Addressing Data Collection Challenges in ICT for Development Projects
Pages 36 - 55
Abstract
This paper equips researchers for addressing a wide range of data collection challenges experienced when interacting with marginalized communities as part of ICT4D projects in developing countries. This secondary research categorizes data collection challenges reported in multiple disciplines, and summarizes the guidance from the past literature to deal with the challenges. The open, axial, and selective coding of data collection challenges reported by the past literature suggests that it is necessary to manage scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communication, and risks for addressing the data collection challenges. This paper illustrates the ways to manage these seven dimensions using a the success stories of data collection in the past, b the lessons learned by researchers during data collection as documented by the past literature, and c the advice they offer for collection data from marginalized communities in developing countries.
References
[1]
Abraham, R. 2006. Mobile phones and economic development: Evidence from the fishing industry in India. Information Technologies and International Development, 41, 5-17.
[2]
Anokwa, Y., Smyth, T., Ramachandran, D., Sherwani, J., Schwartzman, Y., Luk, R., & DeRenzi, B. 2009. Stories from the field: Reflections on HCI4D experiences. Information Technologies and International Development, 54, 101-115.
[3]
Avgerou, C., & Walsham, G. Eds. 2000. Information technology in context: Implementing systems in the developing world. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate.
[4]
BailurS. 2007. The complexities of community participation in ICT Fro. International conference on social implications of computers in developing countries pp. 1-17, London School of Economics.
[5]
Baumard, P., & Starbuck, W. 2005. Learning from failures: Why it may not happen. Journal of Long Range Planning, 383, 281-298.
[6]
Best, M., Thakur, D., & Kolko, B. 2009. The contribution of user-based subsidies to the impact and sustainability of telecenters - The eCenter Project in Kyrgyzstan. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar. 10.1109/ICTD.2009.5426709
[7]
Bhatnagar, S., & Odedra, M. 1992. Social implications of computers in developing countries. New Delhi: McGraw-Hill.
[8]
Bingi, P., Leff, L., Shipchandler, Z., & Rao, S. 2000. Critical IT Implementation Issues in Developed and Developing Countries. Information Strategy: The Executive's Journal, 162, 25-34.
[9]
Blom, J., Chipchase, J., & Lehikoinen, J. 2005. Contextual and cultural challenges for user mobility research. Communications of the ACM, 487, 37-41.
[10]
Braa, J., Monteiro, E., & Sahay, S. 2004. Networks of action: Sustainable health information systems across developing countries. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 283, 337-362.
[11]
Brewer, E., Demmer, M., Ho, M., Honicky, R., Pal, J., Plauche, M., & Surana, S. 2006. The challenges of technology research for developing regions. IEEE Pervasive Computing / IEEE Computer Society {and} IEEE Communications Society, 52, 15-23.
[12]
Cheng, K., Ernesto, F., & Truong, K. 2008. Participant and interviewer attitudes toward handheld computers in the context of HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Paper presented at the proceeding of the 26th annual SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Florence, Italy. 10.1145/1357054.1357175
[13]
Chetty, M., & Grinter, R. 2007. HCI4D: HCI challenges in the global south. Paper presented at the proceedings of the Extended Abstracts Proceedings of the 2007 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, San Jose, California. 10.1145/1240866.1241002
[14]
ChettyM.TuckerW.BlakeE. 2004. Developing Locally Relevant Applications for Rural Areas: A South African Example, Proceedings of SAICSIT 2004, Cape Town, South Africa, 239-243.
[15]
Chib, A., & Harris, R. 2012. Linking research to practice: Strengthening ICT for development research capacity in Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.
[16]
Chib, A., & Komathi, A. 2009. Extending the technology-community-management model to disaster recovery: Assessing vulnerability in rural Asia. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar. 10.1109/ICTD.2009.5426694
[17]
Chib, A., Lwin, M., Ang, J., Lin, H., & Santoso, F. 2008. Midwives and mobiles: Using ICTs to improve healthcare in Aceh Besar, Indonesia. Asian Journal of Communication, 184, 348-364.
