Youth digital participation: Measuring social impact

Abstract

13Current scholarly debate around digital participatory youth projects and 14 approaches to their evaluation are examined in this article. The analysis of the literature 15 presented here reveals (1) an over-reliance on traditional evaluation techniques for such 16 initiatives, and (2) a scarcity of models for the assessment of the social impact of digital 17 participatory youth projects. It is concluded that the challenges and limitations of social 18 impact evaluation practice in digital participatory youth projects should be addressed 19 through the adoption of alternative, participant-centred approaches. These issues are 20 discussed in reference to a current ongoing study that seeks to identify solutions for 21 enhancing social impact evaluations of participatory digital initiatives by young people. 22

Bridging the gender digital divide: an analysis of existing guidance for gender digital inclusion programmes’ evaluations

“…Evaluation reports of gender focussed digital inclusion programmes can produce critical insights into girls' and women's learning needs and aspirations, including what works and what does not when engaging girls and women in information and communications technologies (ICTs). However, evaluation (understood here as structured or semi-structured interpretation and meaning making of programs' outcomes) (Pawluczuk et al, 2020) of gender digital inclusion programmes is complex and highly contextual. Gender digital inclusion projects often aim to address a wider range of problems related to women's and girls' intersectional needs to access and effectively use ICTs within and between countries, regions, sectors and socio-economic groups (Borgonovi et al, 2018).…”

Fostering Voluntarism in Digital Age

“…Another relevant theory is carried out by Pawluczuk et al Against young people in Europe. He argued that digital media is no longer considered merely as an additional element or entertainment, but a core communication and engagement tool used by young people [15]. Then we can say that digital media is a tool for empowering young people.…”

“…Third, digital media is no longer considered merely an additional element or entertainment, but a core communication and engagement tool used by young people in Europe. According to Erstad (2012) and Livingstone & Sefton-Green (2016), digital media especially social media is now often cited as an empowerment tool for young people [15]. Many youth organizations have succeeded in implementing digital technology in their work.…”

The Social Impact of Digital Youth Work: What Are We Looking For?

“…Secondly, the management and evaluation of digital youth work projects must be considered. Whilst there have been many successful examples of European digital youth-work projects (Harvey, 2016), there has also been evidence of scepticism, "tech-fears", and digital-literacy insecurities among those who facilitate and engage with them (Pawluczuk, Hall, Webster, & Smith, 2018). There are currently limited resources to provide youth workers with sufficient digital training (Harvey, 2016), project management, and evaluation resources (European Commission, 2018; Wilson & Grant, 2018).…”

“…The importance of youth participation in the design and social impact evaluation should not be underestimated in the context of digital literacy youth projects. Participatory youth-centred approaches to digital literacy projects design and its assessment may not only provide reliable evaluation data, but may reveal unique insights about young people's digital literacy needs and aspirations (Pawluczuk et al, 2018).…”