Methodologies for Analyzing Social Impact and Ethical Considerations

Throughout the course students must analyse and evaluation the social impact of information technology on individuals and society and consider the ethical issues raised by this impact.

Social impact and ethical considerations need to be analysed from both local and global perspectives, recognizing that attitudes and opinions are diverse within and between different cultures.

Key Questions

Social Issues

The analysis of social issues can be guided by answering the following key questions:

1. What are the social issues associated with a particular IT development?
2. Describe how the IT development/problem emerged?
3. Who are the stakeholders (individuals, institutions, societies) who initiate and control the IT development and are affected by them?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?
5. What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?
6. What is the social impact of the IT development on human life? This may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.
7. What are the social impacts on local and global communities?

A suggested mark scheme for assignments is as follows:
1. 2 marks - 1 per social issue stated.
2. 2 marks - a brief historical outline of the problem.
3. 3 marks - at least one stakeholder at the individual, institution and society/community level.
4. 2 marks - Choose the main stakeholder and state one advantage and one disadvantage.
5. 2 marks - Describe 1 solution
6. 3 marks - 1 per social impact
7. 4 marks - Briefly describe 2 social impacts on the global community.

for a total of 18 marks.

Ethical Issues

The analysis of ethical issues can be guided by answering the following key questions.

1. What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?
2. Who is responsible?
3. Who is accountable?
4. What policies, rules or laws apply to the situation?
5. What are the alternative ethical decisions?
6. What are the consequences of these decisions?

A suggested mark scheme for assignments is as follows:
1. 3 marks
2. 2 marks
3. 2 marks
4. 3 marks
5. 3 marks
6. 2 marks for a subtotal of 15 marks.

A total of 33 marks.