[18]
Chu, G., Satpathy, S., Toyama, K., Gandhi, R., Balakrishnan, R., & Menon, S. 2009. Featherweight Multimedia for Information Dissemination. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
[19]
De, R. 2012. Messy methods for ICT4D research. In Chib, A., & Harris, R. Eds., Linking research to practice: Strengthening ICT for development research capacity in Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.
[20]
Duncombe, R. 2011. Researching impact of mobile phones for development: Concepts, methods and lessons for practice. Information Technology for Development, 174, 268-288.
[21]
Elahi, A. 2008. Challenges of data collection in developing countries - the Pakistani experience as a way forward. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 251/2, 11-17.
[22]
Ewusi-Mensah, K. 2012. Problems of information technology diffusion in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ghana. Information Technology for Development, 183, 247-269.
[23]
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. 1967. The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
[24]
Gomez, R. 2011. Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development . International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 32, 1-20.
[25]
Gomez, R. 2013. The changing field of ICTD: Growth and maturation in the field, 2000-2010. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 581, 1-21.
[26]
Gomez, R., & Gould, E. 2010. The "cool factor" of public access to ICT. Information Technology & People, 233, 247-264.
[27]
Heeks, R. 2002. Information systems and developing countries: Failure, success, and local improvisations. The Information Society, 182, 101-112.
[28]
Heeks, R. 2003 Causes of eGovernment Success and Failure: Factor Model. Manchester: IDPM, University of Manchester. Retrieved from http://www.egov4dev.org/causefactor.htm
[29]
Heeks, R. 2009. The ICT4D 2.0 manifesto: Where next for ICTs and international development? Manchester: Development Informatics Group.
[30]
Heeks, R., & Bhatnagar, S. 1999. Understanding information systems success and failures in information age reform. In Heeks, R. Ed., Reinventing government in the information age: International practice in ICT-enabled public sector reform pp. 49-75. London: Routledge.
[31]
Heimerl, K., Vasudev, J., Buchanan, K., Parikh, T., & Brewer, E. 2010. Metamouse: Improving multi-user sharing of existing educational applications. Paper presented at the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, London. 10.1145/2369220.2369237
[32]
Hewett, P., Erulkar, A., & Mensch, B. 2004. The feasibility of computer-assisted survey interviewing in Africa: Experience from two rural districts in Kenya. Social Science Computer Review, 223, 319-334.
[33]
Hollow, D., & Masperi, P. 2009. An evaluation of the use of ICT within primary education in Malawi. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar. 10.1109/ICTD.2009.5426707
[34]
Kalra, N., Lauwers, T., Dewey, D., Stepleton, T., & Dias, M. 2007. Iterative design of a braille writing tutor to combat illiteracy. Paper presented at the 2nd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Bangalore, India. 10.1109/ICTD.2007.4937386
[35]
Khan, F., & Ghadially, R. 2009. Gender-differentiated impact on minority youth of basic computer education in Mumbai City. Gender, Technology and Development, 132, 245-269.
[36]
Krauss, K. 2013. Collisions between the worldviews of international ICT policy makers and a deep rural community in South Africa: Assumptions, interpretation, implementation, and reality. Information Technology for Development, 194, 296-318.
[37]
Krauss, K., & Turpin, M. 2013. The emancipation of the researcher as part of information and communication technology for development work in deep rural South Africa. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 592, 1-21.
[38]
Krishna, S., & Madon, S. 2003. Introduction: Challenges of ICT in the development context. In Krishna, S., & Madon, S. Eds., The Digital Challenge: Information Technology in the Development Context pp. 1-12. Burlington: Ashgate.
[39]
Krishna, S., & Walsham, G. 2005. Implementing public information systems in developing countries: Learning from a success story. Information Technology for Development, 112, 123-140.
[40]
Kuriyan, R., Ray, I., & Toyama, K. 2008. Information and Communication Technologies for Development: The Bottom of the Pyramid Model in Practice . The Information Society, 242, 93-104.
[41]
Latifov, M., & Sahay, S. 2013. Challenges in moving to "Health Information for Action": An infrastructural perspective from a case study in Tajikistan. Information Technology for Development, 193, 215-229.
[42]
Lima, C., & Brown, S. 2007. ICT for development: Are Brazilian students well prepared to become global citizens? Educational Media International, 442, 141-153.
