M-government for courts systems: A data collection trial in Papua New Guinea Policy-makers realise the value of comprehensive, valid data for assisting in policy decisions. Timely, reliable data can greatly assist in the management of service delivery systems at both national and local levels, and can make a positive contribution to effective governance. However, in developing countries data collection efforts can be expensive and time-consuming due to impediments such as poor transport, electricity and communications infrastructure. As mobile phone access continues to spread throughout the developing world (see: ITU, 2014; Awan, 2013: p. 87), efforts are being made to test the use of the technology in data collection (Blum, Manning and Srivastava, 2014: p. 31). This article presents a case study of innovative data collection methods using mobile phone text messaging in Papua New Guinea.1 Background Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a rich cultural heritage and abundant natural resources, but performs poorly on a wide range of development indicators. The country has topographical obstacles and poor infrastructure, which makes transport and communication costly, difficult and time-consuming. Collecting data in PNG is challenging, particularly in rural and remote areas. Data collection from village courts, which play an important role in the country’s legal system, is no exception. Meanwhile, the increasing availability of mobile phone reception across PNG in very recent years (Watson, 2012: pp. 46–47; 2013) has provided a unique opportunity for a remote data collection project to be trialled. Mobile phone text messaging, or SMS, is possible on all types of mobile phone handsets, does not require a Figure 1: Clerks’ performance Commonwealth Governance 34 Handbook 2014/15 data connection, does not require complex technical knowledge and is common practice in PNG (Temple, 2011). This trial tested whether carrying out surveys via text messaging is a viable system in the PNG context. The country’s health sector has also been subject to trials of data collection using mobile phones (Rosewell et al., 2013). Data collection project A trial project was conducted in the law and justice sector, led by two government agencies – the Magisterial Service, and the Village Courts and Land Mediation Secretariat – and funded by the government of Australia. The project involved the collection of data on the role of district courts in supporting village courts to use enforcement provisions allowed under the Village Courts Act 1989. To the knowledge of the authors, this is one of the first instances of this type of data collection in the Pacific region and indeed globally. The initiative followed a 12-month-long process of trying, unsuccessfully, to collect data using hard copy survey forms. In a two-month-long trial, clerks at district courts throughout PNG received text messages containing survey questions. The trial tested whether district courts were more willing and able to provide data on village court imprisonment orders if requests were sent via a user-friendly mobile phone system. As part of the project, clerks received introductory over-the-phone training, and the frequency and quality of their responses were tested. The project involved the development of short, clear text message questions which were written with extensive consultation within the sector. A software company designed an automated system and a password-protected, web-enabled interface showed real-time data coming in and created downloadable spreadsheet files. It was free of charge to send and receive text messages as part of the trial, and clerks could activate the system at any time by texting in the word ‘start’ to a number given to them during training. Once a week during the two-month-long trial reminder text messages were sent to clerks to prompt them to send in information. The clerks were also asked to rate their experiences. Research methods also included two quantitative surveys conducted as structured interviews over the phone with participating clerks and semi-structured telephone interviews with a representative sample of participants. Quantitative data was gathered about the amount of data collected through text messaging which was then collated with data from research interviews. In order to ensure that the research was undertaken in an ethical manner, all clerks were given a choice about whether or not they wanted to participate in the pilot as part of the over-the-phone training process. Furthermore, for semi-structured interviews, the clerks approached were given information designed to help them Amanda H. A. Watson and Elizabeth Morgan ‘Active’ 18 ‘Non-active’ 4 ‘Semi-active’ 17
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