Showing papers in "Social Science Computer Review in 2012"
TL;DR: Drawing on analyses of five different data sets, the article makes recommendations for various length survey items for measuring people’s web-use skills.
Abstract: There is a dearth of survey instruments for measuring Internet skills. This article presents results from additional implementations of a previously-developed index measure. It considers the performance of the original instrument over time as well as shortened versions of it on two surveys of different populations. Drawing on analyses of five different data sets, the article makes recommendations for various length survey items for measuring people's web-use skills.
221 citations
TL;DR: Tumasjan et al. as discussed by the authors showed that as of yet the relative frequency of mentions of German political parties in Twitter message allows no prediction of election results and showed that the results of TSSW are contingent on arbitrary choices of the authors.
Abstract: In their article âPredicting Elections with Twitter: What 140 Characters Reveal About Political Sentiment,â the authors Andranik Tumasjan, Timm O. Sprenger, Philipp G. Sandner, and Isabell M. Welpe (TSSW) the authors claim that it would be possible to predict election outcomes in Germany by examining the relative frequency of the mentions of political parties in Twitter messages posted during the election campaign. In this response we show that the results of TSSW are contingent on arbitrary choices of the authors. We demonstrate that as of yet the relative frequency of mentions of German political parties in Twitter message allows no prediction of election results.
197 citations
TL;DR: Drawing on theories and research in the fields of enterprise architecture, capability maturity, information sharing, and system interoperability, the framework presented here provides unique value in both regards.
Abstract: E-Government continues to be recognized as a key strategy for improving government services and the effectiveness of public policies and programs. A key component of e-government initiatives is the ability of multiple government and nongovernment organizations to share and integrate information across their traditional organizational boundaries. E-Government interoperability represents a set of multidimensional, complementary, and dynamic capabilities needed among these networks of organizations in order to achieve successful information sharing. However, this view is complex and provides both researchers and practitioners with the challenge of understanding and developing multiple and very diverse interoperability capabilities. Researchers and practitioners alike are investing in efforts to build that understanding and to create new capability for coordinated action. Drawing on theories and research in the fields of enterprise architecture, capability maturity, information sharing, and system interoperability, the framework presented here provides unique value in both regards.
179 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the interrelationships among Internet literacy, Internet addiction symptoms, Internet activities, and academic performance, and found that adolescents who can locate, browse, and access different information resources and who are knowledgable about the context under which the information was created performed better both in overall grades and in academic competence.
Abstract: This study examines the interrelationships among Internet literacy, Internet addiction symptoms, Internet activities, and academic performance. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 718 children and adolescents, aged 9-19, in Hong Kong, using face-to-face interviews. Regression results show that adolescent Internet addicts tended to be male, in low-income families, and not confident in locating, browsing, and accessing information from multiple resources, but that they were technologically savvy and frequent users of social networking sites (SNS) and online games for leisure. Contrary to what was hypothesized, Internet literacy, especially in publishing and technology, increases-not decreases-the likelihood of someone getting addicted to the Internet. As expected, Internet activities, especially SNS and online games, were significantly and positively linked to Internet addiction as well as to all Internet addiction symptoms. This finding suggests that leisure-oriented Internet activities can be much more addictive than other applications such as communicating by e-mail or browsing webpages. Furthermore, the higher subjects scored on tool and social-structural literacy, the better their academic performance would be; however, technical literacy skills, such as publishing and technology literacy, were not significant predictors for academic performance. This indicates that adolescents who can locate, browse, and access different information resources and who are knowledgable about the context under which the information was created performed better both in overall grades and in academic competence.
150 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that some design elements of invitations may have similar effects across subset of populations, while others may have different effects on different subsets of potential respondents.
