Use of Social Media in Uncovering Information Services for People with Disabilities in China

  • Wenke Wang Sichuan Normal University
  • Yen Chun Jim Wu National Taiwan Normal University http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5479-2873
  • Chih-Hung Yuan National Sun Yat-Sen University
  • Hongxia Xiong Sichuan Normal University
  • Wan-Ju Liu National Taipei University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i1.2621
Keywords: people with disabilities, feedback, crowdsourcing, information needs, social media, China

Abstract

The tangible and intangible needs of people with disabilities have been neglected in research agendas over the past decades, particularly in China. Bringing more benefits to people with disabilities and combining information delivery with Internet technology to improve their quality of life is impossible if their special needs are ignored. This study employed the crowdsourcing through social media method to investigate information needs of people who are disabled. The results indicate that using the popular social media platforms WeChat and QQ can be an effective means of reaching out to this group. Information needs can be mainly divided into internal and external needs. Leisure, tourism, and entertainment as well as assistive devices are major internal information needs, whereas work, entrepreneurship, and living services are the main external information needs.

Author Biographies

Yen Chun Jim Wu, National Taiwan Normal University
Yen-Chun Jim Wu (Ph.D, University of Michigan) is Distinguished Professor of Graduate Institute of Global Business and Strategy, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan.  His papers have appeared in Academy of Management Learning and Education, Sloan Management Review, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Supply Chain Management, Management Decision, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, International Journal of Logistics Management, European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Production Economics, Transportation Research Part A & D, E, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change.  His research interests include supply chain management, technology management, and lean manufacturing, and management education.
Wan-Ju Liu, National Taipei University
Department of Business Administration
Published
2017-02-28
How to Cite
Wang, W., Wu, Y. C. J., Yuan, C.-H., Xiong, H., & Liu, W.-J. (2017). Use of Social Media in Uncovering Information Services for People with Disabilities in China. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i1.2621
Issue
Vol. 18 No. 1 (2017): Special Issue: Advances in Research on Social Networking in Open and Distributed Learning
Section
Research Articles

Copyright (c) 2017 Wenke Wang, Yen Chun Jim Wu, Chih-Hung Yuan, Hongxia Xiong, Wan-Ju Liu

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