The Problem of Digital Disability in E-Municipality: A Study on Metropolitan Municipalities

Year 2023, Issue: 62, 30 - 46, 01.07.2023

Hasan Tutar , Fatma Akar

https://doi.org/10.47998/ikad.1216718

Abstract

The distinctive feature of the digital society is that it can practically use information and communication technologies in many areas of life, and the digital literacy rate is relatively high. The fact that most of the bureaucratic processes in e-government and e-municipality are transferred to virtual environments increases the importance of such topics as digital literacy and digital disability. One of the basic skills of the digital society is the relatively high rate of digital literacy and the increased ability of the members to use information and communication technologies. For this reason, the absence of digital disabilities and the design of web tools for individuals with disabilities are significant in digital accessibility. Suppose web tools are not designed for people with disabilities. In that case, it is inevitable that a new form of disability, which is unique to the digital society and called "digital disability," will emerge. The primary purpose of this research is to examine the web pages of Metropolitan Municipalities in Turkey according to digital disability criteria. For this purpose, the web pages of 30 Metropolitan Municipalities were analyzed in terms of digital accessibility, digital disability, and access performance. Within the framework of the research problem, sampling was determined according to the sampling method. Descriptive statistics and content analysis methods were used to analyze the data collected from the sample. The research findings show that the web pages of Metropolitan Municipalities have some inadequacies in digital accessibility and performance indicators.

Keywords

E-Government, E-Municipality, Digital Accessibility, Digital Barrier, Digital Literacy.

