Gender as a Gender as a Distinguishing Cell Phone Distinguishing Cell Phone Usage CharacteristicUsage Characteristic

Neset Pirkul, Matt Lauria, and Neset Pirkul, Matt Lauria, and Peter YatesPeter Yates

IntroductionIntroduction

Cellular Phones have become a necessary Cellular Phones have become a necessary accessory among college students.accessory among college students.

As new technologies emerge, the As new technologies emerge, the functionality of cell phones has expanded functionality of cell phones has expanded beyond just a tool for conversation.beyond just a tool for conversation.

Competitive businesses must be aware of Competitive businesses must be aware of how people use their cellular phones.how people use their cellular phones.

HypothesisHypothesis

Gender plays a key role in how Gender plays a key role in how individuals interact with their cell phones.individuals interact with their cell phones.

Cooper and Weaver (2003) suggests that Cooper and Weaver (2003) suggests that men are more comfortable using men are more comfortable using computers than women.computers than women.

We expand this concept to how men and We expand this concept to how men and women interact with their cell phones. women interact with their cell phones.

Hypothesis, Cont’d.Hypothesis, Cont’d.

Our prediction is that men, due to their Our prediction is that men, due to their lower anxiety levels about using lower anxiety levels about using technology, will utilize more of the technology, will utilize more of the advanced features offered by today’s advanced features offered by today’s cellular phones.cellular phones.

However, we also predict that the However, we also predict that the technology that women will use technology that women will use corresponds to their computer usage corresponds to their computer usage preferences (i.e. frequent, personal preferences (i.e. frequent, personal feedback, and the use of words)feedback, and the use of words)

Description of SurveyDescription of Survey

Our survey consists of 14 questions Our survey consists of 14 questions intended to determine the subject’s intended to determine the subject’s usage frequency of specific cell phone usage frequency of specific cell phone functions.functions.

Yes/No questions were converted to Yes/No questions were converted to binary (1/0)binary (1/0)

Other questions were based on a 5-Other questions were based on a 5-point scale point scale

1-Never 2-Rarely 3-Sometimes 4-Regularly 5-Majority of 1-Never 2-Rarely 3-Sometimes 4-Regularly 5-Majority of the timethe time

How often do you use the How often do you use the speed/voice dial function of speed/voice dial function of your phone?your phone?

Question 2

2.25

2.3

2.35

2.4

2.45

2.5

2.55

2.6

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Males

How often do you How often do you carry your cell phone carry your cell phone with you?with you?

Question 3

3.8

3.9

4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

Does your cell phone Does your cell phone have a camera have a camera feature?feature?

Question 4

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

If so, how often do you If so, how often do you use your camera to take use your camera to take pictures?pictures?

Question 5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

How often do you use your How often do you use your cell phone to browse the cell phone to browse the web or check email?web or check email?

Question 6

0.96

0.98

1

1.02

1.04

1.06

1.08

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

How often do you play How often do you play video games on your cell video games on your cell phone?phone?

Question 7

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

How often do you text How often do you text message on your cell message on your cell phone?phone?

Question 8

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

How often do you How often do you download ring tones for download ring tones for your phone?your phone?

Question 9

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

How often do you use the How often do you use the calendar / organizer calendar / organizer functions of your cell functions of your cell phone?phone?

Question 10

1.45

1.5

1.55

1.6

1.65

1.7

1.75

1.8

1.85

1.9

1.95

2

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

Do you know the make Do you know the make and model of your cell and model of your cell phone?phone?

Question 11

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

Have you upgraded your Have you upgraded your phone cosmetically since phone cosmetically since you bought it?you bought it?

Question 12

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

Approximately how many Approximately how many contacts do you have contacts do you have stored in your phone?stored in your phone?

Question 13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

On average, how much time On average, how much time do you spend talking on do you spend talking on your cell phone each day?your cell phone each day?

Question 14

2.2

2.25

2.3

2.35

2.4

2.45

2.5

2.55

2.6

2.65

1

Gender

Ave

rag

e V

alu

e

Female

Male

ConclusionsConclusions

Our conclusions were in line with Our conclusions were in line with our hypothesis:our hypothesis:– Females use their cell phones more Females use their cell phones more

for communication (talking and text for communication (talking and text messaging)messaging)

– Males tend to use the Males tend to use the technologically advanced features of technologically advanced features of their phones, such as playing games their phones, such as playing games and using the organizer, more than and using the organizer, more than femalesfemales

Top 10 Distinguishing Top 10 Distinguishing Questions in Order of Questions in Order of SignificanceSignificance 1. Does your cell phone have a 1. Does your cell phone have a

camera? (Men)camera? (Men) 2. Do you know the make/model of 2. Do you know the make/model of

your phone? (Men)your phone? (Men) 3. How often do you play video games 3. How often do you play video games

on your phone? (Men)on your phone? (Men) 4. How often do you use the camera to 4. How often do you use the camera to

take pictures? (Men)take pictures? (Men) 5. How often do you text message on 5. How often do you text message on

your cell phone? (Women)your cell phone? (Women)

Top Ten List, cont’d.Top Ten List, cont’d.

6. How often do you carry your cell phone with 6. How often do you carry your cell phone with you? (Men)you? (Men)

7. Have you upgraded your cell phone 7. Have you upgraded your cell phone cosmetically? (Women)cosmetically? (Women)

8. How often do you use the 8. How often do you use the calendar/organizer functions of your phone? calendar/organizer functions of your phone? (Men)(Men)

9. How often do you download ring tones? 9. How often do you download ring tones? (Men)(Men)

10. On average, about how much time do you 10. On average, about how much time do you spend talking on your cell phone each day? spend talking on your cell phone each day? (Women)(Women)