This Discussion Paper has its origins in a January 2004 meeting between
representatives of the Social Research Subcommittee of the Australian Mobile
Telecommunications Association (AMTA) and the secretariat staff at the Academy of the
Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA). That discussion was initiated by AMTA, who
suggested that too little is known about the impact of the mobile telephone on the
people and institutions of Australia and would ASSA, through its links to the social
science community, be interested in facilitating the development of a research agenda
to assess the impact of the mobile phone on Australian society and institutions?
Social Science and Australia's National Research Priorities
In the period 2001-2003 the Government introduced a major initiative to identify a
set of national research priorities to provide greater focus and direction,
partnership and collaboration, urgency and importance to the nation's research and
innovation system. At first, the initiative was primarily focused on science,
engineering and technology as the putative drivers of technological change,
competitiveness and prosperity. As the initiative unfolded, the crucial role of the
social sciences and humanities as partners and contributors to national research
knowledge and innovation was increasingly recognised.