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Beyond the digital divide: Towards a situated approach to open data

Author

Listed:
  • Louise M. Bezuidenhout
  • Sabina Leonelli
  • Ann H. Kelly
  • Brian Rappert

Abstract

Poor provision of information and communication technologies in low/middle-income countries represents a concern for promoting open data. This is often framed as a ‘digital divide’ and addressed through initiatives that increase the availability of information and communication technologies to researchers based in low-resourced environments, as well as the amount of resources freely accessible online. Using qualitative empirical data from a study of lab-based research in Africa we highlight the limitations of this framing and emphasize the range of additional factors necessary to effectively utilize data available online. We adapt Sen’s ‘capabilities approach’ to highlight the distinction between simply making resources available, and fostering researchers’ ability to use them. This provides an alternative orientation that highlights the persistence of deep inequalities within the seemingly egalitarian-inspired open data landscape. We propose that the extent and manner of future data sharing will hinge on the ability to respond to the heterogeneity of research environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Louise M. Bezuidenhout & Sabina Leonelli & Ann H. Kelly & Brian Rappert, 2017. "Beyond the digital divide: Towards a situated approach to open data," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 44(4), pages 464-475.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:44:y:2017:i:4:p:464-475.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/scipol/scw036
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:pri:cpanda:wp15%20-%20dimaggio%2bhargittai is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Sen, Amartya, 1999. "Commodities and Capabilities," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195650389.
    3. Ricardo B. Duque & Wesley M. Shrum & Omar Barriga & Guillermo Henríquez, 2009. "Internet practice and professional networks in Chilean science: Dependency or progress?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 81(1), pages 239-263, October.
    4. Ann H. Kelly, 2011. "Will He Be There?," Journal of Cultural Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 65-79, February.
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    1. Roberto Cibin, 2023. "When Sociotechnical Imaginaries Become True: Digital Transition of Public Services and Inequalities during the Pandemic," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Faure, Laura & Vendramin, Patricia & Schurmans, Dana, 2020. "A situated approach to digital exclusion based on life courses," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18.
    3. Yingshen Huang & Andrew M. Cox & Laura Sbaffi, 2021. "Research data management policy and practice in Chinese university libraries," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 72(4), pages 493-506, April.
    4. Sylvain Aubry, 2023. "Genebanking plant genetic resources in the postgenomic era," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 961-971, September.

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