Digital Inequality Research Articles

Closing the Digital Divide in Interventions for Substance Use Disorder.

Digital health interventions are exploding in today's medical practice and have tremendous potential to support the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Developers and healthcare providers alike must be cognizant of the potential for digital interventions to exacerbate existing inequities in SUD treatment, particularly as they relate to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). To explore this evolving area of study, this manuscript will review the existing concepts of the digital divide and digital inequities, and the role SDoH play as drivers of digital inequities. We will then explore how the data used and modeling strategies can create bias in digital health tools for SUD. Finally, we will discuss potential solutions and future directions to bridge these gaps including smartphone ownership, Wi-Fi access, digital literacy, and mitigation of historical, algorithmic, and measurement bias. Thoughtful design of digital interventions is quintessential to reduce the risk of bias, decrease the digital divide, and create equitable health outcomes for individuals with SUD.

Digital divide in the european union: assessing spatial disparities and neighborhood effects

This article aims to investigate whether the digital inequality within the European Union (EU) has been reduced in the period 2017-2022. The goal of the study is to measure the dynamics of EU digital inequality and assess the effectiveness of the EU supranational bodies in reducing digital disparities. The author seeks to determine if the dynamics of this divide have been influenced by the EU's supranational policy fostering digital transformation by juxtaposing EU financing of digital transformation and spatial disparities among EU members based on Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and its components. The study reveals that, despite the fact that the agenda of digital divide reduction has been in the focus of the European supranational bodies within the last 22 years, the funding of digital transformation was neither adequate in terms of volumes nor consistent. The main beneficiaries were the EU members located in Western and Southern Europe and the least supported area was the members in Eastern Europe. In addition, using spatial econometric analysis, the author proves that the spatial digital divide has decreased in the period 2017-2022 and coincides only partially with the conventional cleavage ?developed North & West VS lagging South & East?. However, as the correlation analysis shows, the EU financial support of digital transformation had a slight positive impact on countries? DESI score, which implies that the EU supranational policy on curbing digital divide was only partially effective.

Digitalni kapital i digitalne nejednakosti studenata

The aim of the paper is to analyze the characteristics of students'students'digital capital, with a particular focus on education and digital inequalities. It is assumed that students'students'digital capital is relatively high, as they are digital natives. Auxiliary hypotheses relate to characteristics of digital capital in education, as well as the dependence of digital capital on students'students'socio-demographic and educational characteristics. The analysis is based on the data from a survey conducted on a sample of 438 students. For the purposes of the analysis, a five-dimensional index of students'students'digital capital was constructed. The results partially confirm the main hypothesis and an auxiliary one, while the hypotheses regarding digital capital in education and the impact of educational portfolio are fully confirmed.

Digital determinants of health as a way to address multilevel complex causal model in the promotion of Digital health equity and the prevention of digital health inequities: A scoping review.

With the progressive digitization of health services and the current spread of Telemedicine and e-Health, it became clear that promoting Digital health equity (DHE) is necessary to support health potential, to avoid that some individuals can incur in unintended inequities. In this paper, we address the complex causal process(es) that may generate risk of inequities, considering the so-called "Digital Determinants of health" (DDoH) and their relationship with determinants of health (DoH). We conducted a scoping review, according to methodological framework proposed in PRISMA-ScR guidelines, on the definition of DDoH (Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Science electronic databases). Inclusion criteria: papers on the definition of DDoH, no time limits, all study designs eligible. There is an agreement on the link between DDoHs and "digital divide" and on their effects on a wide range of health, functioning outcomes, both as barriers and as facilitators. Authors proposed to modify or integrate with DDoHs the "Rainbow model" or other conceptual models on DoH. To promote DHE, authors suggest considering a multidimensional complex causal model, with interdependence among the different levels and the mutually reinforcing effects. To study DDoH and their relationship with main determinants of health could be a way to address the complex causal model in the promotion of DHE. However, as they act in a multidimensional causal context, any intervention may consider the interdependence among different involved levels, within them, and the mutually reinforcing effects. Further research is needed to gain a more complete picture of the field.

