The cultural appraisal of efforts to alleviate information inequity

Abstract

This article suggests that action to alleviate information inequity should be guided by the principles of contextualism, incrementalism, motivation of information users, and more knowledge of the absorptive process that i s unique to each cultural group. To do this, information services should recognize cultural pluralism and the need to eliminate information poverty as viewed by the members of the groups being served. For some it may mean provision of information services to help in their assimilation into the mainstream, while for others it may mean provision of information services for greater cultural cohesion. Instead of the term "minority" or "disadvantaged," the idea of a "cultural community" is advanced as the proper unit of analysis to identify significant numbers of potential users who may have distinct values, beliefs, and attitudes toward external information services. To grasp effectively the behavioral and cultural dimensions of information inequity, a national inventory of "cultural communities" is suggested using social mapping. This technique would include: a delineation of cultural groups, a description of the indigenous social/ information organization, a plotted pattern of the movement of information within the group, the information values of the group, and an analytical description of the inform .tion poor within each group. These groups can then be visualized as a series of different information constituencies, with different information needs and different capacities for absorbing information. Discussion on Information InequityEducation and information services should be responsible, not only for developing intellectual potential so that persons can get well-paying jobs and operate effectively in "mainstream" America, but also for sustaining and nurturing differential cultural expressions. A major difficulty for

The divided views of the information and digital divides: A call for integrative theories of information inequality

“…Although elements of the small world approach to information inequality, e.g. emphasis on contexts, values, beliefs and attitudes, were visible in some early studies [50], the small world perspective in the context of information poverty is attributable primarily to Chatman's research during the 1980s and 1990s. Drawing on sociological studies, particularly Luckmann's [51], Chatman defined a small world as a society where shared opinions and concerns, language and customs, social norms and world views exist to produce a strong sense of membership among its members.…”

Media literacy for older people facing the digital divide: The e-inclusion programmes design

“…Therefore, a preliminary qualitative approach can influence what was established -for the design of digital literacy policies-by Cochrane and Atherton (1980), applied to the conditions for the putting into practice of actions to bridge the informational gap. Digital literacy programs must be designed by taking as their foundation (a) contextualism that allows one to adjust the materials to the cultural and social environment (with differentiation, in the case of older people, based not on age but on their dependency and economic situation, social relationships, personal interests and living environment), (b) incrementalism, which leads one to decide when to do each phase (linking training programs with the three aforementioned levels of digital literacy: competence, use and transformation), (c) motivation that allows evaluation of the receptiveness of the procedures and the process of absorption that provides criteria on what is the best way to access skills and abilities (for which one requires not just a quantitative analysis based on access rates, but rather the assessment of use as a successful employment of skills).…”

Principia informatica: conversations with R.T. Bottle

“…A scientist requiring literature work is probably going to undertake (1), (2) and (5) himself; he may need help with (3) and (4). A rural community in Africa requires very considerable support throughout the whole exercise.…”

“…A system of distributed resource centres responding to need and linked in a collaborative mode might be an effective way of responding to the real human situation, which complements the advance of technology. Cochrane and Atherton [4] proposed that information transfer should be based on a greater understanding of how each cultural group is motivated and absorbs information. While it is true that the poor and illiterate (in all countries) lack information relevant to their lives, success in improving their situation is related to the extent that local populations can absorb and act upon the knowledge made available.…”

“…Cochrane [3] made it clear that cultural factors are intrinsic to any project in developing countries and this argument was extended by Cochrane and Atherton [4] to the recognition of cultural pluralism in the alleviation of information inequity. Menou [29] observed that many human groups have a lot in common, but, internationally, they have at least as many differences to the extent that information may be incommunicable Odoul, Oluka and Nyamwaya [20] found the Luo made similar health-care choices, depending on the perceived cause of the illness.…”