Welcome

The Web Use Project is Eszter Hargittai's research group at Northwestern University. The goal of the research conducted in this group is to learn about how people use the Web in their everyday lives and in particular, how differences in Internet use may contribute to social inequality.

We're Hiring! Postdoc Position at the Web Use Project

The Web Use Project is looking for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher. The postdoc will collaborate with Professor Eszter Hargittai in analyzing and writing up survey, observational and interview data collected about people's Internet uses, skills and participation. For more information, see the position announcement page.

Hot off the Press

"Research Confidential," edited by Eszter Hargittai
This collection of essays aims to fill a notable gap in the existing literature on research methods in the social sciences. While the methods literature is extensive, rarely do authors discuss the practical issues and challenges they routinely confront in the course of their research projects. As a result, editor Eszter Hargittai argues, each new cohort is forced to reinvent the wheel, making mistakes that previous generations have already confronted and resolved. Research Confidential seeks to address this failing by supplying new researchers with the kind of detailed practical information that can make or break a given project. Written in an informal, accessible, and engaging manner by a group of prominent young scholars, many of whom are involved in groundbreaking research in online contexts, this collection promises to be a valuable tool for graduate students and educators across the social sciences.

To find more information and where to order, visit http://www.rconfidential.com.

Recent Updates

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The Adults Aren't Alright The Adults Aren’t Alright
(original link)
The New Republic
February 16th, 2010
Twitter not all that popular among teenagers Twitter not all that popular among teenagers
(original link)
The Washington Post
February 3rd, 2010
NYT: Is Blogging a Slog? Is Blogging a Slog?
(original link)
New York Times
February 3rd, 2010
Chicago Tribune Cyberbegging Cyberbegging
(original link)
Chicago Tribune
December 25, 2009
IHE RC interview ‘Research Confidential’
(original link)
Inside Higher Ed interview with Eszter Hargittai about her edited book Research Confidential
October 30, 2009

More updates...

Recent Publications

Hargittai, E. (2010). Digital Na(t)ives? Variation in Internet Skills and Uses among Members of the “Net Generation”. Sociological Inquiry. 80(1):92-113.

Hargittai, E. (2009). Research Confidential: Solutions to Problems Most Social Scientists Pretend They Never Have. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

Hargittai, E. (2009). Introduction: Doing Empirical Social Science Research. In Research Confidential. Edited by E. Hargittai. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. 1-7.

Hargittai, E. & Karr, C. (2009). WAT R U DOIN? Studying the Thumb Generation Using Text Messaging. In Research Confidential. Edited by E. Hargittai. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. 192-216.

Tepper, Steven & Hargittai, E. (2009). Pathways to Music Exploration in a Digital Age. Poetics. 37(3):227-249.

Pasek, J, more, e., & Hargittai, E. (2009). Facebook and Academic Performance: Reconciling a Media Sensation with Data. First Monday. 14(5)

Zillien, N. & Hargittai, E. (2009). Digital Distinction: Status-Specific Internet Uses. Social Science Quarterly. 90(2): 274-291.

Hargittai, E. (2009). An Update on Survey Measures of Web-Oriented Digital Literacy. Social Science Computer Review. 27(1):130-137.

Hargittai, E. (2008). The Role of Expertise in Navigating Links of Influence. In The Hyperlinked Society. Edited by Joseph Turow and Lokman Tsui. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. 85-103.

Hargittai, E. & Hinnant, A. (2008). Digital Inequality: Differences in Young Adults’ Use of the Internet. Communication Research. 35(5):602-621.

All publications...