The double-edged sword of mobilizing citizens via mobile phone in developing countries

Q1 Economics, Econometrics and Finance
Aaron Erlich , Danielle F. Jung , James D. Long , Craig McIntosh
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引用次数: 13

Abstract

New innovations in mobile technology provide an unparalleled opportunity for researchers and organizations to scale communications with citizens in the developing world, but bring new challenges in terms of how to generate and retain engaged users. We report on a number of technical dimensions based on our experience building a bi-directional multi-channel mobile phone platform to engage citizens in South Africa's 2014 presidential election. Specifically, we deployed the “VIP:Voice” platform at national scale to conduct opinion polling, to allow citizens to report on political activity, and to engage citizen monitors for polling stations on election day. Our platform operated across multiple device types, from flip-phones to Twitter, and consequently provides critical lessons on the most effective means of gathering and disseminating a rich variety of data depending on the user's device type. We compare different means of obtaining location in the absence of GPS, and show how different formats for soliciting and entering data generated very differential response rates. Our paper illustrates a number of concrete ways in which platform development driven by smartphone logic does not translate easily for users of more basic mobile phones, including whether questions are presented passively in a menu or pushed to a user's phone, and the format in which user data are entered. This paper is intended to provide actionable guidance for researchers and organizations deploying ICT platforms to interact with citizen users at a national or cross-national scale in international development.

发展中国家通过手机动员公民的双刃剑
移动技术的新创新为研究人员和组织扩大与发展中国家公民的通信提供了无与伦比的机会,但在如何产生和留住活跃用户方面带来了新的挑战。根据我们在2014年南非总统选举中建立双向多渠道手机平台的经验,我们报告了一些技术层面。具体而言,我们在全国范围内部署了“VIP:Voice”平台,进行民意调查,允许公民报告政治活动,并在选举日聘请公民监督投票站。我们的平台可以在多种设备类型上运行,从翻盖手机到Twitter,因此根据用户的设备类型提供了收集和传播丰富数据的最有效方法。我们比较了在没有GPS的情况下获取位置的不同方法,并展示了不同格式的请求和输入数据如何产生非常不同的响应率。我们的论文阐述了许多具体的方式,其中由智能手机逻辑驱动的平台开发不容易转化为更基本的手机用户,包括问题是被动地在菜单中呈现还是推送到用户的手机上,以及用户数据输入的格式。本文旨在为在国际发展中部署ICT平台与国家或跨国规模的公民用户互动的研究人员和组织提供可操作的指导。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Development Engineering
Development Engineering Economics, Econometrics and Finance-Economics, Econometrics and Finance (all)
CiteScore
4.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
11
审稿时长
31 weeks
期刊介绍: Development Engineering: The Journal of Engineering in Economic Development (Dev Eng) is an open access, interdisciplinary journal applying engineering and economic research to the problems of poverty. Published studies must present novel research motivated by a specific global development problem. The journal serves as a bridge between engineers, economists, and other scientists involved in research on human, social, and economic development. Specific topics include: • Engineering research in response to unique constraints imposed by poverty. • Assessment of pro-poor technology solutions, including field performance, consumer adoption, and end-user impacts. • Novel technologies or tools for measuring behavioral, economic, and social outcomes in low-resource settings. • Hypothesis-generating research that explores technology markets and the role of innovation in economic development. • Lessons from the field, especially null results from field trials and technical failure analyses. • Rigorous analysis of existing development "solutions" through an engineering or economic lens. Although the journal focuses on quantitative, scientific approaches, it is intended to be suitable for a wider audience of development practitioners and policy makers, with evidence that can be used to improve decision-making. It also will be useful for engineering and applied economics faculty who conduct research or teach in "technology for development."
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