Abstract: Web surveys present methodological challenges including lower response rates as compared to other survey methods. The literature on invitations to participate in web surveys builds on previous research suggesting that advance letters are cost-effective means for increasing response rates in mail surveys and interviewer-administered surveys. The efficacy and appropriateness of design elements of invitations to participate in a web survey is not yet well understood. This research reports results of a full-factorial experiment (n = 15,652) of five design elements of web survey invitations-invitation mode, subject line, location of URL link, length of the invitation text, and survey time/effort estimate. There were significant effects of different design elements on response rates. The results suggest that some design elements of invitations may have similar effects across subsets of populations, while others may have different effects on different subsets of potential respondents.
101 citations
TL;DR: The experiences of a team of investigators using the Internet to study HIV risk behaviors of transgender people in the United States indicate that the Internet environment presents the investigator with some unique challenges and that commonly expressed criticisms about Internet research can be overcome with careful method design, usability testing, and pilot testing.
Abstract: Health research on transgender people has been hampered by the challenges inherent in studying a hard-to-reach, relatively small, and geographically dispersed population. The Internet has the potential to facilitate access to transgender samples large enough to permit examination of the diversity and syndemic health disparities found among this population. In this article, we describe the experiences of a team of investigators using the Internet to study HIV risk behaviors of transgender people in the United States. We developed an online instrument, recruited participants exclusively via websites frequented by members of the target population, and collected data using online quantitative survey and qualitative synchronous and asynchronous interview methods. Our experiences indicate that the Internet environment presents the investigator with some unique challenges and that commonly expressed criticisms about Internet research (e.g., lack of generalizable samples, invalid study participants, and multiple participation by the same subject) can be overcome with careful method design, usability testing, and pilot testing. The importance of both usability and pilot testing are described with respect to participant engagement and retention and the quality of data obtained online.
90 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of the degree to which web versus mail survey modes affect unit and item responses indicates that the web survey mode produces a lower unit response rate compared to the mail mode, but the web mode elicits higher data quality in terms of item responses to both closed- and open-ended questions.
Abstract: Web surveys are being increasingly incorporated into national survey data collection programs in the United States because of their cost/time-efficiencies. Yet, response rates and data quality issues in web surveys remain important challenges. As a basic study designed to better understand data quality in a mixed mode national survey, this article investigates the degree to which web versus mail survey modes affect unit and item responses. Findings indicate that the web survey mode produces a lower unit response rate compared to the mail mode. However, the web mode elicits higher data quality in terms of item responses to both closed- and open-ended questions. These mode effects on data quality remain after sociodemographic variables are held constant. Given the increasing integration of web survey questionnaires into mixed mode studies, additional research is necessary to understand and document the processes that underlie mode differences when responding to self-administered surveys.
89 citations
TL;DR: It was found that wealthier nations with more Internet users per capita had higher cybercrime activity and unemployment was also found to interact with Internet users such that the effect of the proportion of Internet users on spam was strongest in nations with higher unemployment.
Abstract: Cybercrime and the threat it creates are growing in its reach, in accordance with similar growth in information technology. Some countries account for more of the variation in cybercrime activity than others, which affects less criminally involved nations as well, considering that cybercrime does not respect national borders over the Internet. Routine activity theory (RAT) has been used to explain cybercrime at the individual level, but not at the national level. Much research has focused on high cybercrime countries, but this research is often conducted by cybersecurity firms and is exclusively descriptive, making no inferences. This research sought to determine what characteristics predict whether a nation is high in either spamming activity or phishing activity. In a sample of 132 countries, it was found that wealthier nations with more Internet users per capita had higher cybercrime activity. Unemployment was also found to interact with Internet users such that the effect of the proportion of Internet users on spam was strongest in nations with higher unemployment. The implications these findings have for policy and suggestions for future research are discussed.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe changes in user's trust on the Internet in Britain between 2003 and 2009, and show how the relationship between age and trust can be explained by a combination of experience with the Internet and general attitudes toward technology.
