Paper presented at 16th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research, Arizona, US, 2015. Full Paper available: http://bit.ly/1j8a5YT

1. Assessing the Benefits of Open GovernmentAssessing the Benefits of Open Government
Data: The Case ofData: The Case of MeuMeu CongressoCongresso NacionalNacional
in Brazilian Elections 2014in Brazilian Elections 2014
16th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research
Kellyton Brito
Ph.D. Candidate - Pernambuco Federal University (UFPE), Brazil
Assistant Professor - Pernambuco Rural Federal University (UFRPE), Brazil
Leader - Open Data Lab Brazil - opendatabrazil.com
kellyton@kellyton.com.br
May/ 2015

2. • Introduction
• Research Approach
AgendaAgenda
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusions
2

3. IntroductionIntroduction
• OGD well known benefits:
–To increase accountability, publicaccountability, public
participation and collaborationparticipation and collaboration;;
–To offer better public services;
–To increase efficiency and effectiveness in–To increase efficiency and effectiveness in
Government;
–To support scientific researchscientific research
–To generate of commercial valuecommercial value
–To decrease corruptioncorruption;
3

4. • Big Investments
– By governments
– By wider society
IntroductionIntroduction
• Big Expectations
Little has been doneLittle has been done to analyze and prove theto analyze and prove the
impact and accrued valueimpact and accrued value of these initiativesof these initiatives
4

5. An unrealistic picture may be paintedAn unrealistic picture may be painted of the
potential of open data, which could result incould result in
unrealistic expectationsunrealistic expectations by citizens, civil
servants and other stakeholders
IntroductionIntroduction
servants and other stakeholders
How to Assess the Benefits of OpenHow to Assess the Benefits of Open
Government Data?Government Data?
5

6. TheThe StudyStudyTheThe StudyStudy
6

7. To analyze the benefitsTo analyze the benefits perceived by the general
population by the use of applications based
on OGD
in the context of federal elections,in the context of federal elections,
MainMain ObjectiveObjective
in the context of federal elections,in the context of federal elections,
especially the case of Meu Congresso Nacional
(MCN – My National Congress) application
and the Brazilian elections of 2014.Brazilian elections of 2014.
7

8. • Web (mobile friendly) application focused on
showing parliamentarian data
• First version: Winner of I Brazilian Parliament
Meu Congresso Nacional.comMeu Congresso Nacional.com
• First version: Winner of I Brazilian Parliament
Hackathon - 2013
• The winner of II Brazilian Parliament
Hackathon (2014) used our (experimental) API
rather than official OGD
8

9. • Main Requirements: Federal Parliamentarians
– 513 Federal Deputies and 81 Senators
– Parliamentarian identification data
– Frequency
– Proposed laws
Meu Congresso Nacional.comMeu Congresso Nacional.com
– Proposed laws
– Commissions in which they participate
– “Cota parlamentar” analysis
• On average US$ 15,000 monthly they can spend
working
• Constantly suspected of embezzlement
• Link with…
9

10. • Main Requirements: 2014 Elections Candidates
– 27 thousand candidates
• President, State Governors, Senators of the Republic, Federal
Deputies and State Deputies
– Candidates identificationidentification datadata
– All cadidates propertiesproperties
Meu Congresso Nacional.comMeu Congresso Nacional.com
– All cadidates propertiesproperties
–– AllAll campaigncampaign donationsdonations
• To the candidate and to his/her party
• Scandal: companies donations // corruption payment
– Received votes
– Link with parliamentarians session
10

11. • Succeful Application
– More than 130k accesses in the elections week
– More than 50k montly accesses Jan-April 2015
• Last update february/2015
– Accesses spread from all Brazilian states
Meu Congresso Nacional.comMeu Congresso Nacional.com
– Accesses spread from all Brazilian states
• Distribution close to country population distribution
– Articles on mass media, like BBC Brazil, UOL
Eleições, and Exame
11

