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Contribution to Book
THE CONTENT AND CONTEXT OF IDENTITY IN A DIGITAL SOCIETY
Research-in-Progress Papers
  • Michelle Carter, Washington State University
  • Deborah Compeau, Washington State University
  • Michael Ian Lawrence Kennedy, Washington State University
  • Marc Schmalz, University of Washington
Publication Date
6-10-2017
Abstract

Our team has undertaken a study designed to explore the context and content of IT identity in a digital society. The work involves conducting semi-structured, reflective interviews—based on the results of a 20 Statements exercise—and analysis based on grounded theory. Our initial findings indicate that our participants have complex relationships with a range of IT that has become embedded in their daily lives, and provide evidence in support of IT’s role as a medium, determinant, and consequent of identity. Further, we see the emergence of weak and strong IT identities and the emergence of a weak anti-IT identity. By iterating on our processes and reflecting on our results, we have been able to tune our methods and inform future recruitment goals. Moving forward, we expect that expanding the diversity in our group of participants will reveal greater insights into the ways that participation in a digital society influences the formation and expression of one’s role, group, personal, and IT (or anti-IT) identities.

Citation Information
Michelle Carter, Deborah Compeau, Michael Ian Lawrence Kennedy and Marc Schmalz. "THE CONTENT AND CONTEXT OF IDENTITY IN A DIGITAL SOCIETY" (2017) p. 3245 - 3254
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/marc-schmalz/2/