Abstract: The authors describe changes in user's trust on the Internet in Britain between 2003 and 2009, and show how the relationship between age and trust can be explained by a combination of experience with the Internet and general attitudes toward technology. The comparison uses 2003 results reported by Dutton and Shepherd (2006) versus similarly sampled 2009 data. The authors examine two sets of dependent variables-perceptions of trust and risk on the Internet and use of the Internet for e-commerce, an anticipated impact of trust. The authors find that indicators of trust are related to experience with the technology, although this relationship is less important in 2009 than it was in 2003. The authors also find that trust is influenced by general attitudes toward technology. When both experience on the Internet and technology attitudes are controlled, the relation between indicators of trust and age disappears. This finding is particularly interesting since age is usually an important predictor of many aspects of the Internet; it suggests that the role of age can be mitigated by addressing the degree to which older individuals tend to have less experience with the Internet and more scepticism about the role of technology in society. Interventions could address both of these determinants of distrust.
78 citations
TL;DR: The author argue that the architecture concept should be reconceptualized and can only be effective if they incorporate relational capabilities, clear responsibilities, and sound governance mechanisms.
Abstract: Enterprise architecture (EA) has been embraced by governments as an instrument to advance their e-government efforts, create coherence, and improve interoperability. EA is often viewed as a codified understanding covering elements ranging from organization till infrastructure. It is aimed at closing the gap between high-level policies of organizations and low-level implementations of information systems. Important elements of EA are a framework, tools, principles, patterns, basic facilities, and shared services. EA is influenced by the social interdependencies and interactions among stakeholders in which it is embedded. The survey among public organizations shows that current EAs are primarily product oriented, whereas sociopolitical aspects are often neglected. Architecture implementation also involves learning effects and requires effective communication among participants. The author argue that the architecture concept should be reconceptualized and can only be effective if they incorporate relational capabilities, clear responsibilities, and sound governance mechanisms.
68 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the lack of strong conclusions might be due to the failure to distinguish different behavioral outcomes of mobilization, and more specifically, a distinction between online and off-line forms of participation is missing.
Abstract: In recent years, voluntary associations and political organizations have increasingly switched to Internet-based mobilization campaigns, replacing traditional forms of face-to-face recruitment and mobilization. The existing body of empirical research on Internet-based mobilization, however, is not conclusive about the effects this form of mobilization might have. In this article, the authors argue that this lack of strong conclusions might be due to the failure to distinguish different behavioral outcomes of mobilization, and more specifically, a distinction between online and off-line forms of participation is missing. In this experimental study, participants were exposed to potentially mobilizing information either by way of face-to-face interaction or by website. The results of the experiment indicate that web-based mobilization only has a significant effect on online participation, whereas face-to-face mobilization has a significant impact on off-line behavior, which would imply that mobilization effects are medium-specific. The authors close with some observations on what these findings might imply for the democratic consequences of the current trend toward an increasing reliance on Internet-based forms of political mobilization.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the hierarchical trait predictors and consequence of one's perceived ability to modify self-presentation on Facebook (Facebook selfpresentation) with Mowen's Meta-theoretic Model of Motivation (3M Model) as a theoretical framework.
Abstract: With Mowen's Meta-theoretic Model of Motivation (3M Model) as a theoretical framework, this article examines the hierarchical trait predictors and consequence of one's perceived ability to modify self-presentation on Facebook (Facebook self-presentation). The study identifies several hierarchical routes to Facebook self-presentation (e.g., agreeableness, need to belong, online public self-consciousness, Facebook self-presentation, or conscientiousness self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy, Facebook self-presentation). Facebook self-presentation is also significantly correlated with its outcome variable of Facebook intensity. Theoretical implications are provided.
TL;DR: The authors test web surveys through nonprobability online panels as a supplemental means to implement cognitive interviewing techniques and suggest that category-selection probing can indeed be implemented in web surveys.
