Data Science for Social Good

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Abbasi, Ahmed; Chiang, Roger; Xu, Jennifer

Abstract: Data science has been described as the fourth paradigm of scientific discovery. ... Expand

Abstract: Data science has been described as the fourth paradigm of scientific discovery. The latest wave of data science research, pertaining to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), is growing exponentially and garnering millions of annual citations. However, this growth has been accompanied by a diminishing emphasis on social good challenges-our analysis reveals that the proportion of data science research focusing on social good is less than it has ever been. At the same time, the proliferation of machine learning and generative AI has sparked debates about the sociotechnical prospects and challenges associated with data science for human flourishing, organizations, and society. Against this backdrop, we present a framework for "data science for social good" (DSSG) research that considers the interplay between relevant data science research genres, social good challenges, and different levels of sociotechnical abstraction. We perform an analysis of the literature to empirically demonstrate the paucity of work on DSSG in information systems (and other related disciplines) and highlight current impediments. We then use our proposed framework to introduce the articles appearing in the JAIS special issue on data science for social good. We hope that this editorial and the special issue will spur future DSSG research and help reverse the alarming trend across data science research over the past 30-plus years in which social good challenges are attracting proportionately less attention with each passing day. Collapse

Topics: societal evaluation criteria digital dashboard productivity social media pandemic

Methods: word embedding literature study literature sample longitudinal research design science

P2P lending and Natural Disasters: Is Altruistic Behavior conditional?

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Agrawal, Lavlin; Sharman, Raj; Tiu, Christian; Joenväärä, Juha

Abstract: In the aftermath of natural disasters, borrowers seeking credit from traditiona ... Expand

Abstract: In the aftermath of natural disasters, borrowers seeking credit from traditional sources, such as banks, may encounter higher interest rates than in pre-disaster periods. We examine the lending behavior of peer-topeer (P2P) platforms in the wake of disasters. Since P2P platforms involve individual investors in making lending decisions, they accommodate both profit motives and empathetic responses. Empirical evidence from psychology suggests that empathy can lead to prosocial behavior. Consistent with this assertion, we find that loans affected by natural disasters have lower interest rates than comparable loans not issued in the wake of disasters. Our study finds that lenders are involved in a prosocial behavior and are ready to give away some part of their interest income to help the communities in need. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing natural hazard peer-to-peer lending peer-to-peer model LendingClub

Methods: instrumental variables estimation experimental group sensitivity analysis ordinary least square robustness check

Relating Social Media Diffusion, Education Level and Cybersecurity Protection Mechanisms to E-Participation Initiatives: Insights from a Cross-Country Analysis

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Ahangama, Supunmali

Abstract: Virtual Social Networks (VSN) act as a catalyst for the success of the active pa ... Expand

Abstract: Virtual Social Networks (VSN) act as a catalyst for the success of the active participation of citizens in information sharing, collaboration, and decision making. VSN based e-participation tools allow many-to-many communication and collaboration near real-time with users who might be in geographically dispersed locations. It provides a platform to voice opinions and perspectives and share them with others in new and innovative ways. Cybersecurity is a key area that needs to be considered for the success and continuous use of e-participation systems as it protects user privacy and helps to avoid scams, harassment, and misinformation. The intervening effect of cybersecurity protection mechanisms and citizens’ education level on the relationship between VSN diffusion and e-participation initiatives is explored in the proposed research model presented in this paper. Moreover, this research model is explored for different stages of e-participation (e-information, e-consultation, and e-decision making) and the five dimensions of cybersecurity (legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and cooperation). The findings indicate that improved VSN usage has increased e-participation (especially in e-consultation and e-decision making) as a result of improved cybersecurity protection and public education, highlighting the varying importance of different cybersecurity protection measures for three stages of e-participation. Thus, considering the recent problems like platform manipulation, misinformation and data breaches associated with the use of VSN for e-participation, this study emphasizes the importance of regulations, policies, partnerships, technical frameworks, and research to ensure cybersecurity, as well as the importance of education to enable the public to interact productively in e-participation activities. This study is performed using publicly available data from 115 countries and the research model is developed, drawing theoretical basis from the Protection Motivation Theory, Structuration Theory, and Endogenous Growth Theory. This paper recognizes the theoretical and practical implications, and limitations while recommending future research directions. Collapse

Topics: IT security decision making human resource management social network government system

Methods: survey partial least squares path modeling cross sectional research mediation analysis archival research

Theories: protection motivation theory structuration theory

Responsible innovation with digital platforms: Cases in India and Canada

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 6

Authors: Ahuja, Suchit; Chan, Yolande E.; Krishnamurthy, Rashmi

Abstract: Marginalized communities globally encounter grand challenges such as lack of acc ... Expand

