Assessing community informatics: a review of methodological approaches for evaluating community networks and community technology centers
- 1 March 2002
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Emerald Publishing in Internet Research
- Vol. 12 (1) , 76-102
- https://doi.org/10.1108/10662240210415844
Abstract
Community informatics can be defined as a strategy or discipline that focuses on the use of information and communication technologies by territorial communities. This paper analyzes the emerging community informatics evaluation literature to develop an understanding of the indicators used to gauge project impacts in community networks and community technology centers. This study finds that community networks and community technology center assessments fall into five key areas: strong democracy; social capital; individual empowerment; sense of community; and economic development opportunities. The paper concludes by making recommendations for future community informatics evaluations.Keywords
This publication has 79 references indexed in Scilit:
- Internet Self-Efficacy and the Psychology of the Digital DivideJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2006
- Studying Online Social NetworksJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2006
- Social capital and neighborhood stability: An empirical investigationHousing Policy Debate, 1998
- Why conversation is not the soul of democracyCritical Studies in Mass Communication, 1997
- Urban poverty and access to information technology: A role for local governmentJournal of Urban Technology, 1997
- Information technology and low‐income, inner‐city communitiesJournal of Urban Technology, 1995
- Telematics and Rural Businesses: An Evaluation of Uses, Potentials and Policy ImplicationsRegional Studies, 1995
- The public electronic network (PEN) and the homeless in Santa MonicaJournal of Applied Communication Research, 1995
- Telecommunications and the Large City-Small City Divide: Evidence from Indiana Cities∗The Professional Geographer, 1994
- The Many Meanings of Research UtilizationPublic Administration Review, 1979