МОДЕЛИ ЦИФРОВОЙ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The article is devoted to the problems of digital transformation of Russian regions. The article reviews the theoretical aspects of digital transformation of the economy of a particular region, as well as analyzes the digital transformation strategies adopted by Russian regions. As a result, a typology of digital transformation strategies of domestic regions is formed, within which three groups of regions are distinguished. The paper also proposes a typology of models of digital transformation of the regional economy, within which three models are identified: forced, basic and minimal. At the existing level of digital inequality of domestic regions, the choice of digital transformation model is determined by a number of factors, which are divided into four groups: economic factors, demographic, infrastructural and human capital factors. The paper presents a grouped list of selected factors.

Правовое обеспечение цифровой трансформации местного самоуправления в Российской Федерации: проблемы и перспективы

Introduction: the article analyzes legal support accompanying the transformation of local self‐government, identifies the legal, social, and technological problems of the changes. Currently, digital transformation in state and municipal administration not only makes it possible to adapt the process of interaction between citizens and authorities but also leads to changes in all areas of activity of local administration, to improvement of municipal services as well as to transformation of the rules and work culture of municipal employees. Consideration of the problem of legal support for digital transformation of municipalities is directly related to finding solutions for the development of municipal governance in Russia in general. That is why this problem is of particular relevance today. Purpose: basing on an analysis of legal regulation of local self‐government digitalization, to identify the main trends and problems that influences not only the implementation of digitalization at the local level but also the quality and uniformity of legal regulation of these processes. Methods: the study employed empirical methods of comparison, description as well as special scientific methods: legal‐dogmatic, method of interpretation of legal norms, comparative‐ legal, and systemic. Results: the authors have identified current problems in legal regulation and implementation of digital transformation of local self‐government and developed proposals aiming to alleviate them. Conclusions: the specific nature of local self‐government requires special approaches to digitalization at the municipal level. First of all, digital inequality of both municipalities and their residents should be taken into account. Another feature is that local self‐government is characterized by proximity to the population, which makes it possible to use electronic forms of direct democracy much more widely than at the level of state authority. Finally, the diversity of municipalities requires legal formalization of uniform requirements with regard to infrastructure and software used in municipal governance at the regional level.

Educational Continuity in Emergencies: The Role of Offline Digital Libraries in Under-Connected Communities

Aim/Purpose: This article explores the critical need for adaptable educational models in times of crisis, focusing on strategies to overcome infrastructural and digital inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: By examining a case study of an offline digital library project implemented in South Sudan, this paper seeks to examine the impact of an offline digital educational solution for low-resource and crisis situations. Methodology: The authors utilize a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative interviews and quantitative data analysis, to evaluate the use and impact of the SolarSPELL Initiative’s offline digital libraries in South Sudan. Contribution: This study contributes to our understanding of digital and information literacy within crisis contexts, highlighting the vital role of localized, offline content. Findings: The findings demonstrate that offline digital solutions can effectively mitigate educational disruptions by providing an accessible means to continue education during emergencies. Recommendations for Practitioners: Recommendations for practitioners include the adoption of robust offline digital learning solutions to promote educational continuity. Recommendation for Researchers: The authors recommend that researchers continue investigating the potential of offline digital educational solutions for low-resource and crisis situations. Impact on Society: Ultimately, this article finds that offline digital libraries, when paired with skill-building, are a viable means to lessen digital disparities and promote educational continuity in times of crisis and beyond. Future Research: The study suggests further exploration into the long-term impacts of such interventions on learning outcomes.

Формы непосредственной демократии на муниципальном уровне в условиях цифровой трансформации

