| Journal of Community Guidance & Research,
| |
| | adjustment, women showed increase in the
|
| November 2007, Vol. 24, No. 3, p:
| |
| | index of individualism. The digital world
|
| 253-261.
| |
| | may appear more conducive for women to
|
| INTRODUCTION
| |
| | express their individuality and establish
|
| Electronic culture is of universal
| |
| | their self-identity.
|
| prevalence. The impact and ambience of
| |
| | The results in table 2 and table 3 reveal
|
| electronic technology is invariably and
| |
| | that chronological age and marital status
|
| inevitably felt by everyone throughout
| |
| | does not influence e-culture. This
|
| the world. The indisputable reality today
| |
| | indicates that there is a homogeneous
|
| is that individuals and organizations
| |
| | distribution of e-culture among both
|
| inextricably exist in an E-world. Today,
| |
| | married and unmarried people. E-culture
|
| much of human needs are gratified by the
| |
| | seems also equally spread across
|
| use of electronic goods and services.
| |
| | different age groups. People use
|
| This fact is explicit from the numerous
| |
| | electronic products irrespective of their
|
| electronic products available and used by
| |
| | age and their marital status.
|
| people in their homes, offices, public
| |
| | Table 4 indicates that nativity
|
| places and also those they personally
| |
| | influences e-culture. The urban group
|
| carry. The emergence and rapid spread of
| |
| | (36.42) seems significantly differ from
|
| technologies like e-commerce, e-learning,
| |
| | the rural group (28.25). The differences
|
| e-medicine, e-governance, e-business,
| |
| | in mean values indicate that urban people
|
| e-communication, e-banking,
| |
| | are more in e-culture than their rural
|
| e-entertainment, e-homes, etc, also
| |
| | counterparts. This finding is in
|
| emphasize the importance of electronic
| |
| | accordance with the popular expectation
|
| medium in the gratification of our
| |
| | that people reared in industrially
|
| psycho-social needs.
| |
| | advanced and technologically
|
| The information and communication
| |
| | sophisticated urban environments tend to
|
| technology (ICT) effectively championed
| |
| | more exposed and accessible to electronic
|
| by Internet has culminated in e-culture.
| |
| | culture than people hailing from
|
| It has resulted in the simultaneous
| |
| | relatively inferior rural environments.
|
| deconstruction and reconstruction of
| |
| | This is congruent with the finding of
|
| fundamental ways of thinking about
| |
| | Doody et al (2003) who cited 'lack of
|
| humans, worlds and technology. It has
| |
| | accesses as one common cause for not
|
| also led to shifts in attitudes, skills
| |
| | using Internet. Van Dijk (2001) also
|
| and behaviour (De Haan & Huysmans, 2002).
| |
| | indicated 'possession of technology'-
|
| Personality development from e-cultural
| |
| | that is the availability of equipment and
|
| perspective involves acquiring digital
| |
| | an Internet connection at home or at
|
| skills. E-culture is a transnational and
| |
| | work, school or university and
|
| global phenomenon; it is both
| |
| | 'possession of digital skills' as two
|
| technological and a social development.
| |
| | among the four conditions for the
|
| Internet, especially, is expected to
| |
| | emergence of e-culture.
|
| bring in sweeping and lasting cultural
| |
| | The tables 5 and 6 show that educational
|
| transformations. The emergence of
| |
| | qualification influences e-culture. The
|
| e-culture has implanted new demands upon
| |
| | entire sample classified into four groups
|
| individuals and organizations (Robbins,
| |
| | based on their educational qualification
|
| 2003).
| |
| | viz., UG, PG, M.Phil and PhD were
|
| The approval of e-culture concept is
| |
| | compared. The mean e-culture scores of
|
| reflected in the keenness with which
| |
| | the four groups were found to differ
|
| political decision-makers have taken it
| |
| | significantly. Presently, electronic
|
| over at all levels- local, regional,
| |
| | technologies find more scope and
|
| national and transnational. More
| |
| | applicability in the field of education.
|
| accessible and transparent information is
| |
| | Internet, combining information and
|
| an easy expression, something that is
| |
| | entertainment has evolved as a medium of
|
| unequivocally good both from the point of
| |
| | infotainment. Many universities and
|
| view of social resources and democracy.
