Measuring the impact of technology on children
Information and communications technology (ICT) is integral to daily life. Not only have devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones infiltrated every aspect of society, but there is pressure to further integrate ICT into education and business. But what is the impact of device use on the development of children? To address this question, the EU-funded DIGYMATEX(opens in new window) project developed a concept of digital maturity and the tools to measure it.
Digital maturity and children’s behaviour
Digital maturity is associated with several positive outcomes, including academic performance, prosocial or positive social behaviour, and emotional stability. The absence of digital maturity can lead to poor self-regulation, life dissatisfaction and frustration. DIGYMATEX developed a concept of digital maturity that incorporates multiple aspects of behaviour under the categories of digital literacy, digital autonomy and digital citizenship. “Digital maturity addresses three general areas that are important for health and well-being: The capacity to master increasing digital challenges and solve problems; the ability to use digital technologies in an autonomous and self-determined way, and being able to interact adequately with others and to contribute to society,” explains project coordinator Marco Hubert.
A multi-method approach
Based on the concept of digital maturity, DIGYMATEX created several tools to support the understanding and actions of multiple stakeholders. These constituents include families, educators and policy makers. Just as the tools serve a wide range of users, a diverse team created the instruments. The project’s interdisciplinary team brought together policy stakeholders, industry partners and experts from the fields of psychology, sociology, neuroscience and ICT.
Evidence-based instruments
A core achievement of the project is the Digital Youth Maturity Index (DYMI). Ready for market, the DYMI is cloud-based and open-access. The DYMI delivers a digital maturity score, and is based on the Digital Maturity Inventory (DIMI)(opens in new window), a comprehensive questionnaire available in Danish, Dutch, German, Greek, English, Slovakian and Spanish. Hubert shares: “Around 8 000 participants in nine countries took part in our research using the DIMI, and a great thing is that our conceptualisation of digital maturity and the underlying measurement taxonomy show high validity and reliability.” Another DIGYMATEX tool directly targets children and their families. The project developed DIGYSMART, a gamified prototype mobile application that enhances the positive impacts of ICT on child development. DIGYSMART helps children learn more about their phone and provides information on the amount of daily use.
Increasing access to project outcomes
Digital maturity represents a critical skill set in the 21st century. Having achieved publication of the DYMI, DIGYMATEX is seeking to broaden the dissemination of the project’s outcomes. Making the DIMI accessible through the project’s website and integrating user-specific guidelines is an important next step. Further development of DIGYSMART with the goal of commercialisation is another way the project hopes to advance its achievements. Increasing communication and knowledge sharing among European researchers and their projects will also promote greater awareness and measurement of digital maturity. Similar to the related concept of psychological(opens in new window) (psycho-social maturity) upon which the project modelled its solutions, digital maturity is essential to the healthy development of children and adolescents. The DIGYMATEX tools have been carefully developed and tested. Their widespread uptake will help ensure the well-being of growing minds in this digital age.
