From digital exclusion to digital inclusion: A research study exploring the processes and impacts which make a difference for marginalized household

研究背景数字排斥根源于缺乏数字技术和可靠的互联网连接以及社会缺陷(教育、技能和信心)(Helsper 2017)，并导致生活成本上升、贫困可能性增加、就业、教育和培训机会减少以及社会孤立(Allman 2022；Good Things Foundation 2022)。苏格兰遭受数字排斥的总人数不得而知，但苏格兰家庭调查(2019年)显示，苏格兰35%的低收入家庭缺乏互联网接入(McKay 2021)。因此，减少这一不平等的主要来源已被确定为使苏格兰成为一个更公正和公平的社会的关键途径(苏格兰政府，2021年)。尽管在大流行期间加强了减少数字排斥的努力，但数字排斥的负面影响实际上自大流行(《苏格兰审计》2021年)以来有所增加，并可能随着生活费用危机而进一步恶化。证据表明，解决数字排斥的最成功方法将在三个关键领域发挥作用：获得数字设备和技术；负担得起的可靠连接(WiFi或数据)；以及技能和信心(Good Things Foundation 2021)。然而，从数字排斥到数字包容的过程在实践中是如何运作的还远不清楚(方等人。2019年)。本研究旨在解决知识和理解上的差距。研究目的和目的本研究旨在确定非正式和正式支持的类型，这些类型的非正式和正式支持在他们从数字排斥经历到数字包容经历的过程中被认为是最有用的。这项研究的结果将为组织(如People Know How)开发数字包容支持模型提供参考，论文及其成果将为数字包容的更广泛和不断增长的领域做出贡献。拟议的研究方法和方法研究方法将包括使用深入的家庭案例研究、利用数字包容服务的当地人种志，以及参与性绘图。为了达到研究的目的和目的，本研究还提出了民族志行动研究(EAR)(Tacchi等人，2003)的战略和方法论观点。EAR是由英国政府国际发展部与教科文组织南亚信息和通信部门的项目合作开发的，目的是调查信通技术和数字包容在消除贫困2中可以发挥的作用(Tacchi等人，2003年)。在这里，为该项目使用EAR方法与其包括人种学、参与性地图绘制等在内的研究方法相一致，并将有助于实现该项目的目标，即通过确保边缘化的利益攸关方参与所有研究阶段，确定非正式和正式支持的类型，这些类型的非正式和正式支持是来自少数族裔背景的人在从数字排斥到数字包容的过程中更有用的。从而，也推动了以社会变革和社会公正为导向的研究进程。

Research BackgroundDigital exclusion is rooted in both the material lack of digital technology and a reliable internet connection and social deficits (education, skills, and confidence) (Helsper 2017), and contributes to higher costs of living, increased likelihood of poverty, reduced opportunities for employment, education and training, and social isolation (Allman 2022; Good Things Foundation 2022). The total number of people in Scotland suffering from digital exclusion is unknown, but the Scottish Household Survey (2019) suggests 35% of low-income households in Scotland lack internet access (McKay 2021). Reducing this major source of inequality has,therefore, been identified as a key way to make Scotland a more just and equitability society (Scottish Government 2021). Despite efforts intensified during the pandemic, to reduce digital exclusion, the negative impacts of digital exclusion have in fact increased since the pandemic (Audit Scotland 2021) and may further deteriorate with the cost-of-living crisis. The evidence suggests that the most successful approaches to tackling digital exclusion will work acrossthree key areas: access to digital devices and technology; affordable and reliable connections (WiFi or data); and skills and confidence (Good Things Foundation 2021). However, how the process of moving from digital exclusion to digital inclusion works in practice is far less clear (Fang et al. 2019). The current study seeks to address this gap in knowledge and understanding.Research Aim and ObjectiveThis study aims to identify the types of informal and formal support that people from a range of minoritized backgrounds find most useful in their journey from an experience of digital exclusion to an experience of digital inclusion. The findings of the study will inform the development of a digital inclusion support model for organisations, such as People Know How, and the thesis and its outputs will contribute to the wider and growing field of digital inclusion. Proposed Research Method and ApproachThe research methods will include the use of in-depth household case studies, ethnography in the local area with digital inclusion services, and participatory mapping. To achieve the research aim and objective, an Ethnographic Action Research (EAR) (Tacchi etal., 2003) strategical and methodological standpoint was also proposed for this research. The EAR was developed through collaboration between the UK Government's Department for International Development and programs of UNESCO's information and communication sector in South Asia to investigate the role that ICT and digital inclusion can play in poverty 2eradication (Tacchi et al., 2003). Here, using the EAR approach for the project aligns with its research methods that include ethnography, participatory mapping, etc., and will help to reach the project's aim to identify the types of informal and formal support that people from minoritized backgrounds find more useful in their journey from digital exclusion to that of digital inclusion, through ensuring marginalized stakeholder participation in all research stages. Thus, also promoting social change and social justice-oriented research processes.