Electronic (digital) democracy should be understood as the use of information and communication technologies for the protection and development of basic democratic values and, above all, the participation of citizens in the decision-making processes of the authorities. At the same time, there is currently an urgent need for further digitisation (fully or partially) of various forms of direct democracy used at the local level. First of all, it concerns the holding of municipal elections with the use of DEG systems, which is already taking place at present. Despite all the advantages of the ECT in elections, practice shows that there are also problems in this area, primarily related to non-transparency of voting procedures and the emergence of doubts about the correctness of vote counting. The use of blockchain technologies, which do not allow changing or deleting previously added information, seems promising here. However, organisational and technological issues should not be left to the discretion of technical specialists - developers of the relevant SS systems, which caused negative perceptions of the use of these technologies in elections earlier. The implementation of the SS should be based on a sufficient regulatory framework that would contain detailed requirements for these technologies and the specifics of their use in the voting procedure. At the same time, these requirements should be unified for the whole country and be enshrined, accordingly, in acts of the federal level. Even broader prospects are offered by the use of ECTs in local referendums, provided that they are the only way of expressing the will at the referendum, and not an additional one (as at present). The introduction of local referendums in electronic form can fundamentally change the importance of this institution of direct democracy. The simplicity of holding and promptness of summarising the results, as well as the relative cheapness of the electronic referendum allows to make it not an extraordinary, but an everyday mechanism for making decisions on a wide variety of problems directly by the population of municipalities. Nevertheless, we believe that such a prospect within the framework of the digital transformation of local self-government is, if not inevitable, then at least very likely. In our opinion, taking into account the objectively existing digital inequality of municipalities, the issue of holding local referendums exclusively in electronic form should be resolved directly at the local level. Federal legislation on local self-government should only enshrine such a right for municipalities themselves. The very adoption of this decision in a particular municipality can be carried out only through a referendum (in the traditional form) or at a meeting of citizens. At the same time, a referendum with the use of DEGs may well partially supplant such an institution of direct democracy as a meeting of citizens, since many issues that are currently resolved at meetings of citizens in the future can be resolved at local referendums in electronic form. Also, modern digital technologies can significantly simplify the procedure for using such forms of direct expression of the will of the population at the local level as citizens' lawmaking initiative and initiative projects. In both cases, it seems promising to establish the possibility of forming initiative groups and registering, respectively, the acts submitted in the order of law-making initiative, as well as initiative projects in online mode (under the mandatory condition of identification of the participants of these initiative groups). It seems that this will somewhat simplify some mandatory procedures, however, in general, the implementation of these forms of direct democracy exclusively in a remote mode is unlikely to be expedient in most cases. In addition to existing legislation, digital technologies create opportunities for other, new forms of direct democracy at the local level. These include, for example, online debates, online protests and public crowdsourcing.

Information society: current trends and features of development

The article examines the essence of the information society and emphasizes that the information society in the context of development and transformational changes of the modern information and communication paradigm is at the stage of reformatting institutional relationships. It is emphasized that the development of information technologies and the strengthening of innovative factors directly affect the socio-economic processes in society. In modern economic conditions, information is an important key strategic resource, the competitive place and market value of any enterprise and organization, as well as the development of society, the state, and the individual, depend on its attraction, analysis, and effective use. Different views on the interpretation of the definition «information society» are considered. At the same time, it is noted that there is a lack of a single point of view regarding the definition of the essence of the information society and the key characteristics and features of development. It was concluded that when interpreting the definition of «information society» it is necessary to take into account its global nature and constant transformations in the field of formation of information networks and systems. The analysis of economic concepts and theories regarding the formation and development of new communication technologies was carried out. It is noted on the features of the information society from the point of view of sociology, humanitarian and technocratic concepts. The key factors influencing the functioning and development of the information society are analyzed. It is noted that the development of information and communication technologies has caused the multifaceted manifestations of the essence of the information society. The processes of globalization and digitalization contribute to a faster transition from a post-industrial society to an information society. The influence of digitalization on the format of business conduct, as well as the results of the economic activity of business organizations, was also investigated. It was concluded that information technologies change the values, views, priorities of all subjects of economic relations. Acute issues related to the protection of information and personal data on all subjects of economic relations at both the macro and micro levels are analyzed. It is noted that issues of data and information protection are primarily in the legal and law enforcement sphere. The impact of digital inequality on the economic development of various regions of the world and ways to reduce the digital divide in the information society are considered. It was determined that in countries with a high level of economic development, there are trends towards a wider use of information and communication technologies in the economic sphere of states and regions, as well as in the everyday lives of citizens. It is noted that in the conditions of digitization of all spheres of society, new transformational changes are taking place in the formation and development of the information society.

