Tracy L.M. Kennedy PhD Research The Domestic Internet Networked Households – Domesticating the Internet Overview: Considerable research has examined the prevalence of the internet in today’s modern homes, providing descriptive reports of what people are doing online from their homes. However, few researchers have provided a context or a deeper understanding of how household structure, such as the presence of spouses, children, and other household members, may shape or influence how and why the household internet is used from day to day. Moreover, other internal household structures have not been examined in relation to internet use in the home. Very little is known about how the domestic division of labour influences or shapes the integration and use of the internet into today’s households. There are many assertions concerning how the division of labour is gendered and allocated, but also suppositions about how women and men use ICTs to communicate, and the kind of information they are seeking. Little empirical research examines whether there is a relationship between domestic division of labour and household internet use. RQ: How does household structure relate to patterns of communication and information seeking within the household? This research examines the structure of households in East York and whether this is connected to how and why people use the internet from their homes. This research also investigates structures within households such as how domestic labour is allocated in East York households and whether this is connected to how and why they use the internet from their homes. Table of Contents: Chapter One: Introduction Executive Summary Chapter Two: Literature & Theory The changing nature of today’s households Chapter Three: Research Method & Design Chapter Four: Households & The Internet in East York How much time do households spend online & what are the implications on household relationships? Chapter Five: Households & Communication How do households use the internet to communicate & why do they use it? Chapter Six: Households & Information seeking What kind of information are households looking for; how & why is it useful to them? Conclusion: References Appendix: Survey Interview