{"title":"Digital Contact Tracing for Pandemic Response: The Roles of Cultural Worldviews and Technology Awareness","authors":"Jingguo Wang, Yuan Li","doi":"10.1287/isre.2021.0253","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Information technologies have been developed and used by government agencies and public authorities to address societal issues, but their effectiveness often hinges on public support and participation. This is evidenced in the use of digital contact tracing (DCT) technology to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Despite the efforts of public authorities and technology firms to develop and promote DCT, its adoption in the United States had been low and uneven. This research resolves the puzzle by showing that the public’s mixed views on DCT are caused by their cultural worldviews, which represent their values and attitudes toward collective responsibility in addressing personal needs as well as social hierarchies and established norms in regulating behaviors. These worldviews influence not only their perceptions of the risks and benefits of the technology but also how they interpret information about the technology. Being more aware of the technology may contribute to, rather than correct, the biases resulting from individuals’ prominent cultural worldviews. This research has practical implications for policymakers and technology developers, highlighting the importance of considering cultural worldviews in communication strategies and technology design. It offers a unique perspective on the interplay between worldviews, technology, and public perception, providing valuable insights for navigating the complex landscape of emerging technologies addressing diverse societal issues.","PeriodicalId":48411,"journal":{"name":"Information Systems Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Information Systems Research","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2021.0253","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Information technologies have been developed and used by government agencies and public authorities to address societal issues, but their effectiveness often hinges on public support and participation. This is evidenced in the use of digital contact tracing (DCT) technology to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Despite the efforts of public authorities and technology firms to develop and promote DCT, its adoption in the United States had been low and uneven. This research resolves the puzzle by showing that the public’s mixed views on DCT are caused by their cultural worldviews, which represent their values and attitudes toward collective responsibility in addressing personal needs as well as social hierarchies and established norms in regulating behaviors. These worldviews influence not only their perceptions of the risks and benefits of the technology but also how they interpret information about the technology. Being more aware of the technology may contribute to, rather than correct, the biases resulting from individuals’ prominent cultural worldviews. This research has practical implications for policymakers and technology developers, highlighting the importance of considering cultural worldviews in communication strategies and technology design. It offers a unique perspective on the interplay between worldviews, technology, and public perception, providing valuable insights for navigating the complex landscape of emerging technologies addressing diverse societal issues.
期刊介绍:
ISR (Information Systems Research) is a journal of INFORMS, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. Information Systems Research is a leading international journal of theory, research, and intellectual development, focused on information systems in organizations, institutions, the economy, and society.