Introduction

Research Goals

The overall goal of the research I am proposing is to understand how to produce tools and strategies that will enable individuals and communities to have a role in the development of technology that affects them. This seemingly simple goal is problematic for a variety of reasons, some theoretical and some practical, as I explain below.

I plan to address the following research questions in my dissertation:

• How can community participation be implemented in technology development projects?

• In the case of the development of the Seattle Public Schools' Budget Builder World Wide Web site, how was community participation engaged or discouraged?

• What general conclusions can be drawn from this project that will increase the ability of communities to participate in technology development?

Overview | Research Goals | Wider Context | Online Format

Contents | Introduction | Background | Methods | Description | Conclusion | References