| |
| | colleges have launched their own websites
|
| According to Mitchell (2003) the ideas of
| |
| | offerings admissions and online courses
|
| an information society and e-culture have
| |
| | through them. This finding is defended by
|
| also implied expectations of economic
| |
| | Krzysztofek (2003) who observed that the
|
| growth and stability, opening up of new
| |
| | number of educated people in Europe is
|
| sectors of production, increased
| |
| | rapidly growing; thousands of private
|
| productivity and the advent of a new,
| |
| | educators compete to lure new students by
|
| fluctuation-proof economy. In the views
| |
| | offering many attractive course
|
| of Marsh (2003) the emergence of
| |
| | possibilities through digital platform.
|
| e-culture leads to cultural
| |
| | Vijay Kumar and Murthy (2001) observed
|
| homogenization and immense concentrations
| |
| | the e-status of libraries in India, and
|
| of financial power thereby cautions that
| |
| | found that INFLIBNET a national level
|
| "learn English and buy a computer or
| |
| | library network, established by UGC
|
| you're out." De Haan & Huysmans (2002)
| |
| | (Universities Grants Commission), engages
|
| emphasize that e-culture makes it
| |
| | in development of national union
|
| imperative to develop digital skill
| |
| | databases and has already hosted an
|
| concerning the handling of electronic
| |
| | online database of Indian theses.
|
| products and especially the use of
| |
| | This survey reveals that monthly income
|
| computer and Internet.
| |
| | of the people influence their e-culture
|
| Currently, studies on e-culture are at a
| |
| | (table 7 and 8). The entire sample was
|
| rudimentary level. The concept of
| |
| | classified into five groups based on
|
| e-culture is evolving and is far from
| |
| | their monthly income. The mean scores
|
| conclusive. However, today e-culture is
| |
| | indicated that there existed significant
|
| increasingly perceived as a new digital
| |
| | difference in their level of e-culture.
|
| media culture or digitalization of
| |
| | Langer (2003) stated that the adoption of
|
| culture. Netherlands council for culture
| |
| | third generation technologies mainly
|
| (2004) argues that, within the context of
| |
| | depends on its affordability and
|
| the 'digitizing society', e-culture
| |
| | availability, which in turn depends on
|
| should be seen as the integration of ICT
| |
| | the income of the people. He also
|
| into the primary processes of
| |
| | mentioned about the digital divide, that
|
| productivity, distribution, presentation,
| |
| | there are two groups in society; one
|
| preservation and (re)utilization of
| |
| | which has access to the new information
|
| cultural expression. According to the
| |
| | technologies and the other which has not.
|
| view of De Haan and Huysmans (2002) the
| |
| | CONCLUSION
|
| term 'e-culture' is stated to refer to
| |
| | This study reveals that gender, nativity,
|
| the diffusion of new technology, its
| |
| | education and monthly income influence
|
| application for various avenues such as
| |
| | e-culture but age and marital status does
|
| information and communication in addition
| |
| | not influence it.
|
| to shifts effected in related attitudes,
| |
| | Table 1 Showing the Mean, SD, SEM and
|
| values and norms. Patel and Rajendran
| |
| | t-test for e-culture score of the groups
|
| (2005) have defined "electronic culture"
| |
| | on the basis of gender.
|
| as "increased use of electronic goods by
| |
| | Gender N Mean SD SEM t-value LS
|
| individuals in various areas."
| |
| | Male 200 32.57 16.10 1.14 1.96 0.05
|
| PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
| |
| | Female 126 35.98 14.79 1.32
|
| E-culture though prevalent widely, is a
| |
| | Table 2 Showing the results of One-way
|
| recent phenomenon. The scientist
| |
| | ANOVA for e-culture score of the groups
|
| community has just begun to study it. The
| |
| | on the basis of age level
|
| exploration of e-culture may only be the
| |
| | Age N Mean SD SEM F-value LS
|
| start of a long-term process of change
| |
| | 20 to 25 years 76 33.91 16.69 1.91 0.24
|
| taking place at a global level (De Haan
| |
| | NS
|
| and Huysmans, 2002). The impetus for the
| |
| | 26 to 30 years 105 33.71 15.07 1.47
|
| new interest is the realization that
| |
| | 31 to 35 years 57 32.51 15.37 2.04
|
| e-culture is widespread, inevitable and
| |
| | 36 to 40 years 32 35.66 17.98 3.18
|
| places adaptive demands upon people.