Abstract: Cognitive interviewing is a well-established method for evaluating and improving a questionnaire prior to fielding. However, its present implementation brings with it some challenges, notably in terms of small sample sizes or the possibility of interviewer effects. In this study, the authors test web surveys through nonprobability online panels as a supplemental means to implement cognitive interviewing techniques. The overall goal is to tackle the above-mentioned challenges. The focus in this article is on methodological features that pave the way for an eventual successful implementation of category-selection probing in web surveys. The study reports on the results of 1,023 respondents from Germany. In order to identify implementation features that lead to a high number of meaningful answers, the authors explore the effects of (1) different panels, (2) different probing variants, and (3) different numbers of preceding probes on answer quality. The overall results suggest that category-selection probing can indeed be implemented in web surveys. Using data from two panels-a community panel where members can actively get involved, for example, by creating their own polls, and a âconventionalâ panel where answering surveys is the members' only activity-the authors find that high community involvement does not increase the likelihood to answer probes or produce longer statements. Testing three probing variants that differ in wording and provided context, the authors find that presenting the context of the probe (i.e., the probed item and the respondent's answer) produces a higher number of meaningful answers. Finally, the likelihood to answer a probe decreases with the number of preceding probes. However, the word count of those who eventually answer the probes slightly increases with an increasing number of probes.
TL;DR: In this article, an analysis of a Polish Internet political discussion forum, characterized by significant polarization and high levels of emotion, is presented, where the authors compare samples of discussions gathered at three periods during a 2-year time, during which events occurred that significantly increased the already strong political division of Polish society.
Abstract: The article presents analysis of a Polish Internet political discussion forum, characterized by significant polarization and high levels of emotion. The study compares samples of discussions gathered at three periods during a 2-year time, during which events occurred that significantly increased the already strong political division of Polish society (the sudden death of the President in a plane crash, snap elections, accusations of assassination and treason). Despite these circumstances, we observe a remarkable stability of individual political support. Extensive discussions among the forum users did not lead to changes in their political affiliations or specific opinions. In contrast, emotions expressed by the forum users, mainly negative, were found to vary from post to post and between the discussion threads. An automatic emotion recognition algorithm is presented, giving results closely corresponding to human evaluations. The authors also show that differences in a user interface between the two alternative forum webpages, especially effects of features promoting direct one-to-one communication, have significant impact on message content and decrease negative emotions. Implications of such changes on promoting communication across a political divide are discussed.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed that Internet addiction is a health risk and examined the effects of individual differences (such as flexibility/rigidity, stigma tolerance, and concern with loss of face), awareness/knowledge, and acceptance of Internet addiction as a new mental illness on urban Chinese Internet users' willingness to change their maladaptive Internet habits.
Abstract: This exploratory study proposes that Internet addiction is a health risk and examines the effects of individual differences (such as flexibility/rigidity, stigma tolerance, and concern with loss of face), awareness/knowledge, and acceptance of Internet addiction as a new mental illness on urban Chinese Internet users' willingness to change their maladaptive Internet habits. Data were gathered from a 2009 online survey of 497 Internet users in urban China. Based on Young's classic definition of Internet addiction, results showed that 12.3% can be classified in the high-risk group for potentially suffering from Internet addiction disorder (IAD). The high-risk group tended to be significantly more rigid in personality, more concerned with loss of face, and more aware of Internet addiction. As expected, users who were flexible, tolerant of stigma, concerned about loss of face, and in the low-risk group were found to be more willing to self-discipline their problematic Internet use. Female, nonstudent, and low-income users tended to be more determined to seek self-help to recover from Internet addiction on their own, as addiction clinics in China are still scarce and expensive. Practical health policy implications are discussed.
TL;DR: A joystick-based methodology for recording and studying time-dependent patterns as continuous phenomena, particularly useful for capturing moment-to-moment changes with regard to a state space defined by two orthogonal axes, is advanced.
Abstract: The present article advances a joystick-based methodology for recording and studying time-dependent patterns as continuous phenomena. It is particularly useful for capturing moment-to-moment changes with regard to a state space defined by two orthogonal axes, as in studies involving the interpersonal circumplex or the mood circumplex. A joystick monitoring program (free, downloadable, executable software available at www.wlu.ca/science/psadler) is used. While watching a recorded interaction displayed on the computer screen, an observer moves the joystick to indicate a target person's moment-to-moment behavior, and the X-Y coordinates are written frequently (e.g., twice per second) to a data file. The authors describe the software and the nature of the data obtained. The authors also suggest possible applications, such as studying subtle patterns of interpersonal behavior during interactions and studying individual differences in the perception of moment-to-moment variations in a target person's affect.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the effectiveness of different response-enhancing techniques in a list-based web survey, an experiment with a full factorial between-subjects design varying the factors sender, number of contacts, and questionnaire layout was set up.
