Exploring the Relationship Between the Use of Information Technologies and Voluntary Participation in a Rural Area of Northern Ontario

Abstract

This study addresses the social impact of information technologies upon rural communities by examining the relationship between external orientation (the relative frequency of long distance versus local communication) and participation in voluntary roles within the community. One hundred seventy-nine community members and leaders from three rural northern communities completed questionnaires. A stepwise regression analysis was run with external orientation as the criterion, and the formal participation variables (membership in community organizations, committee membership, executive positions held, and number of meetings attended) as predictor variables. Committee membership was found to be the only significant predictor. The negative regression co-efficient indicated the higher the external orientation scores, the lower the rate of participation. Interviews with community leaders suggest leadership roles themselves impact upon communication patterns. This study adds to the understanding of the interdependence between global and local systems within contemporary communities.