12. Research ApproachResearch ApproachResearch ApproachResearch Approach
12

13. To analyze the benefitsTo analyze the benefits perceived by the general
population by the use of applications based
on OGD
in the context of federal elections,in the context of federal elections,
MainMain ObjectiveObjective
in the context of federal elections,in the context of federal elections,
especially the case of Meu Congresso Nacional
(MCN – My National Congress) application
and the Brazilian elections of 2014.Brazilian elections of 2014.
13

14. • Research Questions:
RQ1: Where do people usually search for
information about politicians and
ObjectiveObjective
information about politicians and
election candidates?
14

15. • Research Questions:
RQ2: How do people compare
independent websites based on OGD
ObjectiveObjective
independent websites based on OGD
and the official government
transparency portals?
15

16. • Research Questions:
RQ3: Are independent websites based
on OGD capable of influencing citizens’
ObjectiveObjective
on OGD capable of influencing citizens’
decisions?
16

17. • Research Questions:
RQ4: Do people consider that websites
based on OGD in the domain of politics
ObjectiveObjective
based on OGD in the domain of politics
are capable of helping to reduce
corruption?
17

18. • Survey deployed on the website during 2014
Elections period
• Developed by:
– Ph.D and M.Sc researchers on Computer Science and
OGD
Research ApproachResearch Approach
OGD
– Market specialist
– Brazilian Federal Service of Prosecution member
• Pilot survey with 7 respondents
– Minor adjustments
18

19. • The Survey
– Four questions groups
• Demographic data (age, gender and home state)
• Wether and how the respondent searches for politicians
information
Research ApproachResearch Approach
• Comparisons between the website and government portals
• Impressions about vote influence and corruption reduction
– Not included in this analysis
• Usability analysis
• Comparisons with similar non-government portals
19

20. • Question types:
– Multiple choices, checkboxes, scale options (from
1 to 5).
• Conditional paths
Research ApproachResearch Approach
Where do you...yes
• Some subjective analysis is needed
– Optional open text fields encourages the
respondent to explain some responses
Do you search
for information about previous
parliamentarian activities…
Where do you...
no
20

21. • Online questionnaire
– Google forms
• Publicized by:
– Facebook page (~2000 followers)
DataData CollectionCollection
Facebook page (~2000 followers)
– Horizontal bar on the top of all MCN pages
• September 17 until October 26 – elections
period
• 897 clicks and 280 full responses
21

22. SurveySurvey ResultsResultsSurveySurvey ResultsResults
22

23. • Respondents age distribution very close to
brazilian distribution
OverallOverall ResultsResults
23

24. • Respondents regional distribution according
to brazilian distribution
OverallOverall ResultsResults
24

25. RQ1: Where do people usually searchRQ1: Where do people usually search
for information about politicians andfor information about politicians and
ResultsResults: RQ1: RQ1
for information about politicians andfor information about politicians and
election candidates?election candidates?
25

26. • Usually only on the elections period
• 47% rarely or never search for politicians information outside
elections
ResultsResults: RQ1: RQ1
Elections Period No Elections Period
Search Engines – 60% Indepentent Blogs and General
Websites – 57%
– Specific websites like MCN are not popular:
Elections Period: 45%, No Elections 26%
Government Websites – 57% Search Engines – 50%
Traditional news channels – 55% Government Websites – 46%
Social Networks – 52% Internet portals of traditional news
channels – 48%
26

27. RQ2: How do people compareRQ2: How do people compare
independent websites based on OGDindependent websites based on OGD
andand
ResultsResults RQ2RQ2
andand
the official government transparencythe official government transparency
portals?portals?
27

28. • 65% already used official government websites
• Strength Question:
– According to following criteria, comparing MCN with
ResultsResults: RQ2: RQ2
– According to following criteria, comparing MCN with
government websites containing politicians
information, MCN is...
Much worse – Worse – Similar – Better – Much Better
28

29. • MCN is Better or Much Better than GOV
Websites
– Easy of Use: 70%
– Quantity of Information: 68%
Perceived Usefulness: 70%
ResultsResults: RQ2: RQ2
– Perceived Usefulness: 70%
– General Experience: 75%
29

