipment
Travel/accommodation
Tickets to entertainment/cinema
Financial services
Other
Number of occasions on which goods or services were purchased or ordered via the Internet by an adult for private use
The number of occasions is recorded using up to three digits.
Total value of goods and services purchased or ordered via the Internet in the last 12 months
The total value of goods or services purchased or ordered via the Internet by an adult for private use in the last 12 months is recorded in the following ranges:
$0-$250
$251-$500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$2,000
$2,001-$5,000
$5,001-$10,000
$10,001 or more
Don't know
On-line purchase status
Indicates whether or not an adult has paid for goods or services by entering credit card details on-line.
Amount paid on-line for goods and services purchased or ordered via the Internet in the last 12 months
The total amount paid on-line for goods or services purchased or ordered via the Internet by an adult for private use in the last 12 months is recorded in the following ranges:
$0-$250
$251-$500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$2,000
$2,001-$5,000
$5,001-$10,000
$10,001 or more
Don't know
Source of goods or services purchased via the Internet
Records whether the goods or services purchased via the Internet came from:
Australia
Overseas
Both
Don't know
Main reason for not purchasing any goods or services via the Internet
Adults who had not purchases and goods or services for private use via the Internet in the last 12 months were asked for the main reason, from the following options:
Have no need
Prefer to shop in person/like to see the product
Security concerns/concerned about providing credit card details on-line
Privacy concerns/concerned about providing personal details on-line
Trust concerns/concerned about receiving or returning goods
Other
Types of government services accessed via the Internet for private purposes
Adults who had used the Internet to access government services for private purposes in the last 12 months were asked to specify all of the services used, from the following options:
Electronic lodgement of tax returns
Electronic lodgement of applications for claims for benefits
Electronic lodgement of applications for permits etc.
Electronic lodgement of bill payments e.g. rates and car registration
Information or services for taxation
Information or services for pensions or other benefits
Information or services for employment/unemployment
Other
None of the above
Don't know
Use of technology to pay bills, transfer funds or find out account balances in the last three months
Records whether adults used either or both of the following technologies to pay bills, transfer funds or find out account balances in the last three months:
The Internet
The telephone
Adult work from home status
Indicates whether an adult has an agreement with their employer to work from home on an ongoing basis in their main job.
Technologies used to work from home
Adults working from home were asked for all of the technologies used for this purpose, from the following options:
Access employer's computer system at home via a modem
Use of a portable PC (either personal or employer provided)
Use of a desktop (fixed) PC at home
Use of floppy disks/CD ROMs containing work related information
Mobile phone
Other
None of the above
Number of hours usually spent working from home
Records the usual number of hours spent working from home each week, using two digits.
HISTORICAL DATA
For 2004-05, information on the household use of information technology was collected as part of the Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS), and it is expected that the MPHS will be the on-going vehicle for the future collection of information on this topic. Previously, data relating to the household use of information technology have been collected using a variety of survey vehicles such as the Population Survey Monitor (1996, 1997,1998, 1999 and 2000); Survey of Education, Training and Information Technology (2001); General Social Survey (2002); National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (2002); Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (2003); and the Survey of Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities (2000 and 2003). Due to differences in the scopes of previous surveys, previous person level data on household use of information technology which are comparable with the 2004-05 data are only available up until 2002. In addition, there are methodological differences which may have some effect on the comparability of data collected since 2000 with data collected in prior years. Further information about data comparability can be found in the explanatory notes of both the 2004-05 and 2001-2002 publications.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, Household Use of Information Technology, Australia 2004-05, Cat. no. 8146.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $27.00. Also available for 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001-02, and 2002 and 2003 combined.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001, Use of the Internet by Householders, Australia, November 2000, Cat. no. 8147.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $17.50. Available quarterly (February, May, August and November) for 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Other
A confidentialised unit record file from the November 1996 survey can be made available on request (price on application).
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Manager
Science and Technology Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 5189
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 7004
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
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