Seeking community on the Internet: ethnocultural use of information communication technology

This brief sampling of findings indicates that statistically significant differences in online behaviour exist between the selected groups and the population average. The data show that not only are immigrants and ethnocultural minorities in Canada more active on the Internet than the general population, but that their online behaviour is significantly more likely to include elements of ethnocultural community building as identified in the qualitative phase of the study. The "maintenance" hypothesis is strongly supported, albeit indirectly, with these variables. Online behaviour of first generation Canadians, however, is found to approximate the population average. This latter finding tends to degrade the qualitative findings of a young, eager "exploration" grouping identified in the qualitative phase.