Has the Computer Created or Killed Jobs - Research Proposal Example

Research on the effects of computers Introduction The useof computers has been employed in all fields, in the life today. Questions may erupt on whether the computers are taking the jobs that people can do or they are advantageous to the development of the society. It is evident that the economies of many states have continued to improve with the advancements in technology. The populations have also increased creating a need for extra jobs. In the year 1930, the world was suffering from economic pessimism. The author and researcher John Maynard Keynes wrote the article economic possibilities of the children. The article included that there would be revolution and stagnation that would result to the grandchildren becoming richer than grandparents (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.41). However, there were challenges towards achieving this state of the economy. Keynes stated that there will be a disease called the technology unemployment. According to his ideas new means will be devised that economizes the labor usage, therefore, outrunning the speed at which new employments of labor can be implemented. The Keynes research does not provide enough evidence of the modern times. Nowadays economists and other groups of people have disregarded the worries that technology may result to unemployment. It is worth noting that the automation of the production process which decreases the use of labor increases the level of output. This will in return generate the demand for new products, therefore, creating new jobs (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.68) It is worth understanding the new jobs that have come as a result of the advancements in technology. The modern times have recorded much prosperity than the past when there was no use of computers. It is important to do a research on the interlocking of technology and the improved living conditions. This research will educate the community that industrialization does not eliminate the need for human workers. There are also effects of advancements of technology in the social aspects of the society, health and also the education system. Literature review The effect of the changes in technology takes time before they are experienced. The results are also different and vary from one business to another. In the simple economic models, technology is can be related to both labor and capital in the efforts to produce the outputs. The changes in technology do not affect all the workers in the same way. Some workers may find that the skills they have are in line with changes in technology while others may find themselves jobless (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.40). There are cases of disrupted periods in the growth of the economy. Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee are the authors of the book The Second Machine Age stated that the industrialization should be able to provide great benefits. However, before the results are achieved there would be a time of uncomfortable and also disorienting change. The society will entirely experience this. The arguments that the authors of this book had is that the exponential growth aspect of the chip processing speed, computer metrics and also the memory capacity. It will determine the level of progress that will be achieved by the use of computers in the future. Mr. Brynjolfsson and Mr. McAfee state that the main hindrance to the innovations the time that the society uses to accept the changes brought forth by the improvements in the levels of technology. The emerging question is whether the public is willing to change to make room for the new technology (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.67). By nature, the results of innovation cannot entirely be predicted. However, there have been established patterns on how the advancements in technology have been offering new jobs in the society. For example, the Google Company and the internet have offered many jobs. The company, for example, has employed thousands of employees. These may include mathematicians, programmers, marketing and sales people, statisticians, managers and administrators. The success in the company has also been advantageous to other companies, as well (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.39). The advancement in technology of the Google has led to its success. Other companies also use the services of the business to their advantage. As a result, they also end up hiring graphic designers, programmers, technicians to develop websites and other software’s that they need. They also affect the social life as a result of the social Medias they have created. People socialize with family members easily posing another benefit to the improved technology (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.66). The improvements in the level of technology makes workers keep themselves informed about the changes. Economist Claudia Goldin and Mr. Katz have written that employed people are always in a race between technology and education. They have often won the battle at this time of technological changes. However in the golden age, after the World War 2, employees in the rich countries were very prosperous and the middle class group of people came to the dominance of the country’s politics. During the same periods, communism who were in the era of industrialization, resulted to many people living in poverty in the world. These effects of imperialism of the industrialization are felt by many (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.38). The advancements of the computer industry have seen the manufacture of the robots. These robots and also the advanced automation of machines widely used in the most of the manufacturing industries. The results of the use of robots, few workers, are employed in these companies. Human efforts have earlier handled these tasks. To some extent these advancements in the technology can be taken as a major threat to the employment opportunities. However, the advancement in technology issues to incomes in the short run and at later stages there is prosperity for every person in the society. The cost of some items can be driven up by how the rates of earnings are increased. The use of computers in the businesses may result to lowered cost of the goods and services in the stubborn areas. There are areas by which the increase in innovation will not affect, such as residing in desirable places. It is the duty of the government to improve the education system to incorporate the changing trends of the technology. It will ensure that every person is equipped with the necessary skills required for him to work in the market. Health care is also affected by the changes in technology. New ideas and practices are exercised at low costs. The lives of people are protected and maintained with the current technology (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.37). People can be on the safer side when the education system incorporates training features in line with