Abstract: The rising popularity of online surveys in marketing research precipitates a flood of e-mail invitations requesting participation from potential respondents. As a result, response rates are diminishing, reflecting a decline in the willingness to participate in web surveys. To compare the effectiveness of different response-enhancing techniques in a list-based web survey, an experiment with a full factorial between-subjects design varying the factors sender, number of contacts, and questionnaire layout was set up. A total of 1,563 members from a list of information technology (IT) managers employed at Austrian companies were assigned randomly to one of eight experimental conditions. Their willingness to participate was measured in terms of total response and break off. The results indicate that using a prenotification message and a female sender for contacting male sample members increases response rates; using an advanced questionnaire layout significantly reduces break offs, but does not influence total response.
TL;DR: In this paper, an innovative method of administering stated choice studies (or vignette experiments) using computers and the Internet is described, which makes vignettes more realistic, helps to engage interest of research participants, and can reduce framing effects.
Abstract: This article illustrates an innovative method of administering stated choice studies (or vignette experiments) using computers and the Internet. The use of video clips to deliver information to research participants makes vignettes more realistic, helps to engage interest of research participants, and can reduce framing effects. The method also provides research participants with interactive options before making judgments. A study to determine the views of older people regarding residential options is used to illustrate the method. Even older people with limited experience in using computers participated successfully. The study findings showed that research participants responded both to the audiovisual characteristics of vignette persons and to the variables in the vignette structure.
TL;DR: In this paper, a simulation was conducted to assess the effect of technical variance on the statistical power of web experiments measuring response times and the results of the simulation showed that technical variance reduced the statistical powers and accuracy of the effect size estimate by a negligible magnitude.
Abstract: A simulation was conducted to assess the effect of technical variance on the statistical power of web experiments measuring response times. The results of the simulation showed that technical variance reduced the statistical power and the accuracy of the effect size estimate by a negligible magnitude. This finding therefore suggests that researchers' preconceptions concerning the unsuitability of web experiments for conducting research using response time as a dependent measure are misguided.
TL;DR: The article presents the preliminary findings from a case study of the Brazilian Government framework (e-PING), based on the analyses of documents and face-to-face interviews, and points out some aspects that may influence the establishment of these standards, becoming barriers to their adoption.
Abstract: Interoperability is a crucial issue for electronic government due to the need of agencies' information systems to be totally integrated and able to exchange data in a seamless way. A way to achieve it is by establishing a government interoperability framework (GIF). However, this is a difficult task to be carried out due not only to technological issues but also to other aspects. This research is expected to contribute to the identification of the barriers to the adoption of interoperability standards for electronic government. The article presents the preliminary findings from a case study of the Brazilian Government framework (e-PING), based on the analyses of documents and face-to-face interviews. It points out some aspects that may influence the establishment of these standards, becoming barriers to their adoption.
TL;DR: Jungherr, JA¼rgens, and Schoen (2010) challenged part of the results presented in our original article (Tumasjan, Sprenger, Sandner, & Welpe, 2010) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In their comment, Jungherr, JA¼rgens, and Schoen (2010) challenged part of the results presented in our original article (Tumasjan, Sprenger, Sandner, & Welpe, 2010). The present response addresses their points of concern and demonstrates that the conclusions drawn in Tumasjan et al. (2010) are well supported by both data and analyses.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the connection between two individual personality traits: sensation seeking and personal innovativeness in information and communication technology (ICT) from a social psychology perspective.