DIGITAL INEQUALITY AS A FACTOR OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION OF KAZAKHSTANI SOCIETY

The article discusses several ideological, conceptual, and methodological issues related to the emer-gence of a new foundation for the stratification of Kazakh society – digitalization. The objective of this article is to examine the distinctive characteristics of digital stratification within Kazakhstani society. This analysis will encompass an investigation of the positive and negative implications for the population of modern Kazakhstan, as well as an assessment of potential future developments. Additionally, this study will explore potential avenues for optimising the current situation. The theoretical basis of the research is the classical and modern concepts of social stratification: the multidimensional model of stratification of M. The theory of social stratification by P. Sorokin, the theory of “social space” by P. Bourdieu, and the concept of digital capital as a key resource by M. Ragnedda. As an empirical base, the results of sociological research conducted by the IFPR in 2022-2023 were used. The main results of the study: digitalization has a contradictory impact on Kazakh society; digital resource, along with income, power, profession, etc., becomes a factor of social stratification of soci-ety, generating digital inequality; residents of several local rural communities are becoming socially vulnerable and less competitive in the labor market due to the inaccessibility of the Internet, the lack of technical means to ensure its use; digital tools create deceptive or alternative realities and thereby weaken and even reduce the influence of official institutions. The conclusions of the work will be useful both for developing a general line of modernization regarding the stratification system of Kazakhstan’s population within the framework of digitalization and for determining specific ways to manage these processes, taking into account the differentiation of interests, value concepts and worldview beliefs of various social groups.

"I'm still struggling with it, and it scares me": A qualitative analysis of older adults' experiences with digital health portals during and after COVID-19.

The scaling of digital health platforms, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has globally reshaped the delivery of healthcare services, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Ensuring equitable access, especially for digitally disadvantaged groups, is a critical concern, and this study explores older adults' perspectives on digital health platforms during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and examines their strategies for coping with the general challenges of the digitalization of health. A total of 77 older adults (aged at least 65), including both internet users and non-users, participated in 11 focus group sessions in Slovenia between September and December 2022. Hybrid thematic analysis was used to develop an understanding of the challenges confronted by older adults in the digital health landscape. Three key themes emerged from the focus group sessions, which highlight digital inequalities that impact access to digital health platforms and their services: the challenges of digitalized health services, coping with these challenges, and the outcomes of health service digitalization. The "digital health paradox" is evident, in which opportunities are provided for some while access is limited for those unwilling or unable to use digital health platforms. Proxy users, often family or friends, help bridge this gap. Ensuring the availability and viability of traditional health service access is crucial for empowering older adults to choose between digital health platforms and alternatives. Recognizing the importance of traditional approaches is vital, and healthcare providers and policymakers should prioritize inclusivity to ensure a diverse and equitable healthcare system for older adults and vulnerable populations.

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic Disruptions On Widening Educational Digital Inequalities In South Africa: A Conceptual Paper

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic Disruptions On Widening Educational Digital Inequalities In South Africa: A Conceptual Paper

Exploring School Readiness and Transition Dynamics: Enablers and Disablers in Early Childhood Education Programmes of Zambia

This qualitative study investigated the complex issues and dynamics associated with the transitions in early childhood education (ECE) within Kabwe, Kapiri, and Choma districts of Zambia. Utilising an exploratory methodology, the research thoroughly explored the various factors that impacted school preparedness and the progression from early childhood education to primary schools. Diverse perspectives from parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators were examined through in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observations. The results of this study shed light on several significant factors such as limited parental involvement arising from knowledge gaps and financial constraints, digital inequality affecting children’s adaptability, and the absence of well-structured transition programmes leading to mismatches in instructional approaches. Thematic analysis reveals nuanced insights, emphasising the crucial role of digital inclusion initiatives, programmes promoting parental engagement, and collaborative efforts between ECE institutions and primary schools.

ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЕ СТЕПЕНИ ПРОНИКНОВЕНИЯ СОТОВОЙ СВЯЗИ В РЕГИОНЫ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ НА ОСНОВЕ S-МОДЕЛЕЙ

The article examines the dynamics of the degree of penetration of cellular communications in the Russian Federation. In general, for Russia, federal districts, Moscow and St. Petersburg, based on official data from Rosstat, models were built that describe the time dependence of the number of active SIM cards per 1000 residents. It has been established that this dependence is best described by the Gompertz curve containing the asymptotic level of indicators. The reliability of the resulting models exceeds 97%. The revealed ratios indicate a significant difference in the provision of the population of federal districts with mobile communication services. The asymptotic level of the number of SIM cards per person for the Central Federal District is almost twice as high as for the North Caucasus. The results of the study confirm the presence of digital inequality in Russian regions, noted in works devoted to the analysis of the spread of information and communication technologies. Socio-economic differentiation, the large extent of the country, gaps in the level of education and digital literacy of the population are the causes of digital inequality. And this, in turn, leads to a decrease in economic efficiency. The existence of an asymptotic level and a slowdown in the growth rate do not give reason to assume that the gap in the provision of cellular communication services will be eliminated.

Направления цифровой трансформации социосервисного пространства северного региона

Considering inadequate social infrastructure, poor transport connectivity, migration outflow and deformation of the settlement system in northern regions, social services become less available. After searching for ways to change the situation, we hypothesised that digital transformation of healthcare and education plays an important role in improving the production and transfer of social services to consumers and adjusting the social service space of the Komi Republic. The region’s social development space is a stratified object consisting of different layers, such as settlement, social service (healthcare, general education) and infrastructure (transport and ICT). The weak consistency of spatial structures at different layers is considered in the context of the communication connectivity concept. The study aims to understand the potential of digital transformation of healthcare and education to increase the availability of social services. To this end, industry digitalisation indices were identified, the methodology of their digital maturity was tested. The cartographic method was used to present the spatial structure of the ICT layer showing the digital inequality of the population. A problem analysis of the location of healthcare, education and communication facilities in 687 settlements and synthesis of quantitative estimates of the social service and ICT layers revealed their inconsistency. A comprehensive assessment of services identified 234 critical settlements without primary and secondary schools and partially without accessible healthcare facilities. Only half of them have the ICT infrastructure required for digital transformation. The similarity transformation method of structures in a multi-layered space determined the points and formats of communication for compensating digitalisation. It will provide remote communication of people with medical organisations, educational services and create the technological basis for implementing strategic digital transformation projects, which will be examined in further studies.

Collaborative Approach on Digital Government Transformation in West Java.

The world is witnessing exponential growth and rapid change brought about by the advent of the digitalisation era. This change offers an opportunity to revisit the strategic approach on using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve the delivery of public value. Considering that governments around the world are now facing declining levels of public trust. Using so-called digital transformation, governments adapt the wide use of ICTs to better support government functions, services, and citizens, encouraging their participation in policy-making processes. Successful government digital transformation often depends on the ability of multiple government or non-government organisations to collaborate towards shared objectives. However, most governments are far from fully exploiting the benefits of ICTs, and often forget that in some social groups, access to ICTs is limited at the point of digital inequality. This article provides an overview of how the Indonesian local government implements its digital-based policy, which is centered on an electronic-based government system in Indonesia (SPBE), linking cross-sectoral central government agencies. In recent years, government organisations have spent a large part of their budgets on information and communication systems and rely on these systems for their functioning. However, the complexity of the digital transformation still requires considerable effort, especially when it comes to a lack of ICT infrastructure, human resources, and bureaucratic culture. By using qualitative methods, knowledge is formed through the perspective and way of interpretation that comes from the participants included in the research, not limited to the research implementer. The data will be collected through literature study, in-depth interviews, and observations. The aim of the research is to describe how collaborative governance contributes to the policy process of using ICTs to deliver inclusive policies by local governments.

