Social discourse, scientific method, and the digital divide: Using the Information Intelligence Quotient (IIQ) to generate a multi-layered empirical analysis of digital division

This study empirically assesses social discourse, scientific method, and the digital divide between nations. The study reports the results of a meta-analysis of digital divide research conversations from a wide variety of sources. The study reports heterogeneity and multiple configurations of digital division between nations. First, as a case, digital division is contextualized in development communication, sociology, international studies, political science, economics, and science and technology studies. While digital divide research at the sub-national level identifies the diverse and multidimensional nature of this phenomenon, no such differentiation in discourse is made at the international level. The results support the proposition that research on international digital division is hampered by a lack of a unifying analytic tool for coordinating digital divide discourse.; This study proposes the Information Intelligence Quotient (IIQ) as a multi-layered instrument for coordinating the meaning digital divide conversations. Comparative empirical analysis identifies the implications of changing the language and methods when researching digital division. Synthesizing research conversations from over 60 sources, a content scheme of 18 discursive frameworks for inter-nation digital division (using 69 variables) is constructed to assess relative degrees of digital divide in terms of infrastructure (supply), access (capabilities), and use (demand). A sample of 172 nations is used to compare the digital divide outcomes (in terms of both GDP and UNDP Human Development) between the 18 discursive frameworks. Data analysis is triangulated using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The results support the IIQ as a framework for the differentiation of “the” digital divide into many types of “digital divides” between nations. The empirical analysis of digital divide conversations supports the need for a linguistic framework in conceptually and operationally defining the object of research, digital division. Absent such a framework, the internal and external validity of inter-nation digital divide research is open to a critique of the conceptual fit.; The study concludes with a conceptual digression regarding the importance of language when constructing definition frameworks for research, using digital division as a case for reflection on the intersection of social scientific and humanistic theories and methods.