[43]
Madon, S. 1997. Information-based global economy and socioeconomic development: The case of Bangalore. The Information Society, 133, 227-243.
[44]
Mamba, M., & Isabirye, N. 2014. A framework to guide development through ICTs in rural areas in South Africa. Information Technology for Development, 20February, 211-217.
[45]
Masita-Mwangi, M., Ronoh-Boreh, F., Kimani, N., Mwakaba, N., Kihumba, G., Mueni, I., & Impio, J. 2011. Designing an E-solution for linking informal self-help groups in Africa: A case study. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 2011 Annual Conference on Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 10.1145/1979742.1979675
[46]
Mathee, A., Harpham, T., Naicker, N., Barnes, B., Plagerson, S., Feit, M., & Naidoo, S. et al . 2010. Overcoming fieldwork challenges in urban health research in developing countries: A research note. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 132, 171-178.
[47]
Mathur, M., & Sharma, S. 2009. Strategic metamorphoses of ICT sector for human development in India . International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 14, 16-29.
[48]
McCallum, K., & Papandrea, F. 2009. Community business: The internet in remote Australian indigenous communities. New Media & Society, 117, 1230-1251.
[49]
Medhi, I., & Toyama, K. 2007. Full-context videos for first-time, non-literate PC users. Information Technologies and International Development, 41, 37-50.
[50]
Mia, M., & Ramage, M. 2011. IT project management in developing countries: Approaches and factors affecting success in the microfinance sector of Bangladesh. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 6th International Research Workshop on IT Project Management, Milan, Italy.
[51]
Mohan, L., Potnis, D., & Alter, S. 2013. Information systems to support "door-step banking": Enabling scalability of microfinance to serve more of the poor at the bottom of the pyramid. Communications of the AIS, 331, 423-442.
[52]
Muriithi, N., & Crawford, L. 2003. Approaches to project management in Africa: Implications for international development projects. International Journal of Project Management, 215, 309-319.
[53]
Nguyen, N. 2007. The challenges of transferring modern project management principles and methodologies to developing countries. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 2007 Project Management Institute Global Congress, Hong Kong.
[54]
Pade, C. 2006. An investigation of ICT project management techniques for sustainable ICT projects in rural developments Unpublished master's dissertation. Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
[55]
Paik, M., Sharma, A., Meacham, A., Quarta, G., Smith, P., & Trahanas, J., ' Subramanian, L. 2009. The case for SmartTrack. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
[56]
Pal, J., Lakshmanan, M., & Toyama, K. 2007. My child will be respected: Parental perspectives on computers in rural India. Information Systems Frontiers, 112, 129-144.
[57]
ParikhT.GhoshK.ChavanA. 2003. Design studies for a financial management system for micro-credit groups in rural India. CUU '03: Proceedings of the conference on universal usability. November 10-11, 2003. Vancouver, BC. 10.1145/957205.957209
[58]
Potnis, D. 2014. Managing gender-related challenges in ICT4D field research. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 652, 1-26.
[59]
Project Management Institute. 2003. Project management body of knowledge 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: PMBOK Guides.
[60]
Qureshi, S. 2008. Assessing the effects of information and communication technologies on development. Information Technology for Development, 144, 259-261.
[61]
Rahman, H., & Ramos, I. 2013. Implementation of e-Commerce at the grassroots: Issues of challenges in terms of human-computer interaction . International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 52, 1-19.
[62]
Ramachandran, D., Goswami, V., & Canny, J. 2010. Research and reality: Using mobile messages to promote maternal health in rural India. Paper presented at the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, London. 10.1145/2369220.2369253
[63]
Roztocki, N., & Weistroffer, H. 2009. Research trends in information and communications technology in developing, emerging and transition economies. {Annals of the Collegium of Economic Analysis}. Roczniki Kolegium Analiz Ekonomicznych, 20, 113-127.
[64]
Roztocki, N., & Weistroffer, H. 2011. Information technology success factors and models in developing and emerging economies. Information Technology for Development, 173, 163-167.
[65]
Sahay, S., & Walsham, G. 2006. Scaling of health information systems in India: Challenges and approaches. Information Technology for Development, 123, 185-200.
