The Global Impact Study’s research activities include national-level inventories, venue and population surveys, and in-depth studies.
National-level inventories of public access facilities
Our research teams are conducting inventories of currently operating facilities in five countries — Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Lithuania, and the Philippines — from which we can infer the reach and distribution of public access venues. Quantifying venues provides a baseline against which we can assess the magnitude of the larger public access phenomenon and begin to formulate statements about impact. Browse inventory updates »
Venue & population surveys
Surveys are administered to representative samples of public access venues and populations (both venue users and non-users) derived from national inventories. We are conducting surveys in Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, and the Philippines. Surveys will generate data that answers questions beyond what inventories can provide and serve as integral links to our in-depth studies. They will also tell us more about the accessibility and actual usage of public access venues. Browse survey updates »
In-depth studies
While inventories and surveys allow us to answer a number of basic questions, a more precise, actionable understanding of impact requires the use of in-depth studies investigating targeted areas, listed below. Each of these will use different methods, click on the links below to see updates related to each area.
Topics include:
- Infomediaries: Brokers of Public Access Sites — What are the roles of infomediaries, and how do infomediaries influence what users learn, do differently, and value from services? What is the effect of staff skills and training on the impact of public access venues? Browse updates »
- Collaborative Knowledge Sharing at Public Access Sites — Do shared use practices emerge when users access ICTs simultaneously with others in public access venues? What are the consequences for users? Browse updates »
- The Impact of Non-instrumental Use of ICTs on Users’ ICT Skills — Do non-instrumental uses of ICT (e.g., games, chat, and entertainment activities) have impacts on the the development domains we’re examining? Browse updates »
- Mobile Nexus with Public Access — How do mobile users interact with public access sites? What is the use of public access ICTs among mobile phone users? What is usage of public access ICTs by heavy mobile phone users? To what extent are there uses of computers in public access venues that have something to do with mobile phones?
- Life Cycle of Public Access Venues — What are the lifecycle models of public access ICTs? Are public access venues best understood as transitionalentities? Are some failures actually transitions? What is the impact of failure on the community? When do the impacts of public access use become visible at individual and community level? What would be the impact of multiple public access venues in a community (e.g., competition)? Do public access venues started under private entrepreneurial, or government programs function differently?
- Community Information Ecology — What are the details of the information ecology of the larger community within which public access sites are located? What forces in the community promote the use of public access ICTs? Does public access venue influence information ecology of a community and vice versa?
- Direct & Indirect Impacts — Is there a multi-step flow of information from a public access site? If so, how does it contribute to our understanding of a realistic number for people affected by a project? To what extent do the benefits of public access extend from users to non-users? Do public access ICTs have an indirect impact on students’ academic achievement?
- Non-users — What are the barriers to access, especially for marginalized populations? How are public access points viewed by non-users? What are the key sources of information for non-users? Are public access ICT users a source of information for non-users?
- Willingness to Pay — How do users make choices when there are fees? How much are individuals willing to pay for different public access ICT products and services? What is the relationship between users’ perceived value of communication and information services and the actual benefits derived from them?
- Policy & Regulation — What are the mechanisms that enable research and policy making to work together in the field of public access?
- Institutional & Stakeholder Influence — At the national level, what institutional changes are shaping, or being shaped by, the development of public access to ICT? Are certain types of centers associated with certain types of state structures? At a local level, what change agents are facilitating the development of public access to ICT? What is the role of stakeholders in public access venues with high impact? What effect does community involvement in the design and operation of a public access venue have on the social and economic impacts of the venue?
- Rules — How do restrictions on the use of computers, the Internet, and venue space affect usage in public access venues?
- Role of Networks in the Venue Ecosystem —At the local level, what is the relationship between public access venues and government, NGOs, and other public access venues? Are there programmatic ties? Do public access venues within larger networks have more or less impact on their users and communities? Is access better in pre-existing networks or in new establishments?
- Local Content — What is the importance of local content in public access sites for making an impact on communities? What is the geographical scale at which information must be gathered and disseminated to ensure that public access to ICTs is beneficial?
- Venue Architecture & Design — How does the nature of physical space at public access venues, including the availability of space for ancillary activities (e.g., computer placement, meeting rooms, computer repair work, child care) affect usage?
- IT Skills, Training & Employment — What is the value of basic IT training and services provided at public access venues? Do IT skills improve job prospects or better lives? Does public access to ICT advance users’ computer skills or their ability to seek and use information? What are the differences in ICT skills developed by people using different types of public access ICT venues?
- Cost-Benefit — What is the relationship between the costs and benefits of providing public access to ICT?
In addition, you can browse all in-depth study updates »
