The Global Impact Study

Research Design: Assessing impact from four complementary angles

Although our basic approach remains the same, we're learning along the way and our thinking is evolving. This post summarizes the updates in our research design, articulated around four basic components: (1) Inventory and surveys that provide a big-picture view, (2) Focused studies of specific mechanisms through which public access impacts livelihoods, (3) An assessment of indirect and aggregated impacts, (4) A look at alternatives and complements to public access, focusing on mobile phones.

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Research design breaks ground in investigating impact

What difference does public access to information and communication technologies (ICT) make in the lives of poor or marginalized people? Years of research have yet to produce concrete evidence of impact — as found in libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés. There is a pressing need for systematic and comprehensive research to identify the downstream impacts, and to provide empirical evidence about the precise link (if any) between public access ICT use and impacts in areas such as health, education, and governance.

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Second global workshop identifies areas for in-depth studies

The Global Impact Study held its second global workshop in Valparaiso, Chile, from October 25-29, 2008. The event brought together the Research Working Group, Country Research Team members, and representatives from the Center for Information & Society and Canada's International Development Research Centre.

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Phase one fieldwork: Generating research designs

The Country Research Teams have focused their summer 2008 research activities that will inform the development of research designs for the next phase of the Global Impact Study project. The primary methodology employed for this purpose is information ecology mapping (also known as linkage or social mapping).

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