TESTING THE ROLE OF CATEGORICAL AND RESOURCE INEQUALITIES IN INDIRECT INTERNET USES OF OLDER ADULTS: A PATH ANALYSIS

Age-related digital inequalities have been one of the key aspects to understand and enable better ageing in the digitalized world. Although there is a large body of literature on direct forms and determinants of digital engagement among older internet users and non-users, only a few studies have focused on determinants of indirect internet uses among older non-users. To address this gap, this study investigates how the unequal distribution of resources among older non-users affects the availability and activation of supportive relationships, which enable them to ask other internet users to perform internet activities on their behalf—a practice known as use-by-proxy (UBP). Drawing on van Dijk’s (2005) resources and appropriation theory, we build a conceptual model with seven hypotheses. These hypotheses specify sequential pathways between categorical inequalities and differences in social and material resources as determinants of the heterogeneity of UBP availability and activation of networks. In turn, availability and activation affect the breadth of UBP engagement among older non-users. The model is tested on a representative survey sample of 241 respondents aged 65+ from Slovenia. Results from path analysis partly support the model and demonstrate the importance of investigating the sequential paths between social and age-related digital inequalities with respect to indirect forms of internet uses. The results also suggest that interventions aimed at supporting older non-users in their access to online services can be targeted at different levels, from addressing categorical and resource inequalities to providing UBP services.

The impact of technology on Urban infrastructure

The rapid advancement of technology has brought transformative changes to urban infrastructure, reshaping the way cities function and interact with their inhabitants. Smart technologies, including IoT devices, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, have revolutionized traditional urban systems. Intelligent transportation systems optimize traffic flow, reducing congestion and emissions. Smart grids enhance energy efficiency and sustainability, while digital sensors monitor and manage critical infrastructure, ensuring resilience and quick response to emergencies. The integration of technology into urban planning enhances resource allocation, promotes sustainability, and improves overall quality of life. However, challenges such as data privacy, digital inequality, and the potential for cyber threats necessitate careful consideration in the adoption of these technologies. Balancing innovation with ethical and equitable implementation is crucial to harness the full potential of technology for sustainable and resilient urban infrastructure.

In the Same Boat? “Methodological Debate” in a Changing Empirical Fiel

The article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of the methodological debate. This is a classic debate, which, however, should not be oversimplified: methods, paradigms, and research strategies form systems that go beyond the qualitative vs. quantitative dichotomy. The debate is in the center of attention, because, firstly, empirical texts are now written, read and cited more often than theoretical ones, secondly, new data and methods of their analysis appear, and thirdly, there is a simultaneous emergence of common ground and deepening methodological contradictions.One of the key differences between qualitative and quantitative proponents is the paradigms that underpin their work. However, the correspondence between the paradigm and the method is not always universal: for example, in qualitative methodology, both interpretive and post-positivist trends can be observed, and some quantitative researchers are close to the ideas of author's reflection and standpoint.Tools based on artificial intelligence can simplify the work of a researcher by solving some of the routine tasks, while the availability of big data allows you to go beyond survey and statistical databases and analyze new fields. However, the development of new tools leads to a number of problems. These are issues related to digital literacy and skills inequality, ethics and non-transparency of data production. Collaborative methodological work may be able to mitigate these kinds of difficulties and strengthen the position of sociology in an era of changing data and competing approaches.

Digitalization of Administrative Procedures

The relevance of the research topic is determined by the need to adapt the institution of administrative procedures to social relations that are formed with the use of digital technologies. The purpose of the article is to study the impact of digitalization on administrative procedures, taking into account the latest changes in the legal regulation of legal relations arising due to information and communication technologies. To achieve it within the framework of the system approach, a set of general scientific and special methods of cognition is used. The basis of the research is the dialectical method of scientific knowledge of the phenomena of reality in their development and interrelationship. Achieving certain research objectives necessitated the use of such methods as: formal-logical (dogmatic), system analysis, structural-functional, and others, which made it possible to comprehensively investigate problematic aspects of the implementation of administrative procedures in digital form. Both normative acts defining the basics of legal relations in digital form and normative acts regulating administrative procedures were analyzed. Aspects of electronic identification of subjects of administrative procedures are disclosed. It is emphasized that the digitization of administrative procedures allows to significantly simplify and speed up procedural activities as a result of ensuring the receipt of reliable information through information and communication systems, which is necessary to establish the actual circumstances of an administrative case. It was emphasized that at present the electronic form of administrative procedures cannot be without alternatives. In order to prevent indirect discrimination due to different possibilities of access to information and communication technologies for participation in administrative procedures, it is necessary to implement a set of measures aimed at overcoming "digital inequality".