| |
| | Above 40 years 56 34.57 14.68 1.96
|
| Looking around one finds a vast and
| |
| | Total 326 33.89 15.67 0.87
|
| versatile spectrum of electronic products
| |
| | Table 3 Showing the Mean, S.D., SEM and
|
| used commonly by the people. In general,
| |
| | t-test for e-culture score of the groups
|
| the indefinite progress made in the field
| |
| | on the basis of marital status
|
| and frontiers of electronic technology
| |
| | Marital status N Mean SD SEM t-value LS
|
| has ameliorated the quality of life of
| |
| | Married 203 34.80 15.46 1.09 1.35 NS
|
| all. The e-culture scenario in India is
| |
| | Unmarried 123 32.37 15.96 1.44
|
| not much different from the international
| |
| | Table 4 Showing the Mean, S.D., SEM and
|
| one. The spread of e-culture would be
| |
| | t-test for e-culture scoreof the groups
|
| influenced by a plethora of factors. Few
| |
| | on the basis of native place.
|
| among them may be socio-demographic
| |
| | Native Place N Mean SD SEM t-value LS
|
| factors such as age, gender, income,
| |
| | Urban 225 36.42 16.16 1.08 4.87 0.01
|
| education, native place, marital status,
| |
| | Rural 101 28.25 12.91 1.28
|
| etc.
| |
| | Table 5 Showing the Mean, SD for
|
| The review of related literature
| |
| | e-culture score of the groups on the
|
| indicates that research studies of
| |
| | basis of educational qualification.
|
| e-culture are scarce and negligible.
| |
| | Educational qualification Group N Mean SD
|
| Since e-culture is the recent development
| |
| | U.G. A 82 35.12 14.21
|
| there are no much standardized tools
| |
| | P.G. B 141 36.00 16.87
|
| available and accessible to assess it
| |
| | M.Phil C 62 28.39 13.35
|
| both at national and international
| |
| | Ph.D. D 41 32.46 15.86
|
| levels. In India, unfortunately, the
| |
| | Total 326 33.89 15.67
|
| research efforts in understanding and
| |
| | Table 6 Showing the results of One-way
|
| investigating the status of e-culture
| |
| | ANOVA for e-culture score of the groups
|
| have not yet gained momentum. The
| |
| | on the basis of educational
|
| research and academic community are
| |
| | qualification.
|
| dormant regarding the influence of
| |
| | Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F-value LS
|
| e-culture. Reviews on e-culture in Indian
| |
| | Between Groups 2713.11 3 904.37 3.78 0.01
|
| context indicate that it has received
| |
| | Within Groups 77113.68 322 239.48
|
| poor attention. Deplorably, many
| |
| | Total 79826.80 325
|
| researchers belonging to various
| |
| | Table 7 Showing the one-way ANOVA for
|
| disciplines are yet to take up this
| |
| | e-culture score on thebasis of Monthly
|
| issue. In particular, from a
| |
| | income.
|
| socio-demographic perspective, e-culture
| |
| | Monthly income Group N Mean SD
|
| still remains unexplored. A
| |
| | Below 5000 A 118 29.32 14.37
|
| socio-demographic approach to e-culture
| |
| | 5,001 - 10,000 B 87 36.64 14.17
|
| in Indian context is lacking absolutely
| |
| | 10,001 - 15,000 C 59 37.29 17.82
|
| and is worth conceivable in the light of
| |
| | 15,001 - 20,000 D 31 34.06 16.32
|
| the modern unfathomable dimensions
| |
| | Above 20,000 E 31 36.87 16.25
|
| attained by it. Hence an attempt is made
| |
| | Total 326 33.89 15.67
|
| here to study, assess and evaluate
| |
| | Table 8 Showing the one-way ANOVA for
|
| e-culture in India from socio-demographic
| |
| | e-culture score on thebasis of Monthly
|
| perspective. This study is a pioneering
| |
| | income.
