Reflecting on the Methodological Challenges to Understanding the Impact of New Technology on Anti-Corruption Efforts

As new technology is further employed in the monitoring and development of anti-corruption efforts, it seems a good point to stop and reflect on the methodologies utilized for data gathering and theorizing about corruption to-date and to what ends. Much of the literature on methods in the framework of corruption research have focused on defining what corruption is and how to measure corruption – with an end goal of measuring ‘success’. And in terms of ‘success’ – is there an internal or external value at the back of these measurements? Does it matter that many corruption research efforts have place emphasis on examples of corruption within the institutions of government, public officials and servants, as well as the business/economic sectors? That in such analysis and discourse there has been much linkage of the norms and values of those in such positions of power and influence, to acts of corruption, within anti-corruption frameworks developed to-date. However, with the use of new technologies, such as mobile phones and social media for example, that encourages and seeks citizen engagement in anti-corruption efforts – it seems prudent that discussion and research need to evolve and consider corruption beyond (or actually ‘below’) state institutions and political or economic positions of power for understanding norms and values. There is need for scope to consider the linkage between the values of society and use of new technologies in the evolution of anti-corruption efforts. Questions that may drive reflections on methods used in research designs, such as - How are citizens understanding corruption in order to engage in anti-corruption efforts? This potentially connects new technologies with societal norms and looking at how one could ‘measure’ the two strands and by what methods? With the question of reflecting on how citizens’ perceptions of corruption and corrupt practices impact the use of new technologies in anti-corruption efforts; as well as how in turn such technologies have the potential to serve as a means for changing both public perceptions and actions towards corruption, as well as then impacting state governance and policymaking.