Infome: A Field-Design Methodology For Research On Ethnic Minority Youth As Information Mediaries

Purpose - InfoMe is an innovative research program that explores and facilitates how ethnic minority youth help members of their social networks, especially elders, with everyday life situations through information and technology.Methodology/approach - The project employs mixed methods, iteratively using Teen Design Days and a stratified random, classroom-based survey (n = 500) in six schools, with multiple community partners in King County, WA.Findings - InfoMe inductively demonstrates how ethnic minority youth help others with situations of daily living through information and technology.Practical and social implications - The findings are being used to develop InfoMe applications with the youth and InfoMe Train-the-Trainer workshops for professionals who work with youth.Originality/value - The research is developing a model of how ethnic minority youth engage as information mediaries in different community settings, how individuals and communities benefit; and it is contributing to our general understanding of specific concepts related to the human information experience.