Several studies provide useful conceptual frameworks. The adoption process for IT is distinctly different from the dynamics of IT use, and both sets of behaviors are strongly affected by socioeconomic, demographic, technological, and psychological factors. The household as a level of analysis is extremely complex. Impacts can reflect a variety of changes to individuals and the family in terms of both behavioral and emotional responses.
Quality of life is another way of conceptualizing the impact of IT in the home.
If we envision each stage of activity as a dependent variable, it becomes obvious that the complexity of these phenomena increases as we move through successive social stages of innovative activity and responses. The driving concern in social impacts research is on the last stage of activity, particularly whether the consequences of a technological innovation are positive or harmful. Intervening variables are also discussed. For adoption and usage behaviors in particular, a fair amount of attention is given to socioeconomic and demographic influences. Research on impacts is quite sparse, and gives no real impression of the overall consequences of IT for the homes that use them.