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

数字排斥的根源在于物质上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尚不清楚，但苏格兰家庭调查（2019年）表明，苏格兰35%的低收入家庭没有互联网接入（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加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，但自大流行以来，数字排斥的负面影响实际上有所增加（苏格兰审计2021年），并可能随着生活费用危机进一步恶化。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：获取数字设备和技术；实惠可靠的连接（WiFi或数据）；技能和信心（Good Things Foundation 2021）。然而，从数字排斥到数字包容的过程如何在实践中发挥作用远不太清楚（Fang et al. 2019）。目前的研究旨在解决这一知识和理解上的差距。研究目的和目标本研究旨在确定来自一系列少数族裔背景的人在从数字排斥体验到数字包容体验的过程中发现的最有用的非正式和正式支持类型。研究结果将为组织（如People Know How）的数字包容支持模型的开发提供信息，论文及其产出将为更广泛和不断增长的数字包容领域做出贡献。建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，在当地使用数字包容服务的民族志，以及参与式测绘。为达到研究目的和目的，本研究开展了民族志行动研究（EAR）。（2003）本文还提出了本研究的战略和方法论立场。EAR是由英国政府国际发展部与联合国教科文组织南亚信息和通信部门的项目合作开发的，旨在调查信息通信技术和数字包容在消除贫困方面的作用（Tacchi等人，2003年）。在此，在项目中使用EAR方法与其研究方法（包括民族志、参与式测绘等）相一致，并将有助于实现项目的目标，即通过确保边缘化利益相关者参与所有研究阶段，确定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发现更有用的非正式和正式支持类型。从而也促进了社会变革和社会正义导向的研究进程。

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.