4. Methodology

The review of national policies on digital inclusion published in the Nordic and Baltic region in recent years (Chapter 5) follows a set methodology. Due to the qualitative, literature/policy-based focus of the review, a critical discourse analysis framework was selected. Based roughly on the methodology suggested by Cummings et al., (2020) the chosen research design draws on a four-phase approach (Cummings et al., 2020).

The first phase looks at existing discourses to define the project’s outlook and further engagement with the selected policies. That has been performed through engagement with the findings from the pre-study and other peer-reviewed literature described in Chapter 2, as well as assessment of indicators used by monitoring schemes, predominantly DESI. Based on that analysis, three lead questions and 15 barriers to digital inclusion (criteria for digital inclusion) and possible measures to address those barriers were selected (see Table 1). Those barriers not only reflect the discussions and findings in the reviewed literature, but also the experiences of the seven population groups that this project focuses on: (1) older adults, (2) people with disabilities, (3) people with low income, (4) people with low or no education, (5) immigrants lacking language skills, (6) young adults lacking domain knowledge and (7) residents of rural areas. By evaluating engagement of the selected policies with those 15 indicators using a three-tier scale (low, medium, high engagement), the various approaches to the concept of digital inclusion and the maturity of digitalisation policies regarding digital inclusion were explored.

In the second phase, the texts to be analysed were selected. As described in the previous section, this report mainly encompasses digitalisation policies and other relevant public strategies that have been published since the release of the pre-study in order to supplement that preceding study. In cases where no additional policies could be identified, the most recent policy was considered for evaluation. Due to obstacles to obtaining data and information regarding Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland, the background information regarding these specific countries also includes interviews with experts from the three countries during the summer of 2023.

The third phase of this approach covers the actual evaluation of the policies using the lead questions and barrier/measure indicators identified in the first phase. That was performed by means of manual coding and critical analysis. A low engagement score (white) is given if the topic does not seem to be addressed by the respective policies. A medium score (light blue) is given if the policy touches upon the given topic but without establishing a clear link to issues of digital exclusion or elaborating on the topic in more detail. A high score (dark blue) is given if the policy clearly covers one of the identified topics. All information in the paper has been monitored and fact-checked by the reference group members for the Digital Inclusion in Action research project. The reference group consists of country experts from each of the 11 societies in the Nordic and Baltic region. 

In the following chapter, the main findings of the papers are described and discussed on a country-by-country basis.