Investigating the Mutual Effects of Mobile Phone Use and Civic Culture
Psychological Research on Urban Society, 2022, Vol. 5(1): 52-65
S. Hossein Hosseini, S. Maziar Alavi, Ali Hosseini, Abolfazl Zare Mehrjardi
DOI: 10.7454/proust.v5i1.148
About the Project: In partnership with SAMAM and with guidance from Dr. Hossein Hosseini, I contributed to this comprehensive study to understand how mobile technology is reshaping Tehran’s civic life. This second publication, “The Effects of Mobile Technology on Citizen Culture in Tehran,” uses a systems approach and sophisticated modeling techniques to analyze the relationship between mobile phone usage and civic behavior, revealing its far-reaching impact.
Methodology and the Role of Systems Dynamics: This study leveraged systems dynamics to depict the multifaceted relationships between mobile phone usage and citizen culture. Using causal loop diagrams and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods, we identified 10 primary factors that illustrate mobile technology’s influence on citizen culture and behavior. Unlike simpler models, the systems approach allowed us to explore how elements like communication habits, privacy expectations, and civic engagement evolve within a dynamic, interconnected network of influences.
Insights and Observations: Our findings underscored the dual role of mobile phones in civic culture—while they empower civic engagement, they also disrupt established social norms. Mobile devices facilitate community interaction and the spread of information, yet they also introduce challenges related to privacy and social cohesion. These insights are invaluable for policymakers and city planners aiming to harness the benefits of mobile technology without sacrificing cultural stability.
My Contributions: In my role, I worked to transform these complex systems models and findings into accessible academic articles. By doing so, the project’s insights were preserved in a format that could reach both policymakers and the broader academic community. This experience reinforced my commitment to systems thinking as a powerful tool for understanding the societal impacts of technology, and it underscored the importance of accessible, well-structured research in supporting policy development.