PhD Defence Lilian Boerkamp | Shaping support, side by side - A multi-step approach toward digital inclusion interventions for households in poverty

Shaping support, side by side - A multi-step approach toward digital inclusion interventions for households in poverty

Lilian Boerkamp is a PhD student in the Department of Communication Science. (Co)Promotors are prof.dr.ing. A.J.A.M. van Deursen, dr. A.A.C.G. van der Graaf, dr. E. van Laar and dr. A. van der Zeeuw from the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Science.

It is difficult to imagine contemporary society without the internet. While many people benefit from the opportunities and possibilities offered by the online world, digital inequalities reinforce existing social inequalities. Poverty and digital exclusion are closely intertwined, creating a cycle in which limited access to digital resources can exacerbate social and economic disadvantage. Several studies have attempted to map existing digital inequalities and identify barriers to internet appropriation. However, the questions of how these barriers affect a person's life, why these barriers exist, and how they can be remedied appropriately remain largely unanswered. What is clear, however, is that adequate support requires an integrated approach addressing all elements of Internet appropriation: attitude and motivation, material access, skills, and usage. In turn, this will have a positive impact on the economic, social, cultural, and personal life domains. This dissertation takes a qualitative approach to explore these dynamics in depth. Its central goal is to understand how households experiencing poverty can be best supported to leverage internet use as a tool for improving their social position and overall life opportunities.

This dissertation began with a systematic literature review that examined barriers to and outcomes of internet use for households experiencing poverty, followed by interviews with Dutch social workers who shared their experiences concerning digital inclusion and poverty. Building on these perspectives, we conducted interviews with Dutch parents living in poverty, residing in the municipality of Enschede. We asked the parents about their experiences with internet use, what barriers they encounter, and where they could use support. These insights were then translated into concrete support through a cocreation session and a focus group, resulting in the development of the digital inclusion intervention ‘Samen wegwijs op het internet’ (SWOI). SWOI was subsequently implemented and evaluated, with the lessons learned documented and analyzed in this dissertation. Through the multi-step qualitative approach, the dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of how effective and context-sensitive digital inclusion interventions can be designed, implemented, and sustained for households facing economic disadvantage.

In conclusion, this dissertation offers insight into the complex dynamics of digital inclusion and poverty. The step-by-step, participatory approach —actively involving relevant stakeholders throughout the research process—proved essential in developing a nuanced understanding of these dynamics. The qualitative research led to the development of a digital inclusion intervention, which has been received very positively by participating parents. In addition, the connection between digital inequality and social inequality was strongly reflected. The SWOI intervention yielded positive outcomes, which were also reflected in the social and personal life domains. Parents demonstrated increased social bonding and self-confidence in using the internet. The ability to navigate and participate in the digital world has benefits that extend well beyond technology itself, enhancing overall social participation, empowerment, and well-being.