|
| effort made to explore e-culture from a
| |
| | Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F Sig.
|
| psychological perspective in India.
| |
| | Between Groups 4079.627 4 1019.907 4.32
|
| METHOD
| |
| | 0.01
|
| Sample
| |
| | Within Groups 75747.173 321 235.973
|
| The sample for this study comprised of
| |
| | Total 79826.801 325
|
| 326 educated individual (200 males and
| |
| | REFERENCE
|
| 126 females) randomly selected from three
| |
| | 1. De Haan, J and Huysmans, F. (2002).
|
| different towns of Tamil Nadu, India,
| |
| | E-culture: An Empirical Exploration. The
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| namely, Chidambaram, Coimbatore and
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| | Hague: Social and Cultural Plan Bureau.
|
| Erode. All the respondents were between
| |
| | pp. 145-155.
|
| the age group of 20 to 76 years (mean
| |
| | 2. Doody, M., Aizlewood, A and Bourdeau,
|
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| |
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|
| from the universe based on the judgement
| |
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| with above higher secondary level of
| |
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|
| education (plus 2) were considered as
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| | European Perspective- Cultural Policy,
|
| educated. The sample taken include
| |
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|
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| |
| | (From the proceeding of the round table
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| background like college teachers, school
| |
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| teachers, engineers, doctors, Government
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| |
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| |
| | Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen
|
| The research tools used in this study for
| |
| | (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European
|
| data collection were the (1) E-culture
| |
| | Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative
|
| Inventory and (2) Personal Information
| |
| | Industries, Information Lag (From the
|
| Schedule.
| |
| | proceeding of the round table meeting,
|
| (1) E-culture inventory
| |
| | Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb:
|
| This inventory was developed by Patel and
| |
| | Institute of International Relations. pp.
|
| Rajendran (2005) to measure e-culture.
| |
| | 73-80.
|
| The inventory consists of 42 items with 2
| |
| | 4. Langer, J. (2003). About the Cultural
|
| responses, i.e., "yes" and "no"
| |
| | Texture of the Digital Divide. In S.
|
| respectively for each item. The 42 items
| |
| | Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and
|
| are classified into 4 areas, namely,
| |
| | C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The
|
| home=16 items, office=11 items,
| |
| | European Perspective- Cultural Policy,
|
| personal=8 items and public=7 items. The
| |
| | Creative Industries, Information Lag
|
| score for 'yes' in home area is 2, in
| |
| | (From the proceeding of the round table
|
| office is 1, in personal area is 3 and in
| |
| | meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003).
|
| public area is 1 were as the score for
| |
| | Zagreb: Institute of International
|
| 'no' in all the areas is 0. The maximum
| |
| | Relations. pp. 65-72.
|
| score possible in this inventory is 74
| |
| | 5. Marsh, J. B. T. (2003). Cultural
|
| and the minimum score is 0. High score
| |
| | Conflict in the Information Society. In
|
| indicates high e-culture and low score
| |
| | S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin
|
| indicates low e-culture. The reliability
| |
| | and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture:
|
| and validity co-efficient for this
| |
| | The European Perspective- Cultural
|
| inventory were found to be highly
| |
| | Policy, Creative Industries, Information
|
| significant at 0.001 levels.
| |
| | Lag (From the proceeding of the round
|
| (2) Personal Information Schedule
| |
| | table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003).
|
| This personal information schedule was
| |
| | Zagreb: Institute of International
|
| designed by the investigator of the
| |
| | Relations. pp. 21-30.
|
| present research. This aim of this
| |
| | 6. Maslach, C (2000). The Influence of
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| schedule is to obtain relevant
| |
| | Gender and Culture on the relationship
|
| demographic and biographic information
| |
| | between emotional control and well-being.
|
| from the respondents. This schedule
| |
| | The Berkeley McNair Research Journal. Pp.
|
| consists of 6 items such as gender, age,
| |
| | 99-114.
|
| marital status, native place, educational
| |
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| |
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| Procedure
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| The primary method of data collection was
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| | Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and
|
| adopted in this study. The informants
| |
| | C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The
|
| were contacted individually by the
| |
| | European Perspective- Cultural Policy,
|
| researcher. The data collection was done
| |
| | Creative Industries, Information Lag
|
| over a period of 2 month. The obtained
| |
| | (From the proceeding of the round table
|
| responses were scored and statistically
| |
| | meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003).
|
| analyzed.
