Scottish Government

Widen use of the Internet

DESCRIPTION:

The indicator measures the percentage of adults using the internet for personal use.

SOURCE:

The figures for this indicator come from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) which is a National Statistics product. Scottish Government are the owners of the data.

The data are published in the Scottish Household Survey Annual Report, which is published annually in August via www.scotland.gov.uk/SHSAnnualReport.

SHS asks a randomly selected adult in the household whether they personally use the Internet these days, either for work or personal use.

Results at Local Authority level are available annually for the larger Local Authorities and every two years for the smaller Local Authorities.

Further information can be obtained from: www.scotland.gov.uk/SHSMethodology

BASELINE AND PAST TRENDS:

The baseline year is 2007 as this is the last data point before the start of the first term of the current administration. The baseline figure is 62.7%.

Percentage of adults using the internet for personal use

CRITERIA FOR RECENT CHANGE ARROW:

The criteria for the last update for this indicator was (2011 data published in August 2012): This evaluation is based on: any difference within 3 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 3 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 3 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.

As is set out in the general methodological approach, the Scotland Performs Technical Assessment Group do on occasion review the criteria used for particular indicators for technical reasons. As this indicator is now approaching 100% within certain key groups, the scope for continuous improvement is more limited and the pace of change is slowing. Given this, the Technical Assessment Group have decided that a threshold of 1 percentage point is now more appropriate for this indicator.

Therefore the criteria for the next update for this indicator (2012 data published in August 2013) will be: any difference within 1 percentage point of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 1 percentage point or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 1 percentage point or more suggests the position is worsening.

For information on general methodological approach, please click here.

FUTURE ISSUES OR REVIEWS:

No issues.

ASSOCIATED TARGET:

No associated target.