Gender as a Distinguishing
Cell Phone Usage
Characteristic
Neset Pirkul, Matt Lauria, and
Peter Yates
Introduction
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Cellular Phones have become a necessary
accessory among college students.
As new technologies emerge, the
functionality of cell phones has expanded
beyond just a tool for conversation.
Competitive businesses must be aware of
how people use their cellular phones.
Hypothesis

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Gender plays a key role in how individuals
interact with their cell phones.
Cooper and Weaver (2003) suggests that
men are more comfortable using computers
than women.
We expand this concept to how men and
women interact with their cell phones.
Hypothesis, Cont’d.
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Our prediction is that men, due to their
lower anxiety levels about using technology,
will utilize more of the advanced features
offered by today’s cellular phones.
However, we also predict that the
technology that women will use corresponds
to their computer usage preferences (i.e.
frequent, personal feedback, and the use of
words)
Description of Survey
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Our survey consists of 14 questions
intended to determine the subject’s usage
frequency of specific cell phone functions.
Yes/No questions were converted to binary
(1/0)
Other questions were based on a 5-point
scale
1-Never 2-Rarely 3-Sometimes 4-Regularly 5-Majority of the time
How often do you use the
speed/voice dial function of
your phone?
Question 2
2.6
2.55
Average Value
2.5
2.45
Female
Males
2.4
2.35
2.3
2.25
1
Gender
How often do you carry
your cell phone with you?
Question 3
4.7
4.6
4.5
Average Value
4.4
4.3
Female
Male
4.2
4.1
4
3.9
3.8
1
Gender
Does your cell phone
have a camera feature?
Question 4
0.6
0.5
Average Value
0.4
Female
Male
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1
Gender
If so, how often do you use
your camera to take
pictures?
Question 5
3.5
3
Average Value
2.5
2
Female
Male
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
Gender
How often do you use your cell
phone to browse the web or
check email?
Question 6
1.08
1.06
Average Value
1.04
Female
Male
1.02
1
0.98
0.96
1
Gender
How often do you play video
games on your cell phone?
Question 7
2.5
Average Value
2
1.5
Female
Male
1
0.5
0
1
Gender
How often do you text
message on your cell
phone?
Question 8
4
3.5
3
Average Value
2.5
Female
Male
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
Gender
How often do you download
ring tones for your phone?
Question 9
1.8
1.6
1.4
Average Value
1.2
1
Female
Male
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1
Gender
How often do you use the
calendar / organizer functions
of your cell phone?
Question 10
2
1.95
1.9
1.85
Average Value
1.8
1.75
Female
Male
1.7
1.65
1.6
1.55
1.5
1.45
1
Gender
Do you know the make and
model of your cell phone?
Question 11
0.8
0.7
0.6
Average Value
0.5
Female
Male
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1
Gender
Have you upgraded your
phone cosmetically since
you bought it?
Question 12
0.18
0.16
0.14
Average Value
0.12
0.1
Female
Male
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
1
Gender
Approximately how many
contacts do you have stored
in your phone?
Question 13
100
90
80
Average Value
70
60
Female
Male
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
Gender
On average, how much time do
you spend talking on your cell
phone each day?
Question 14
2.65
2.6
2.55
Average Value
2.5
2.45
Female
Male
2.4
2.35
2.3
2.25
2.2
1
Gender
Conclusions

Our conclusions were in line with our
hypothesis:
– Females use their cell phones more for
communication (talking and text
messaging)
– Males tend to use the technologically
advanced features of their phones, such
as playing games and using the organizer,
more than females
Top 10 Distinguishing
Questions in Order of
Significance
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1. Does your cell phone have a camera?
(Men)
2. Do you know the make/model of your
phone? (Men)
3. How often do you play video games on
your phone? (Men)
4. How often do you use the camera to take
pictures? (Men)
5. How often do you text message on your
cell phone? (Women)
Top Ten List, cont’d.
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6. How often do you carry your cell phone with
you? (Men)
7. Have you upgraded your cell phone cosmetically?
(Women)
8. How often do you use the calendar/organizer
functions of your phone? (Men)
9. How often do you download ring tones? (Men)
10. On average, about how much time do you
spend talking on your cell phone each day?
(Women)