Investigating & analysing ICT issues and ethical dilemmas

Privacy of information

• Information privacy refers to the right of individuals and companies to deny or restrict the collection and use of information about them

• Common points in privacy laws include:– Information collected and stored about individuals

should be limited to what is necessary to carry out the function of the business or government

– Access to the data should be limited to those employees within the organisation who need it

Privacy of information

• Common points in privacy laws include:– Personal information should be released only when the

person whose data has been collected has agreed to its disclosure

– The individual should know that the data is being collected and have opportunity to determine the accuracy of the data

• Ownership of Information:– Copyright, the authors and artists of original work have

exclusive rights to duplicate, publish and sell their material

Privacy of information

• Ownership of Information:– Copyright does not protect the idea itself– Infringements of copyright include software piracy

and unauthorised downloading of music, movies and TV programs

– Copyright does not have to be stated; it is automatic

– “fair use” of copyright material allows a person to make a backup copy of software when they purchase it

Privacy of information

• Ownership of Information:– Plagiarism is an infringement of intellectual

property; passing off work as your own or without acknowledging its authorship.

Sources of information about ICT issues

• Primary sources provide data that needs to be processed and analysed to produce information that can be used; comes from stakeholders

• Secondary sources provide information from other users who have already investigated the issue/s

Sources of information about ICT issues: Primary Sources

• Primary sources:– Involve stakeholders– Provide different insights and more in-depth than

secondary sources– More up to date – Collection of data is done through observation &

measurement– Done through surveys, using questionnaires & interviews– Interviews done face to face; take more time and

opportunity for in-depth follow-up and clarification

Sources of information about ICT issues

• Primary sources:– Data collected must have data integrity:• Suitable format• Reliable• Accurate• Timely• Free from bias

Sources of information about ICT issues

• Questions on a survey or interview can be of 2 types: Closed questions limit the responses available, , eg.

Yes/No; multiple choice, etc. Open-ended questions do not limit the answers that

can be given They allow for follow up questions, eg. Why? And give

more detail Closed questions easier to develop and quicker to

administer

Sources of information about ICT issues

• Conducting interviews & questionnaires: www.surveymonkey.com

Data Validation: Manual and electronic

Referencing primary sources Details need to be attached so the source can be

checked.

Sources of information about ICT issues: Secondary Sources

• All information can’t be obtained from primary sources because:• Limited, biased experience of the issue• Difficulties with assessing quality of data provided• Non-availability of stakeholders

– Secondary sources include:• Newspapers and searchable websites• News broadcasts• News websites

Sources of information about ICT issues: Secondary Sources

– Secondary sources include: (contd)• Use of a metasearch engine, eg. Dogpile or answers,

google; a tool that sends your search requests to a number of other search engines and combines the results into a single display• Wikipedia, encyclopedia websites

– Need to check quality of information; use the points relating to data integrity