Abstract: Sensation seeking has been studied extensively. However, the study of sensation-seeking profiles is still very limited in the literature and even more so in the area of information and communication technology (ICT). The present study analyzes sensation seeking and the innovative behavior of individuals in the use of information technologies. This work explores the connection between two individual personality traits: sensation seeking (from a social psychology perspective) and personal innovativeness in ICT (from marketing and information systems perspectives). An empirical study was carried out on a sample of 819 university students. The authors have analyzed 12 profiles, which were obtained from the combination of the four traits of the Sensation-Seeking scale. The results confirmed the relationship between both constructs in three sensation-seeking profiles.
TL;DR: An anthropological understanding of risk is deployed in order to examine public sector action and capacity with respect to the multidimensional challenge of cyber-security.
Abstract: The Internet facilitates a level of interoperability that generates considerable innovation and opportunity. Yet threats to governments, businesses, and individuals who use the Internet are increasing exponentially. This article deploys an anthropological understanding of risk in order to examine public sector action and capacity with respect to the multidimensional challenge of cyber-security. Our objectives are threefold: to gain a fuller appreciation of the interplay of political, technological, organizational, and social dimensions of cyber-security; to understand how this interplay is further shaped by clashing values and perceptions of risk; and to offer some prescriptive insight into the sorts of roles for government most likely to maximize systemic resilience and learning in an increasingly interdependent and virtual environment. Governments, the private sector, and civil society must engage in more shared responsibilities and collective learning in what is a highly fragile and dynamic cyberspace.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the e-participation policies and current initiatives in the EU Institutions and introduce a theoretical framework upon which eParticipation-related documents and initiatives can be evaluated against parameters generated by democracy and governance theory.
Abstract: Electronic participation (eParticipation) is increasingly employed by governments worldwide to broaden and deepen political participation. This is evident from the large number of relevant policy documents, initiatives, and platforms. In Europe, besides national governments, European Union (EU) Institutions are also actively promoting eParticipation. In this article, the authors investigate the eParticipation policies and current initiatives in the EU Institutions and introduce a theoretical framework upon which eParticipation-related documents and initiatives can be evaluated against parameters generated by democracy and governance theory. The main results of the survey indicate that the emphasis on hierarchical governance modes and emerging network elements employed by the EU in its rhetoric and implemented via eParticipation initiatives proclaimed the will to ensure legitimacy and expand connectivity between strong and weak publics in an open communication strategy.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated differences between an online and a paper-based sample drawn from the same population and under the same conditions, and found that older respondents, those who spend more time online per day, those with higher levels of maternal education and those with lower levels of paternal education as well as female respondents were more likely to make use of the online completion option.
Abstract: The utility of online methods of data collection has led to the rapid adoption of Internet-based surveys for social sciences research. Given the potential problems of noncoverage and nonresponse when making use of this data collection method, the present study aimed to investigate differences between an online and a paper-based sample drawn from the same population and under the same conditions. The sample was composed of 597 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of the Witwatersrand in the 2010 academic year, the majority of whom (75.2%) chose to complete the paper-based version of the questionnaire. Results indicate that Internet access differs for both racial and socioeconomic groups in the sample but that demographic factors continue to affect the choice to complete online even after Internet access has been accounted for. Logistic regression analysis revealed that Black African respondents were less likely to complete online than other race groups while older respondents, those who spend more time online per day, those with higher levels of maternal education, those with lower levels of paternal education as well as female respondents were more likely to make use of the online completion option. Implications and alternatives to online data collection are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a social theory of Internet use based on the concepts of scale of consumption, technological, social, and information linkage needs of individuals, and Bourdieu's suggested homology between the social and consumption spaces is proposed.
Abstract: The authors analyze the understudied relationship between social class and Internet-in-practice in the Spanish social space in order to develop a social theory of Internet use based on the concepts of scale of consumption, technological, social, and information linkage needs of individuals, and Bourdieu's suggested homology between the social and consumption spaces. The authors test their theory with interdependence methods of analysis, which are suitable methodological instrument for relating Internet uses to social structure through the concepts of scale and linkage needs. The authors' theory suggests that, since Internet uses are socially structured, the first-level digital divide may be reduced but will not disappear, and Internet uses will continue to differ (second-level digital divide). The theory not only explains Spaniards' Internet use and more recent empirical findings but also proposes answers to critical contemporary social questions regarding the use of digital technologies and the digital inequality debate.