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| | Zagreb: Institute of International
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| | (2004. English Edition). From ICT to
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| done.
| |
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| RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
| |
| | digitalization of culture and the
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| This research study is an attempt made to
| |
| | implications for cultural policy
|
| explore e-culture from a
| |
| | (Submitted to the Netherlands State
|
| socio-demographic perspective. The
| |
| | Secretary for Education, Culture and
|
| current study investigates the influence
| |
| | Science, June 2003). The Hague:
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| of various socio-demographic variables
| |
| | Netherlands Council for Culture
|
| such as age, gender, educational
| |
| | Publishing.
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| |
| | 9. Patel, J. M. A and Rajendran, K.
|
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| |
| | (2005) E-culture Inventory. SCOPE-
|
| The results revealed that only 4 out of 6
| |
| | Annamalai Psychology Journal, Vol. I, pp.
|
| demographic variables studied do differ
| |
| | 1-11.
|
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| |
| | 10. Robbins, S. P. (2003). Organizational
|
| It can be inferred from the results
| |
| | Behaviour (10th Ed.). Delhi: Pearson
|
| summarized in table 1 that gender
| |
| | Education, Inc. pp. 459-464.
|
| differences tend to influence e-culture.
| |
| | 11. Roberts, B.W and Helson, R. (1997).
|
| The comparison of mean values indicates
| |
| | Changes in culture, changes in
|
| that females are more in their level of
| |
| | personality: The influence of
|
| e-culture than males. The mean score of
| |
| | Individualism in a longitudinal study of
|
| the males (32.57) is less than the mean
| |
| | women. Journal of Personality and Social
|
| score of the females (35.98) which
| |
| | Psychology, Vol. 72, No. I, PP. 641-651.
|
| indicates that females are more on
| |
| | 12. Van Dijk, J. (2001). The
|
| e-culture than males. Perhaps the reason
| |
| | accessibility of ICTs and the quality of
|
| for such an outcome may be a compensatory
| |
| | infrastructure and services. In: Ministry
|
| response. Digital culture (e-culture)
| |
| | of Transport, Public Works and Water
|
| demands soft skills (digital skills)
| |
| | Management of the Netherlands (Ed.),
|
| permitting females to easily operate
| |
| | People in networks: A contribution to the
|
| electronic products, hence here they may
| |
| | discussion of the Ministry of Transport
|
| try to compensate by dominating males for
| |
| | to the debate about the Digital Divide.
|
| their shortcomings in those areas which
| |
| | The Hague: Ministry of Transport, Public
|
| demands physical stamina. Maslach (2000)
| |
| | Works and Water Management.
|
| observed both gender and culture
| |
| | 13. Vijaya Kumar, J.K and Murthy, T.A.V.
|
| influenced well-being, it was found that
| |
| | (December, 2001). Need for a digital
|
| increases in the level of emotional
| |
| | library for Indian thesis and
|
| inhibition decreases well-being for the
| |
| | dissertations: A model on par with the
|
| females. In this regard it seems that
| |
| | ETD (Electronic Thesis and Dissertations)
|
| women are involving more in e-culture
| |
| | initiatives at International level. In R.
|
| than men and tend to use it as a platform
| |
| | Shalini., T. B. Rajashekhar and K.S.
|
| for emotional expressions thereby
| |
| | Raghavan (Ed). Digital Libraries.
|
| enhancing their well-being. Roberts and
| |
| | Conference papers of the 4th
|
| Helson (1997) has empirically observed
| |
| | International Conference of Asian Digital
|
| that the culture of individualism has
| |
| | Libraries (ICADL, 2001). Bangalore. pp.
|
| affected the attitude of women and also
| |
| | 384-390.
|
| shaped their personalities and adult
| |
| |
|