References

• Abeele, M. V., De Cock, R., & Roe, K. (2012). Blind faith in the web? Internet use and empowerment among visually and hearing impaired adults: A qualitative study of benefits and barriers. Communications-The European Journal of Communication Research, 37(2), 129-151.https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2012-0007
• Adams, J., Khan, H. T., Raeside, R., & White, D (2007). Research methods for graduate business and social science students. India: Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9788132108498
• Arslan, H., & Altıntaş, G. (2014). Engellilerin çalışma yaşamına katılımını arttırarak toplumla kaynaşmalarını sağlamayı hedefleyen bir model önerisi. Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 5(2), 165-186.
• Arslan, Y., Şahin, H. M., Gülnar, U., & Şahbudak, M. (2014). Görme engellilerin toplumsal hayatta yaşadıkları zorluklar: Batman merkez örneği. Batman Üniversitesi Yaşam Bilimleri Dergisi, 4(2), 1-14.
• Atmaca, Y and Yılmaz, V (2019). Digitalized Local Management and Participatory Municipalism: Çankırı Municipality Case, Viliyan Krystev, Recep Efe, Emin Atasoy (Eds.), Theory and Practice in Social Sciences (pp. 403-417). Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press.
• Bengtsson, M. (2016). How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. NursingPlus Open, 2, 8-14; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npls.2016.01.001
• Berman, R., & Katona, Z. (2013). The role of search engine optimization in search marketing. Marketing Science, 32(4), 644-651. https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2013.0783
• Burkett, G.L (1990). Classifying basic research designs. Family Medicine, 22(2), 145 https://doi.org/10.3109/07853899009147259
• Caldwell, B., Cooper, M., Reid, L. G., Vanderheiden, G., Chisholm, W., Slatin, J., & White, J. (2008). Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. WWW Consortium (W3C), 290, 1-34.
• Chadwick, D., & Wesson, C. (2016). Digital inclusion and disability. In applied cyberpsychology (pp. 1-23). Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137517036_1
• Chadwick, D., Wesson, C. J., & Fullwood, C. (2013). Internet access by people with intellectual disabilities: Inequalities and opportunities. Future Internet, 5, 376-397. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi5030376
• Corbetta, P. (2003). Social research; theory, methods, and techniques. London: Sage Publications. P.285 https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849209922
• Creswell, J. W. (2003). Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (2. bs.). Lincoln: Sage Publications.
• Çağlar, S. (2012). Engellilerin erişebilirlik hakkı ve Türkiye'de erişebilirlikleri. Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 61(2), 541-598. https://doi.org/10.1501/Hukfak_0000001666
• Çaha, Havva (2016). Engellilerin toplumsal hayata katılmasına yönelik politikalar: Türkiye, ABD ve Japonya örnekleri. İnsan ve Toplum, 5(10), 123-150. https://doi.org/10.12658/human.society.5.10.M0122
• Dobransky, K., & Hargittai, E. (2006). The disability divides in internet access and use. Information, Communication and Society, 9(3), 313-334 https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180600751298 Engelli ve Yaşlı İstatistik Bülteni, https://www.engelli.com. (2022). Retrieved on 10 20, 2022 from https:///www.engelli.com/engelli-kisi-sayisi/.
• Eshet-Alkali, Y. & Amichai-Hamburger, Y (2004). Experiments in Digital Literacy. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 421-429 https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.421
• Foley, A., & Ferri. B. A. (2012). Technology for people, not disabilities: Ensuring access and inclusion. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 12(4), 192-200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-3802.2011.01230.x
• Forster, N. (1994). The Analysis of Company Documentation. C. Cassell and G. Symon (Eds.) Qualitative Methods in Organizational Research: A Practical Guide. London: Sage Publications.
• Fountain, J (2001. Building the virtual state: information technology and institutional change. Washington DC: Brookings Institution
• Gay, L. R., & Diehl, P. L (1992). Research Methods for Business and Management. Singapore: Maxwell Macmillan International.
• Genç, Y, & Çat, G (2013). Engellilerin istihdamı ve sosyal içerme ilişkisi. Akademik İncelemeler Dergisi, 8(1), 363-394.
• Geray, H. (2006). Toplumsal Araştırmalarda Nicel ve Nitel Yöntemlere Giriş. Ankara: Siyasal Kitabevi.
• Glumbić, N., Đorđević, M., & Brojčin, B. (2022). Digital Participation and Disability Digital Divide. In Digital Inclusion of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12037-4
• Goggin, G., & Newell, C. (2003). Digital disability: The social construction of disability in new media. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield
• Gürsakal, N., Oğuzlar, A., & Gürsakal, S (2019). Betimsel İstatistik. Bursa: Dora Yayıncılık. Hartley, J. (2008). Academic writing and publishing: A practical handbook. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203927984
• Hatton, C., & Emerson, E. (1995). Staff in services for people with learning disabilities: An overview of current issues. Mental Handicap Research, 8(4), 215-219 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.1995.tb00158.x
• Hawkins, S., Allen, D., & Jenkins, R. (2005). The use of physical interventions with people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behavior-the experiences of service users and staff members. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(1), 19-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2004.00207.x
• Hazman, G. G (2005). Afyonkarahisar Belediyesinde e-Belediye Uygulamaları ve Yerel Farkındalık. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi İ.İ.B.F Dergisi, 8(2), 65-84.
• Helsper, E (2008). Digital inclusion: An analysis of social disadvantage and the information society. Department for communities and local government, London: Communities and Local Government Publications
• Henden, B., & Henden, R (2005). Yerel Yönetimlerin Hizmet Sunumlarındaki Değişim ve e-Belediyecilik. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(14), 48-66. Heriăko, T., Čučko, Š., Šumak, B., & Brdnik, S. (2021). Web Performance Tuning of WordPress-Based Websites Through Automatic Image Optimization. In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (pp. 343-350).
• Hew, K. F., & Brush, T. (2007). Integrating Technology into K-12 Teaching and Learning: Current Knowledge Gaps and Recommendations for Future Research. Educational Technology Research and Development, 55(3), 223-252 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-006-9022-5