Abstract: Marginalized communities globally encounter grand challenges such as lack of access to education, healthcare, and sustained livelihoods. Several initiatives to address these complex, global problems have resulted in fragmented solutions. Recognizing this, there have been several calls for the study of responsible innovation (RI) to address grand challenges. Digital platforms such as AirBnB, Uber and so forth have now become commonplace and are known to generate economic value but also face criticism for being exploitative and exclusive. Only a handful of studies show how similar platforms can innovate responsibly to serve marginalized communities by generating simultaneous economic and social value. To address this gap, our study examines the cases of two platforms that orchestrated ecosystems consisting of individuals from marginalized communities, government agencies, and other entities to provide physical, digital and societal solutions based on principles of RI. We contribute to the RI and IS literatures to show how RI solutions can be fostered through digital platforms to address grand challenges. The article provides empirical evidence of all four dimensions of the RI framework—anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness - and their operationalization through digital platforms. This research lays the foundation for future studies at the intersection of RI and digital platforms literature. The study also provides practice insights on developing digital platform solutions for marginalized communities to address grand challenges and is useful to policymakers to formulate appropriate interventions. It pushes the theoretical and practice boundaries of our understanding of RI and digital platforms. Collapse

Topics: digital platform mobile application social media innovation management business model

Methods: qualitative interview theory development case study triangulation archival research

Theories: theory of economic development

ICT-Based Country-Level Determinants of Social Media Diffusion

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Arayankalam, Jithesh; Krishnan, Satish

Abstract: There is a broad consensus that social media platforms have become critical tool ... Expand

Abstract: There is a broad consensus that social media platforms have become critical tools for policymakers in achieving various policy objectives in a country. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the ICT-based country-level determinants of social media diffusion has become necessary. To this end, we propose a government-people-technology (GTP) framework for categorizing the ICT-based country-level determinants of social media diffusion into three dimensions. Using this framework and utilizing archival data from 107 countries, we examine the roles of ICT in the government's vision, ICT law maturity, Internet bandwidth, ICT cost, ICT skill, and capacity to own ICT in influencing social media diffusion. A quantile panel data regression results reveal that ICT in the government's vision, ICT law maturity, Internet bandwidth, and capacity to own ICT were positively associated with social media diffusion. In contrast, ICT cost was negatively associated with it. Thus, by offering a new framework, we contribute to the technology diffusion literature by emphasizing the role of government, people, and supportive technologies in driving social media diffusion at the country level. Collapse

Topics: social media IT investment internet technology IT skill technology diffusion

Methods: longitudinal research regression analysis method post-hoc analysis cross sectional research archival research

Theories: theory of everything

Privacy Regulation and Its Unintended Consequence on Consumption Behaviors: Evidence From CCPA

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Bae, Donghwa; Mayya, Raveesh; Nian, Tingting

Abstract: This study explores the unintended consequences of data protection regulations ... Expand

Abstract: This study explores the unintended consequences of data protection regulations on consumer behavior. Specifically, we examine the California Consumer Privacy Act, which restricts companies from collecting Californians' personal information. Privacy regulations may limit firms' ability to suggest products aligned with consumers' taste predicted from data, potentially influencing subsequent consumer behavior. These regulations especially pose a challenge to digital platforms, as their success hinges on seamless data flow between firms and consumers. Using a difference-in-differences approach with transaction data, we find that post-CCPA, Californians reduce purchase by 4.1%, increase returns by 2.9%. Moreover, we find that Californians spend more time online and visit more webpages, potentially indicating increased search efforts. Mechanism analysis suggests that firms under CCPA proactively alter their data collection strategy to reduce the liability. These results reveal the complex interplay between privacy regulation and consumer behavior, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of the trade-offs between privacy protection and economic outcomes. Collapse

Topics: information privacy law legal context consumer behavior advertising management website

Methods: experimental group longitudinal research natural experiment archival research difference in differences

An Adversarial Dance: Toward an Understanding of Insiders’ Responses to Organizational Information Security Measures

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Balozian, Puzant; Burns, A.; Leidner, Dorothy

Abstract: Despite the increased focus on organizational security policies and programs, s ... Expand