the current technology. The success of the industrial revolution came as a result of the availability of schools to educate the public on the treads in advancements of computers. In the modern days, it is important to change the schools themselves. It will see the generation of creativity that is needed by the humans. It will enhance them to be in line with the computer era. The schools should include much critical thinking among students and discourage rote- learning. This aspect will ensure that the students will secure jobs in the computerized industries because they will have the skills needed (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.65). There should be benefits to each and everyone on the gains that are received as a result of the computerization aspect. Authors such as Keynes had the same opinions with his fellow authors on the benefits of computerization. The worry towards the possibility of unemployment was a temporal phase as the society could adjust itself to align with the changes in technology. Skills needed should be impacted to the society because the growth and innovation will only render benefits to the educated in the society. This article should make the society understand that computers do not threaten their future; in fact they develop the future. The requirement for this is that every person needs to updates him or herself to the technological standards. There is high urge to research on the effects of computers in the society (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.64). Research methodology The philosophical position of the effects of computers in the society has not entirely been defined. There is an urge to conduct research in this aspect as it will affect the future being and the welfare of the society. Some of the members of the society especially the economist favor the aspect of computerization while part of the society believes that their jobs are at a threat due to computerization. The truth of the matter of computerization hence needs to be established for the benefit and growth of all the members of the society. The main agenda of this research is alerting the community on the issue of computers because it is an issue that requires their attention. The research that will be conducted will be qualitative and it will be based on the question how many people have secured or lost their jobs as a result of computerization. The numbers obtained from the people answering this question will be of great help in determining the effects of computers. It will also impact knowledge to the society on the evolving changes in the world of industrialization. It is worth conducting interviews to the members of the society to gather their opinions on the subject. A less structured type of an interview will be appropriate for this type of research (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.36). A less structured interview will be in a place to obtain detailed information about the views they have in the aspect of computers. It will give deeper information about their life experiences compared to other types of interviews and ways obtaining information. The members of the society will be capable of expressing their personal information about the subject and why they think that way. In a less structured interview, the interviewer is capable of understanding how each interviewee feels or thinks about that particular topic. One can also detect his or her main reason of holding their particular opinions. These reasons create another reason for the justification of this process in the research over other methods (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.63). The process has also the capability of deepening understanding and explanation of the statistical data. It is also capable of adding a human dimension over the impersonal data. These are crucial features that other methods used in research lack. They, therefore, justify this method of research. Another reason the less structured interview method is preferred over the various methods of interviewing is because it is capable of sensitizing the topics that people might feel uncomfortable with them. The less structured interview is the most appropriate method of carrying out this particular research. Some of the reasons that make the process appropriate include; they help in obtaining deep information concerning personal perceptions, opinions and feelings. The design also allows asking of detailed questions that will trigger the achievement of a comprehensive research. The process also provides a room for recording the respondent’s words alongside achieving a high rate of response. The method provides a room for first hand information with much clarity. The reason is that the interviewees are not under the influence of other members. These exist some of the factors that justify the appropriateness of this form of interviewing method in carrying out research(Northcott & Walling 1990, p.35). The less structured interview is capable of verifying the reliability of data and information collect. The fact behind this form of interview is because the method allows the clarification of any form of ambiguity. A follow-up of incomplete answers is also possible under this method of study. The process also provides valid information about respondent’s values, attitude and opinions. The contextualization and interpretation of these issues particularly support this. It will help the interviewer to clarify the validity of information given. Ethics in the research In every research to be carried out the researcher has a responsibility of catering for the values of the interviewees. The ethics statement of the research will be, “the research will be conducted under the will of interviewee without any force from any one. All the rights of the interviewees will be safeguarded. The credible information from the esteemed interviewees will be highly appreciated.” In the research, the interviewer will observe obtaining informed consent of the interviewee. The members will be at minimum risk of facing any harm during and after the interview (Northcott & Walling 1990, p.34). The interview will put many emphases on ethical principles that stress on doing good which is also referred to as beneficence. The second aspect put into consideration by the ethical principles is doing no harm also called non-malfeasance. The privacy and anonymity of the research participants will be protected at whatever cost. All the deceptive practices use will be avoided in the interview process. The research participants will have the right of withdrawing from the interview if they feel like. The interests of all the members affected by or involved in their work will be safeguarded (National Research Council (U.S.) 1985, p.62) References list Christie, I., Northcott, J., & Walling, A. (1990). Employment effects of new technology in manufacturing. London, Policy Studies Institute pp.34-41 National Research Council (U.S.). (1985). Technology and employment effects: interim report. Washington, D.C., National Academy Press pp.62-68 Read More