• Ho, A.K (2002). Reinventing Local Government and The E-Government Initiative. Public Administration Review, 62(4), 434-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/0033-3352.00197
• Hodder, I (2002). The Interpretation of documents and material culture. In D. Weinberg (Eds.). Qualitative Research Methods (pp. 266-279). Oxford: Blackwell Publications.
• Hoppestad, B. S. (2013). Current perspective regarding adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities accessing computer technology. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 8(3), 190-194. https://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2012.723239
• Houtenville, A., Shreya, P., & Rafal, M. (2021). Annual report on people with disabilities in America, 2021. Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire.
• Karabulut, B. (2015). Bilgi toplumu çağinda dijital yerliler, göçmenler ve melezler. Pamukkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, (21), 11-23.
• Karakaya, O., & Gaytancıoğlu, K. (2017). 6360 sayılı kanunla kurulan büyükşehirlerde dijitalleşme çabaları: tekirdağ büyükşehir belediyesi Örneği. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 22(Kayfor 15 Ö.S.), 1491-1504.
• Kaye, H. S. (2000). Computer and Internet use among people with disabilities (Vol. 13). U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
• Kaypak, Ş., Yılmaz, V., & Bimay, M. (2017). Dijital Çağda Yerel Yönetimler. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 22(KAYFOR 15 Özel Sayısı), 1798-1813.
• Kınalı, G., Bilen, Ö., Doğanay, F., & Abakay, O. (2017). Engelli bireylerde dijital erişebilirlik. Tıp Teknolojileri Kongresi Trabzon. 1-3.
• Landsbergen, Jr., David, and George Wolken, Jr (2001). Realizing the promise: Government information systems and the fourth generation of information technology. Public Administration Review 61(2), 206-220 https://doi.org/10.1111/0033-3352.00023
• Malhotra, N. K. (2004). Marketing research an applied orientation, 4. Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey
• Mecek, M (2018). E-Belediyecilik, halkla ilişkiler, bilgi edinme, şeffaflik vb. unsurlar açisindan belediye web sayfalarinin kullanilmasi ve etkinlik analizi: Bolvadin belediyesi örneği. M. Güler, & C. Kayahan (Eds.,) Bolvadin Araştırmaları I (pp. 2307-2350). İstanbul: Eğitim Yayınevi.
• Miles, B. M., and Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitaüve data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
• Mohammadyari, S., & Singh, H (2015). Understanding the effect of e-learning on individual performance: The role of digital literacy. Computers & Education, 82, 11-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2014.10.025
• Moon, M. J (2002). The Evolution of e‐government among municipalities: Rhetoric or reality? Public Administration Review, 62(4), 424-433. https://doi.org/10.1111/0033-3352.00196
• Özsoy, O. (2010). İktisatçılar ve işletmeciler için istatistik: Excel uygulamalı. Ankara: Siyasal Kitabevi.
• Palmer, S. B., Wehmeyer, M. L., Davies, D. K., & Stock, S. E. (2012). Family members report the technology use of family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 56(4), 402-414. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01489.x Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2009). Framework for 21st-century learning. Retrieved on 11. 12. 2022 from http://www.p21.org/our-work/p21-framework,
• Pacheco, E., Yoong, P., & Lips, M. (2021). Transition issues in higher education and digital technologies: the experiences of students with disabilities in New Zealand. Disability & Society, 36(2), 179-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1735305
• Pektaş, E. (2011). Belediye Hizmetlerinde Bilgi-İletişim Teknolojilerinin Kullanımı ve E-Belediye Uygulamalarındaki Son Gelişmeler: Bir Literatür Taraması. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 13(1), 65-88.
• Raja, D. S (2016). Digital Dividends, bridging the disability divide through digital technologies. World Development Report. Retrieved on 11. 12, 2022 from https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/123481461249337484-0050022016/original/WDR16BPBridgingtheDisabilityDividethroughDigitalTechnologyRAJA.pdf
• Ritchie, H., & Blanck, P. (2003). The promise of the Internet for disability: a study of online services and web site accessibility at Centers for Independent Living. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 21(1), 5-26. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.520
• Rodríguez-de-Dios, I., Igartua, J. J., & González-Vázquez, A (2016). Development and validation of a digital literacy scale for teenagers. In Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality (pp. 1067-1072). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3012430.3012648
• Schalock, R. L., Borthwick-Duffy, S. A., Bradley, M., et al. (2010). Intellectual disability: definition, classification, and systems of supports (11th ed). Washington: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Silverman, D. (2001). Interpreüng qualitative data: Methods for analyzing talk, text, and interaction. London: SAGE Publication.
• Soong, K., Fu, X., & Zhou, Y. (2018, October). Optimizing new user experience in online services. In 2018 IEEE 5th International Conference on Data Science and Advanced Analytics (DSAA) (pp. 442-449). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/DSAA.2018.00057
• Spiegel, M. R., & Stephens, L. J. (2013). İstatistik (S. Çelebi, Trans.). İstanbul: Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
• Tejedo-Romero, F., Araujo, J., Tejada, A., & Ramirez, Y. (2022). E-government Mechanism to Enhance The Participation of Citizens and Society: Exploratory Analysis Through The Dimension of Municipalities. Technology in society, 70, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101978
• Thoreau, E. (2006). Ouch!: An examination of the self-representation of disabled people on the Internet. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11(2), 328-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00021.x
• Tsatsou, P. (2021). Is digital inclusion fighting disability stigma? Opportunities, barriers, and recommendations. Disability & Society, 36(5), 702-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1749563
• Tutar, H., & Erdem, A. T. (2022). Örnekleriyle Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemleri ve SPSS Uygulamaları. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
• Ünlü, U (2016). Sosyal Belediyecilik Anlayışının E-Belediyecilik Uygulamalarına Entegre Edilmesi, Sayıştay Dergisi, 102, 63-89.