Abstract: Despite the increased focus on organizational security policies and programs, some employees continue to engage in maladaptive responses to security measures (i.e., behaviors other than those recommended, intended, or prescribed). To help shed light on insiders' adaptive and maladaptive responses to IS security measures, we conducted a case study of an organization at the forefront of security policy initiatives. Drawing on the beliefs-actions-outcomes (BAO) model to analyze our case data, we uncover a potentially nonvirtuous cycle consisting of security-related beliefs, actions, and outcomes, which we refer to as an "adversarial dance." Explaining our results, we describe a novel belief framework that identifies four security belief profiles and uncovers an underexplored outcome of IS security: insiders' lived security experiences. We find that individuals' unfavorable lived security experiences produce counterproductive security-related beliefs that, in turn, lead to maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors create new potential for security risk, leading to increased organizational security measures to counter them. Thus, the adversarial dance continues, as the new security measures have the potential to reinforce counterproductive security-related beliefs about the importance and risk of IS security and lead to new maladaptive behaviors. To help situate our findings within the current security literature, we integrate the results with prior research based on extant theories. While this paper is not the first to suggest that security measures can elicit maladaptive behaviors, the emergent belief framework and expanded BAO model of IS security constitute an important contribution to the behavioral IS security literature.Puzant Balozian is an assistant professor of computer information systems at James Madison University. His research focus is primarily on the impacts of organizational factors on individual user behaviors in the context of information security and privacy and addressing security policy compliance and violation. Collapse

Topics: IT security IT security defense productivity IT security threat anonymity

Methods: case study qualitative interview personal interview theory development survey

Theories: information systems theory neutralization theory behavioral theory

No Ground Truth at Sea – Developing High-Accuracy AI Decision-Support for Complex Environments

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Bumann, Adrian

Abstract: As AI decision-support systems are increasingly developed for applications outsi ... Expand

Abstract: As AI decision-support systems are increasingly developed for applications outside of traditional organizational confinements, developers are confronted with new sources of complexity they need to address. However, we know little about how AI applications are developed for natural use domains with high environmental complexity, stemming from physical influences outside of the developers’ control. This study investigates what challenges emerge from such complexity and how developers mitigate them. Drawing upon a rich longitudinal single-case study on the development of AI decision-support for maritime navigation, findings show that achieving high output accuracy is complicated by the physical environment hindering training data creation. Further, developers chose to reduce the output accuracy and adapt the HMI design to successfully situate the AI application in an existing sociotechnical context. This study contributes to IS literature following recent calls for phenomenon-based examination of emerging challenges when extending the scope frontier of AI and provides practical recommendations for developing AI decision-support for complex environments. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence decision support decision support system geographic information system innovation management

Methods: qualitative interview single case study personal interview longitudinal research field study

Theories: socio technical theory

Governance of Digital Health Data on Cooperatively Organized Platforms – a Design Thinking Approach

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Burmann, Anja; Langer, Henrike; Bosompem, Jennifer; Clemens, Timo; Herten, Benjamin; Kerstan, Leah; Lauer, Romy; Naeve, Peter; Geller, Simon; Huhnt, Jönne; Merkel, Sebastian

Abstract: More and more stakeholders are collecting data for improving their services: fro ... Expand

Abstract: More and more stakeholders are collecting data for improving their services: from scientific research over public administration to commercial enterprises. Existing data management services offer few rights of co-determination for their users. Data cooperatives aim to provide a democratic alternative to this. Through such a platform cooperative members are supposed to be enabled to share their data in a self-determined way. In this paper, we present a design thinking-based user research with stakeholders of data cooperatives in a health-data context. We provide an overview of motivations, expectations, and interfaces between a cooperative and individuals as cooperative members, organizations, representatives from research, and policy makers. In an iterative process, 34 interviews were conducted with different stakeholder groups, from which 7 personas were subsequently derived. For these, 4 prototypes were developed and tested with potential users. Our results show that all interviewed groups were very interested in the concept of data cooperatives. At the same time, it proves challenging to reconcile the conflicting internal and external requirements and to implement attractive value propositions for all stakeholders. Collapse

Topics: design thinking healthcare data user centered design value creation organization structure

Methods: qualitative interview design methodology design artifact literature sample literature study

Engaging with self-tracking applications: how do users respond to their performance data?

2023 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Constantiou, Ioanna; Mukkamala, Alivelu; Sjöklint, Mimmi; Trier, Matthias

Abstract: Self-tracking devices and applications have become popular in recent years and c ... Expand

Abstract: Self-tracking devices and applications have become popular in recent years and changed user behaviour. Previous research has primarily focused on the adoption of self-tracking devices and their effects on self-assessment. As adoption increases, user engagement becomes prominent for the continuous use of the devices and the applications. In this study, we focus on user engagement with activity tracking applications, e.g., Fitbit Flex and Jawbone Up that offer data on user performance. We collected data from semi-structured interviews with 54 participants. We propose a process model comprising four stages which involve distinct user interactions with data: review, react, reflect, and respond. We advance research in this domain by the proposed process model that explicates user engagement in two cases: when the user encounters satisfactory or unsatisfactory results. In the latter case, we depict four response tactics when users are confronted with unsatisfactory results. Collapse

Topics: smart wearable device mobile system fitness tracker user behavior marketing management

Methods: wearables based research business process modeling qualitative interview archival research longitudinal research