TL;DR: This special issue is aimed at generating new and relevant scholarly contributions on interoperability that gather the diverse interests of an experienced set of authors, geographically distributed and with different perspectives on this issue.
Abstract: E-government interoperability is not something new. However, this term has grown in importance as a result of the need to design and offer more sophisticated and complex e-government services that, many times, require the collaboration of two or more public institutions. Meaningful research on this topic could therefore be helpful in providing a basis for more clarity, insight, and understanding of this important topic. This is what this special issue is aimed at: to generate new and relevant scholarly contributions on interoperability that gather the diverse interests of an experienced set of authors, geographically distributed and with different perspectives on this issue.
TL;DR: Results confirm the existence of an integrated approach to the interoperability of eGovernment policy fostered at EU level and pinpoints the growing role of interoperability policy for advancing the regional integration process within the multilevel and mutinational governance system epitomized by the EU.
Abstract: This article investigates the interoperability of eGovernment policy in the European Union (EU). Are the EU institutions building up regional integration through the interoperability of eGovernment policy? To address this issue, the article analyzes the evolution of interoperability policy making from its inception in 1995 to date. It also outlines the principal implementation instruments deployed by the EU institutions to foster interoperability across member states' public administrations, as well as employing a sample of key case studies to illustrate them. Results confirm the existence of an integrated approach to the interoperability of eGovernment policy fostered at EU level. They also corroborate the utilization of the open method of coordination (OMC) as the governance system operating within this policy field. Finally, and more importantly, this work pinpoints the growing role of interoperability policy for advancing the regional integration process within the multilevel and mutinational governance system epitomized by the EU.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conduct an empirical study of the factors that influence the willingness of individuals to consent to a para-authentic virtual experience with a public sector employee as part of the delivery of a public service.
Abstract: Little is known about the determinants of acceptance by the general public of virtual delivery of governmental services. The authors conduct an empirical study of the factors that influence the willingness of individuals to consent to a para-authentic virtual experience with a public sector employee as part of the delivery of a public service. This study is based on the theory of social presence and on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The authors test these hypotheses using 224 questionnaires completed by persons who have filed a police report using synchronous video-mediated communication (VMC). This multiple regression analysis shows that four variables are likely to predict willingness to use virtual interaction as a part of the delivery of a public service: performance expectations, social presence, social influence, and anxiety. Two findings were especially interesting. First, affective predictors, as opposed to cognitive predictors, were found to be of increasing importance for the acceptance by the public of virtual service delivery. Second, social presence emerged as the strongest affective predictor. This study's empirical findings support the a priori assumption that affective predictors, as opposed to cognitive predictors, are relatively more important in predicting the intention to use virtual technologies, when contrasted with conventional technologies.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment techniques to complete a self-administered survey within Second Life (SL) and find that a diverse convenience sample can be obtained in SL at a minimal cost.
Abstract: Online virtual worlds are 3D graphical environments in which users create avatars that live, work, and play-some are actual games; others are social networking sites. These worlds offer significant potential for expanding the study of social and economic behavior. One of these worlds, Second Life (SL), began in 2003 and now has more than millions of unique accounts held by virtual residents and approximately 800,000 users who log in each month. Although few results from SL surveys have been published, automated surveys are common in the virtual world. They are conducted through links to web surveys, by in-world âsurvey botsâ (programs that administer questionnaires), and through e-mail invitation to panel members recruited through SL. This article evaluates the effectiveness of recruitment techniques to complete a self-administered survey within SL. The authors tested several techniques: a billboard in an SL public space, classified ads in SL publications, paid search engine advertisements, and SL web forum posts. All survey recruits completed the same survey administered at the RTI SL facility kiosk. Our findings suggest that a diverse convenience sample can be obtained in SL at a minimal cost.