Research

Does the internet improve lives?

This research explores the attitudes, characteristics and behaviours of C2DE internet users and non-users to see if the internet really does make a difference to people’s lives, and what leads to its adoption.

Download the research: Does the internet improve lives?

Digital Britain feedback response

Lord Stephen Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting, launched his report on Digital Britain in January 2009. The report looks at what we need to do to put Britain at the forefront of the global digital economy. This document contains UK online centres' official response to the interim report, and suggestions for the development of the final report.

Digital Britain: UK online centres response to the interim report

Digital inclusion, social impact - stakeholder discussion forum report

Read the report from an online forum, set up for stakeholders to discuss the results of and next steps for the Digital inclusion, social impact research.

Download the report

Digital inclusion, social impact

This research looks at 20 UK online centre led projects which sought to reach socially disadvantaged people and engage them in ICT activities.  It maps the relationship between digital inclusion and the social impacts on participant’s lives.  

Download the research:  Digital inclusion, social impact

Informal learning consultation response

The Informal Learning Consultation was launched by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS) early in 2008.  UK online centres were invited to take part, and these documents record the information collected from the network which formed the consultation response.  

Informal Adult Learning UK online centres main response (PDF)

Appendix 1 UK online centres IAL response (citizen's survey) (PPT)

 Appendix 2 UK online centres IAL response (centres national seminar report) (PDF)

Appendix 3 UK online centres IAL response (centre discussion forum summary) (PPT)

Appendix 4 UK online centres IAL response (interviews with learners and staff) (PDF)

Economic benefits of digital inclusion - building the evidence

This research summary begins to break down the specific benefits and associated savings digital inclusion could provide for five core groups - individual people, private sector organisations, the government, society and the wider economy. 

Download the research: Economic Benefits of Digital Inclusion

Understanding digital inclusion

This research explores the nature of the digital divide in 2007. It brings together information from more than 80 sources, including research into digital skills, ICT usage and internet penetration from the Office of National Statistics, Ofcom, the Oxford Internet Institute, and government departments.

Download the research summary (32 pages) (PDF 535kb)

Download the full research report (51 pages) (PDF 423kb)

myguide pilot - bridging the digital divide

This research looks at the results of the 2006 pilot of myguide - designed to be an easy way for non-ICT users to get onto the internet. The report analyses the service, tracking the progress of people using the myguide website, and exploring feedback from the centres supporting it.

Download myguide pilot - bridging the digital divide (PDF 529kb)

Transformational government for the citizen

This research report looks at the results of the South West e-government pilot, which took place over nine months in 2006. It looks at the results of supporting people to use e-government services in UK online centres, re-maps the 'digital divide' and analyses the links between digital and social exclusion.

Download Transformational government report (PDF 768kb)

UK online centres - a review of research to date

This overview research was commissioned to explore the overall findings emerging from a number of separate research studies conducted into the impact of UK online centres pre 2004. Specifically this report explores the impact in three areas - bridging the digital divide through supported access to IT, adult learning and access to t-government services.

Download Review of research (PDF 178kb)

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