Embedded Files
Researcher
Researcher
Ethan Irish
ethan@irish.repair
Class of 2023
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
There is a problem with the Right-to-Repair. Despite consumers constantly needing a device repaired, there are arguments being made against the Right to Repair when it is a vital right that we need. People are claiming that Dedicated right-to-repair legislation is unnecessary and permitting consumers or unauthorized businesses to repair products exposes both consumers and repair professionals to a host of safety, quality, and security risks. However, in reality these risks are minimal. This problem is negatively impacting consumers because anyone and everyone should be able to repair their own devices and companies need to make resources publicly available which may need legislation to push them. A possible cause of this problem is people not thinking they are capable of repairing their own electronic devices. Perhaps a study that investigates the effectiveness of Right-to-Repair in consumers (Teenagers) by doing a study where people attempt to repair a device and test how quickly they can or if they even can repair the device could remedy this situation.
Significance and Value of Study
Significance and Value of Study
This research shows how Teenagers can repair electronics with a high rate of success and that the right to repair can have a positive impact on how well teenagers can repair devices.
The Question
The Question
What is the efficacy of the Right to Repair with Teenagers?
Definitions
Time to Repair (TTR) - The time it takes to repair the device.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - A mechanical data storage device.
Success - The action of replacing the HDD, reconnecting all the cables inside the laptop, and putting the laptop back together.
Effectiveness -How successful the repair is, taking into account the TTR and the perceived success of the participant.
Hypothesis and Assumptions
Hypothesis and Assumptions
I hypothesized that the right to repair would be effective in teenagers. I thought that teenagers would be able to successfully repair electronics, but that they would overestimate the time it would take to complete the repair.
Proposed Method of Study
Proposed Method of Study
The Method of Study employed be a Mixed-Method Quasi-Experiment.
Students were given a laptop, a repair guide for the laptop, a set of tools and the replacement parts, then were asked to make the repair.
Definitions and Variables
Definitions and Variables
Control - The device being repaired and the repair that is being made
Time - How long it takes for the device to be repaired
Results
Success Time
Success Time
Every participant in this experiment was successful at repairing the HDD in the laptop. 67% of participants overestimated the time it would take to complete the repair
Perceived Success
Perceived Success
83% of participants felt they were Successful or Very Successful. No participants felt unsuccessful or very unsuccessful
Success and Age
Success and Age
Age appeared to have no effect on perceived success. There was an even distribution of the ages across the three perceived success categories
Limitations
There was a limited sample size of six participants
There was a lack of resources, the laptop used started to wear down during the experiment
The laptop was slightly outdated, so it may not fully represent the devices that students own today
Conclusion
Due to the limitations, it is not definite whether or not the right to repair is effective in teenagers. Therefore these findings only partially confirm the original hypothesis, that the right to repair would be effective in teenagers, but that teenagers would overestimate the time it would take to complete the repair. While the evidence was not conclusive, it leans towards confirming the hypothesis. There was a high rate of success in the experiment and teenagers did overestimate the time it would take to complete the repair.
Implications
Teenagers can repair electronics with a high rate of success
Electronic repair isn’t as difficult as teenagers assume
The Right to Repair has a positive impact on how well teenagers can repair devices
Future Research
Test more than one devices
Test problem diagnosis ability
More common repairs, like battery replacement
Key Sources
Perzanowski, A. (2022). The Right to Repair: Reclaiming the Things We Own. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108946926
Rosner, D. K. (2014). Making Citizens, Reassembling Devices: On Gender and the Development of Contemporary Public Sites of Repair in Northern California. Public Culture, 26(1), 51–77. https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-2346250
Asus X551CA Hard Drive Replacement (2020, January 22). In iFixit. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Asus+X551CA+Hard+Drive+Replacement/24289
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