[66]
Sharma-Grover, A., Plauché, M., Barnard, E., & Kuun, C. 2009. HIV health information access using spoken dialogue systems: Touchtone vs. speech. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
[67]
Sherwani, J., Ali, N., Mirza, S., Fatima, A., Memon, Y., Karim, M., & Rosenfeld, R. 2007. HealthLine: Speech-based access to health information by low-literate users. Paper presented at the 2nd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, Bangalore, India. 10.1109/ICTD.2007.4937399
[68]
Shraim, K., & Khlaif, Z. 2010. An e-learning approach to secondary education in Palestine: Opportunities and challenges. Information Technology for Development, 163, 159-173.
[69]
Souter, D., Scott, N., Garforth, C., Jain, R., Mascarenhas, O., & McKemey, K. 2005. The economic impact of telecommunications on rural livelihoods and poverty reduction: A Study on rural communities in India Gujarat, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Summary report published by Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization for UK Department for International Development.
[70]
Straub, D., Loch, K., & Hill, C. 2001. Transfer of information technology to the Arab world: A test of cultural influence modeling. Journal of Global Information Management, 94, 6-48.
[71]
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. 1998. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[72]
Stuckenbruck, L., & Zomorrodian, A. 1987. Project management: The promise for developing countries. International Journal of Project Management, 53, 167-175.
[73]
Touray, A., Salminen, A., & Mursu, A. 2013. ICT barriers and critical success factors in developing countries. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 567, 1-17.
[74]
Vaidya, R., Myers, M., & Gardner, L. 2013. Major issues in the successful implementation of information systems in developing countries. In Dwivedi, Y., Zinner, H., Wastell, H., & De, R. Eds., Grand Successes and Failures in ICT. Public and Private Sectors pp. 151-163. Berlin: Springer.
[75]
Veeraraghavan, R., Yasodhar, N., & Toyama, K. 2009. Warana unwired: Replacing PCs with mobile phones in a rural sugarcane cooperative. Information Technologies and International Development, 51, 81-95.
[76]
Walsham, G., & Sahay, S. 2006. Research on information systems in developing countries: Current landscape and future prospects. Information Technology for Development, 121, 7-24.
[77]
Wang, F., & Chen, Y. 2010. From potential users to practical users: Use of E-government service by Chinese migrant farmer workers. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance, Beijing, China. 10.1145/1930321.1930380
[78]
World Bank. 2011. Capturing technology for development: An evaluation of the World Bank Group activities in information and communication technologies. Washington, DC: Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank.
[79]
Wyche, S., Smyth, T., Chetty, M., Aoki, P., & Grinter, R. 2010. Deliberate interactions: Characterizing technology use in Nairobi, Kenya. Paper presented at the 28th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.1145/1753326.1753719
Recommendations
Participatory learning process through ICT4D projects
TEEM '15: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing MulticulturalityIn this paper, we describe how Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) projects complemented by the participatory learning process of Service Learning contribute to the sustainable development in developing countries, while ...
ICT for development and UISC: a step to alleviate poverty in rural areas of Bangladesh
ICEGOV '13: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic GovernanceThis paper presents a case study on the ICT for development initiative in rural area launched recently by the Government of Bangladesh with UNDP support. The study concerns about how Union Information and Service Centers (UISC), established at the ...
An assessment of ICT challenges in rural areas: ICT experts vs rural users views: a case of the Siyakhula Living Lab
SAICSIT '13: Proceedings of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists ConferenceResearch shows that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can make a significant contribution to economic growth and social development of communities. However, in rural areas there are challenges that appear to slow down the progress and ...
Comments
Information & Contributors
Information
Published In
Publisher
IGI Global
United States
Publication History
Published: 01 July 2015
Author Tags
Qualifiers
- Article
Contributors
Other Metrics
Bibliometrics & Citations
Bibliometrics
Article Metrics
- 0Total Citations
- 0Total Downloads
- Downloads (Last 12 months)0
- Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0
Reflects downloads up to 03 Oct 2024
Other Metrics
Citations
View Options
View options
Get Access
Login options
Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.
Sign in