Professor Helen Margetts

Profile

Helen Margetts is Professor of Society and the Internet at the OII. She is a political scientist specialising in e-government and digital era governance and politics, investigating the nature and implications of relationships between governments, citizens and the Internet and related digital technologies in the UK and internationally. She has published major research reports in this area for agencies such as the OECD and the UK National Audit Office, in addition to important books and articles. In 2003 she and Patrick Dunleavy won the 'Political Scientists Making a Difference' award from the UK Political Studies Association. She is co-director of OxLab, a laboratory for social science experiments and editor of the journal Policy and Internet.

Professor Margetts joined the OII in 2004 from University College London where she was a Professor in Political Science and Director of the School of Public Policy. She began her career as a computer programmer / systems analyst with Rank Xerox after receiving her BSc in mathematics from the University of Bristol. She returned to studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1989, completing an MSc in Politics and Public Policy in 1990 and a PhD in Government in 1996. She worked as a researcher at LSE from 1991 to 1994 and a lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London from 1994 to 1999.

Research interests

e-government, government information technology and large-scale IT contracts, public management reform, tools of public policy, online collective action and political participation, alternative electoral systems, social science experiments, webmetrics

Positions held at the OII

• Professor of Society and the Internet, October 2004 -
• Director of Graduate Studies, October 2009 - August 2010
• Director of Research, October 2004 - September 2009

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Research

Current projects

• OXLab: Oxford eXperimental Laboratory

  October 2006 -

  Oxford eXperimental Laboratory is undertaking laboratory-based experiments (eg information-seeking tasks) on networked computers in two disciplines: Economics (interactive decision making) and Political Science (evaluating government information online).

• OxIS: Oxford Internet Surveys

  January 2003 -

  Research on access, use and attitudes to the Internet in Britain based on biennial surveys covering (for example) digital and social inclusion and exclusion, social networking, safety and privacy concerns, Internet regulation, and behaviour.

• Government on the Web

  October 1999 -

  Research dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of e-government and the impact of web-based technologies on government.

Past projects

• Information Exchange between Citizens and the Department of Work and Pensions

  September 2008 - March 2009

  A value for money study for the National Audit Office (NAO) looking at information exchange between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its benefit customers.

• Breaking Barriers to e-Government

  December 2004 - December 2007

  Investigating the legal, organisational, technological and other barriers to expanding effective eGovernment services using the Internet and to define possible solutions at a European level to overcome such obstacles.

• Participation in Internet-mediated interactions

  October 2004 - December 2006

  This research applies a multidisciplinary approach to developing a methodology for evaluating the web structure and 'health' of e-government, and investigating design mechanisms for fundraising on the Internet (including determinants of giving behaviour).

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Publications

• Articles
• Books
• Chapters
• Conference papers
• Presentations
• Reports

Articles

• John, P. and Margetts, H. (2009) The Latent Support for the Extreme Right in British Politics. West European Politics, 32 (3): 496-513.
• Eynon, R. and Margetts, H. (2008) Organisational Solutions for Overcoming Barriers to eGovernment. European Journal of ePractice 1: 1-13.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2008) Australian e-Government in Comparative Perspective. Australian Journal of Political Science 43 (1): 13-26.
• Margetts, H. (2006) E-Government in Britain—A Decade On. Parliamentary Affairs 59 (2) 250-265.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2006) New Public Management Is Dead--Long Live Digital-Era Governance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 16 (3) 467-494.
• Margetts, H. (2005) Smartening up to risk in electronic government. Information Polity 10 (1-2) 81-94.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2005) The Impact of UK Electoral Systems. Parliamentary Affairs 58 (4) 854-870.
• John, P. and Margetts, H. (2003) Policy punctuations in the UK: fluctuations and equilibria in central government expenditure since 1951. Public Administration 81 (3) 411-432.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2002) Mixed electoral systems in Britain and the Jenkins Commission on electoral reform. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2002 (1) 12-38.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2001) From Majoritarian to Pluralist Democracy? Journal of Theoretical Politics 13 (3) 295-319.
• Abrar, S., Lovenduski, J. and Margetts, H. (2000) Feminist Ideas and Domestic Violence Policy Change. Political Studies 48 (2) 239-262.
• Dowding, K., Dunleavy, P., King, D., Margetts, H. and Rydin, Y. (1999) Regime Politics in London Local Government. Urban Affairs Review 34 (4).
• Goetz, K.H. and Margetts, H. (1999) The Solitary Center: the Core Executive in Central and Eastern Europe. Governance 12 (4) 425-453.
• Abrar, S., Lovenduski, J. and Margetts, H. (1998) Sexing London: The Gender Mix of Urban Policy Actors. International Political Science Review 19 (2) 147-171.
• Margetts, H. (1997) The 1997 British general election: New labour, new Britain? West European Politics 20 (4) 181-191.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (1997) The Electoral System. Parliamentary Affairs 50: 733-749.
• Margetts, H. (1996) Public Management Change and Sex Equality within the State. Parliamentary Affairs 49: 130-142.
• Dowding, K., Dunleavy, P., King, D. and Margetts, H. (1995) Rational Choice and Community Power Structures. Political Studies 43 (2) 265-277.
• Margetts, H. (1995) The Automated State. Public Policy and Administration 10 (2) 88-103.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (1995) Understanding the Dynamics of Electoral Reform. International Political Science Review 16 (1) 9-29.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H. and Weir, S. (1992) How Britain would have voted under Alternative Electoral Systems in 1992. Parliamentary Affairs 45 (4) 640-655.

Books

• Margetts, H., 6, P. and Hood, C. (2010) Paradoxes of Modernization. Unintended Consequences of Public Policy Reform. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2006) Digital Era Governance: IT Corporations, the State and e-Government. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hood, C. and Margetts, H. (2006) The Tools of Government in the Digital Age. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Margetts, H. (1999) Information Technology in Government: Britain and America. London: Routledge.

Chapters

• Margetts, H. (2010) Modernization Dreams and Public Policy Reform. In: H.Margetts, P.6 and C.Hood (Eds) Paradoxes of Modernization. Unintended Consequences of Public Policy Reform. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 17-43.
• Margetts, H. (2003) Electronic Government: A Revolution in Public Administration. In: G.Peters and J.Pierre (eds) Handbook of Public Administration. Sage.

Conference papers

• Margetts, H., John, P. and Escher, T. (2009) Can the internet overcome the logic of collective action? An experimental approach to investigating the impact of social pressure on political participation. