Fostering Research on the Economic and Social Impacts of Information Technology: Report of a Workshop

• ISBN13: 9780309060325
• ISBN10: 030906032X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Natl Academy Pr

Summary

The tremendous growth in use of information technology (IT) has led to an increased interest in understanding its social and economic impacts. This book presents examples of cross-cutting research that has been conducted to understand the impact of information technology on personal, community, and business activities. It explores ways in which the use of methodology from economics and social sciences contributes to important advances in understanding these impacts.The book discusses significant research issues and concerns and suggests approaches for fostering increased interdisciplinary research on the impacts of information technology and making the results of this research more accessible to the public and policymakers. This important volume is expected to influence funding priorities and levels of support for interdisciplinary research of this kind.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	1	(105)
Introduction
Growth Trends	9	(5)
Computing Power	9	(1)
Demographics of Computer Ownership	10	(2)
Internet Use	12	(1)
Global Connectivity	13	(1)
Some Major Challenges	14	(4)
Productivity and Organizational Change	14	(2)
Information Technology and Wage Inequality	16	(1)
Design of Technology and Standards Setting	16	(2)
Role of Social Science	18	(3)
Illustrative Examples and Unanswered Questions	21	(57)
Households and Community	21	(8)
Computer Use in the Home	22	(2)
Differential Impacts of Technology	24	(1)
Community	24	(2)
Education	26	(3)
Social Infrastructure: Universal Service	29	(3)
Business, Labor, and Organizational Processes	32	(16)
Location: Internationalization and Telecommuting	32	(3)
Labor and Information Technology	35	(4)
Organizations and Processes	39	(7)
Social Science and the Workplace	46	(2)
Information Economy and Society	48	(24)
Protection of Intellectual Property	48	(4)
Free Speech and Content	52	(1)
Privacy	53	(3)
Information Use and Value	56	(4)
Pricing Models and Content	60	(1)
Pricing Information	61	(4)
Network Externalities	65	(1)
Auctions	66	(1)
Electronic Commerce	67	(5)
Illustrative Broad Topics for Ongoing Research	72	(6)
Data---The Basis for New Knowledge	78	(23)
Types and Uses of Data	78	(6)
Data from Experiments	79	(2)
Panel Data	81	(1)
Data from Time-Use Studies	82	(1)
Metadata	83	(1)
Availability of and Access to Data	84	(5)
Data Collected by the Private Sector	85	(1)
The Need for Firm-level Data	86	(2)
Data Collected by Government	88	(1)
New Types of Data	89	(4)
Documenting the Effects of Technology Deployment	89	(3)
Data on Social Interactions from the Internet	92	(1)
The Internet as a Window into How Commercial Transactions Are Conducted	93	(1)
Time and Tools for Gathering and Interpreting Data	93	(2)
The Time Required to Do Good Social Science	93	(2)
Appropriate Subject Pools and Instrumentation	95	(1)
Approaches to Meeting Requirements for Data	95	(6)
Options for Fostering Interdisciplinary Research and Improving Access to Results	101	(5)
Encouraging Interdisciplinary Studies and Collaboration	102	(1)
Funding to Strengthen Interdisciplinary Research	103	(2)
Making the Results of Interdisciplinary Research More Accessible	105	(1)
Bibliography	106
APPENDIXES
A WORKSHOP AGENDA AND PARTICIPANTS	127
B POSITION PAPERS SUBMITTED BY WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS	131
Research on Information Technology Impacts	133
Paul Attewell
What If All Information Were Readily Available to All?	138
Joseph Farrell
Critical Issues Relating to Impacts of Information Technology: Areas for Future Research and Discussion	139
Alexander J. Field
Computer-mediated Communications	142
Claude S. Fischer
Impacts of Information Technology: Behaviors and Metrics	144
Amy Friedlander
Five Critical Issues Relating to Impacts of Information Technology	147
Michael Froomkin
Cultural Influences on the Process and Impacts of Computerization	150
Rob Kling
Questions for Research	152
Jeffrey K. MacKie-Mason
Electronic Interactions	156
Paul Resnick
Social Impact of Information Technology	158
Frank Stafford
The Uncalming Effects of Digital Technology	160
Mark Weiser
C COMMISSIONED PAPERS
Infrastructure: The Utility of Past As Prologue?	165
Amy Friedlander
Computer And Communication Technologies: Impacts on the Organization of Enterprise and the Establishment and Maintenance of Civil Society	188
John Leslie King
Kenneth L. Kraemer