Spatial Conflict in the Information Age

9412592 OBERMEYER新技术的影响往往比技术开发时最初预期的要大得多，复杂得多。因此，技术创新的推动者经常声称这些创新在与创新直接有关的具体活动相去甚远的领域具有重要意义。例如，地理信息系统（gis）的倡导者声称，广泛采用地理信息系统将使冲突各方获得更大范围的更准确和更及时的信息，从而最大限度地减少地点冲突。然而，这种说法还没有经过科学检验。研究人员研究了人与人和群体之间冲突的来源和动力，发现了冲突的两个不同基础。“认知冲突”是指基于对事实信息的不同解释而产生的冲突。有证据表明，像gis这样的新信息技术往往通过帮助冲突各方在更相似的知识基础上运作来促进冲突的解决。相比之下。“利益冲突”是基于冲突双方价值观的差异。这项为女性科学家提供的研究计划资助将对一些方法进行试点研究，这些方法旨在检查潜在的价值差异如何影响冲突各方对地理信息系统的使用。将使用三个案例研究来检验另一种假设，该假设认为地理信息系统增加而不是减少了土地使用方面的冲突，因为通过使用地理信息系统获得的额外“事实”和分析被不同各方有选择地用来支持他们自己的立场。这三个个案研究包括审查财政划分、选举重新划分和立法区公共产品的分配。每个个案研究将包括确定争议中的“关键参与者”，然后与这些参与者进行电话和面对面访谈，在此期间将特别强调地理信息系统技术在解决冲突或继续冲突方面的作用。作为一项规划拨款，该奖项的主要目的是开发和完善研究方法，以便对该主题进行更全面的研究。这一试点也将产生更多的直接效益。除了促进对深入审查的具体案例的新理解外，该项目还将加强对冲突中的认知和利益因素的形式和作用以及新信息技术的社会后果的理论讨论。

9412592 OBERMEYER The impacts of new technologies frequently are far greater and more complex than originally was anticipated when the technologies were developed. As a result, promoters of technological innovations frequently make claims regarding the significance of those innovations in realms far removed from the specific activities directly related to the innovation. Advocates of geographic information systems (GISs), for example, have claimed that wide-spread adoption of GISs will minimize locational conflicts by making a greater range of more accurate and more current information available to conflicting parties. This assertion has not been scientifically tested, however. Researchers who have examined the sources and dynamics of conflict among people and groups have identified two separate bases of conflicts. "Cognitive conflict" relates to conflicts based on different interpretations of factual information. Evidence exists that new information technologies like GISs often facilitate resolution of conflict by helping conflicting parties to operate from more similar knowledge bases. In contrast. "interest conflict" is based on differences in the values of conflicting parties. This Research Planning Grant for Women Scientists will conduct a pilot study of methods designed to examine the ways that underlying value differences affect the use of GISs by conflicting parties. Three case studies will be used to examine an alternative hypothesis that holds that GISs increase rather than decrease conflict over land uses, because the additional "facts" and analyses available through use of a GIS are used selectively by the different parties to support their own positions. The three case studies consist of examinations of financial redlining, electoral redistricting, and distribution of public goods in legislative districts. Each case study will consist of identification of "key players" in the controversy followed by telephone and face-to-face interviews with those participants, during which special emphasis will be placed on the role of GIS technology in the resolution or continuation of conflict. As a planning grant, the primary purpose of this award will be to develop and refine research methods that can be used in a more comprehensive study on this topic. This pilot also will yield more immediate benefits. In addition to contributing to new understandings of the specific cases under intensive review, the project will enhance theoretical discussions of the forms and roles of cognitive and interest factors in conflicts and the social consequences of new information technologies.