Recent Pew Reports

On Monday night, two students and I were discussing the Pew readings for the week available here and here. One topic we discussed was calling landline phones to conduct surveys. Pew Research Center for the People & the Press has posted a short piece on the difference between cell phones and landlines in survey research. Because there is the possibility of bias when using landlines in survey research, Pew will be including cell phone samples in their election polls.

Another report that Pew launched yesterday (9/24/08) takes a look at networked workers, the technologies they use, and the impact those devices have on the lives of today's workers. For anyone who uses technology in their jobs, the results will not be surprising. Here's just a selected few from the report:

• 53% of American adults who say they're currently employed, 62% qualify as networked workers (Pew definition)
• Networked workers are more likely to own a cell phone, a desktop computer, a laptop, and a PDA.
• 80% of the respondents said the technology makes their lives easier
• 46% said that the technology increases the demands to work more hours
• 49% said the technology increases job-related stress
• 49% said that the technology makes it more difficult to "disconnect" from work and on weekends