The Center for Advanced Communication Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology is conducting a Delphi study of “the impact of new digital technologies on the employment prospects of people with disabilities.” Delphi surveys use a panel of experts to gather the collective knowledge on a subject (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi_method for a good basic overview).
From the announcement:
The Research
The potential of the digital age still seems distant for people with disabilities, leading to questions about the level of accessibility of new media and technologies, in particular, whether new technologies can serve as bridges or barriers to employment. The CACP research project explores the employment possibilities suggested by a set of key digital technologies, including wireless communication platforms, social networks, immersive digital environments (including virtual worlds and tiered digital interactions, such as electronic games), open publishing, and open source processes. The research includes a literature review, a study of the market environment, focus groups and interviews, and this Delphi study.
The Delphi
The objective of the Delphi is to act as a forum for ideas and to expose the range of possibilities suggested by the new technologies, as well as the pros and cons of each. A Delphi study is well suited to the exploration of issues that involve a mixture of scientific evidence and social values, as is the case with this research. In part, the Delphi will be used to examine long-term changes arising from the development of these key digital technologies and their potential impact on both the ability to do work and to create new work opportunities.
This study will have three stages over the next eight weeks. This, the first stage, is a series of questions designed to elicit opinions about the issues in general and identify points of convergence and divergence. The information from the answers will be interpreted and reformulated by the coordinating team, then sent to you again for reconsideration (or not) of your responses. The process will be repeated for a third and final time for you to have a final review. All your responses will be strictly anonymous.
We expect each round will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Any additional comments you may choose to submit would extend this time estimation. You will be asked questions in several areas: applicability of digital technologies to work, as well as awareness, affordability, accessibility, and adoption-related issues of digital technologies. Results will be used to develop a more robust understanding of issues related to the adoption and use of digital technologies for people with disabilities.
If you wish to participate, please indicate your interest via email response to Chris Langston [trainingcore@coa.gatech.edu]. You will be sent appropriate access and password information with additional instructions. The first round will be open for participation from May 31 – June 7 and will continue for two additional two week cycles, with an expected conclusion date of July 7, 2010.
This is a project for the National Council on Disability. If you have any additional questions, or comments please feel free to contact the project director:
Paul M.A. Baker, Ph.D. Co-PI, NCD Digital Technologies Project
CACP [http://www.cacp.gatech.edu/] paul.baker@cacp.gatech.edu
404.385.4618
Please note: This is published as a courtesy and for information purposes. NARIC is not affiliated with this study in any way.
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