Community Satisfaction, Community Attachment, Community Experience, Internet Use and Internet Access in Rural Utah Communities

• Main Author: Quarnberg, Tisah M.
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2011
• Subjects: community satisfaction; community attachment; community experience; communication use; Internet use; Internet access; rural; Sociology
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2790; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3789&context=etd

This study examines the impact of the Internet on rural community satisfaction, attachment and overall experience. With the geographic dispersion of social networks, the majority of the population has a greater need for long-distance social networking. The Internet has the potential to mitigate distance and connect social networks much faster than letter writing or face-to-face visits. While the Internet is available, to at least some extent, in rural communities in Utah, does it positively affect overall perceptions of community life? This study finds that this is not the case. There is a negative relationship between Internet use and community satisfaction and overall community experience. However, this study also finds that the type of Internet access available within the home has a positive effect on community attachment and overall community experience. The Internet is thus an important element of rural community life and should not be overlooked.