30. • MCN is Better or Much Better than GOV
Websites
– Easy of Use: 70%
–– QuantityQuantity ofof InformationInformation: 68%: 68%
Perceived Usefulness: 70%
ResultsResults: RQ2: RQ2
– Perceived Usefulness: 70%
– General Experience: 75%
*It is*It is difficultdifficult toto findfind informationinformation onon thethe
governmentgovernment websiteswebsites
30

31. RQ3:RQ3: Are independent websites basedAre independent websites based
on OGD capable ofon OGD capable of
ResultsResults: RQ3: RQ3
influencing citizens’ decisions?influencing citizens’ decisions?
31

32. Did your visit to MCN have or will it have any
influence on your voting decision in this
election?
ResultsResults: RQ3: RQ3
Strength question:
Strongly Disagree (1) – … – Strongly Agree (5)
32

33. 58%58% agree (or strongly agree) thatagree (or strongly agree) that
ResultsResults: RQ3: RQ3
58%58% agree (or strongly agree) thatagree (or strongly agree) that
their vote decision wastheir vote decision was
influencedinfluenced..
33

34. ResultsResults: RQ3: RQ3
58% agree (or strongly agree) that their vote
decision was influenced. 34

35. • Qualitative analyses
• Four main groups:
– Who completely changed their voting decision after
knowing a bit more about their candidates;
– Who were in doubt between two candidates and
whose visit to MCN helped them to choose their
ResultsResults: RQ3: RQ3
whose visit to MCN helped them to choose their
candidates;
– Who reinforced their previous voting decisions after
visiting MCN
– Who argued that their candidate selection was based
on other factors, mainly ideology, and that MCN data
are not sufficient to influence their voting decisions.
35

36. RQ4: Do people consider websitesRQ4: Do people consider websites
based on OGD in the domain ofbased on OGD in the domain of
politicspolitics
ResultsResults: RQ4: RQ4
capable of helping to reducecapable of helping to reduce
corruptioncorruption??
36

37. 75%75% AgreeAgree oror StronglyStrongly AgreeAgree
ResultsResults: RQ4: RQ4
37

38. • Qualitative Analysis
• Four groups, who believes that:
– To know their activities are public can make
politicians change their attitudes
– To know politicians attitudes will make people change
ResultsResults: RQ4: RQ4
– To know politicians attitudes will make people change
their vote decisions
– It will be no influence, due to they think that Brazilian
justice is inefficient and also corrupt
– It will have no influence, due to the fact that the
population does not look for information about
politicians before deciding their votes.
38

39. SummarySummary ofof ResultsResultsSummarySummary ofof ResultsResults
39

40. 1. People do not use to gather politicians' information
on websites based on OGD
2. The perceived ease of use, quantity of information,
utility and general experience using MCN were much
higher than those of official websites
3. This kind of initiative is capable of influencing
citizens’ voting decisions, acting directly on citizen
SummarySummary
3. This kind of initiative is capable of influencing
citizens’ voting decisions, acting directly on citizen
participation and engagement.
4. Despite people not considering that transparency can
reduce corruption by legal means, they consider that
it will occur by the change of behavior both by the
observer, the citizens, as well as by the observed, the
politician.
40

41. • Broader study:
– More respondents
– Including similar websites
– More data crossing and statistical analysis
Future WorksFuture Works
• The application
– Automatic daily updating and tracking
• User notifications by E-mail, facebook and mobile app
41

42. Assessing the Benefits of Open GovernmentAssessing the Benefits of Open Government
Data: The Case ofData: The Case of MeuMeu CongressoCongresso NacionalNacional
in Brazilian Elections 2014in Brazilian Elections 2014
16th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research
Kellyton Brito
Ph.D. Candidate - Pernambuco Federal University (UFPE), Brazil
Assistant Professor - Pernambuco Rural Federal Universit (UFRPE), Brazil
Leader - Open Data Lab Brazil - opendatabrazil.com
kellyton@kellyton.com.br
May/ 2015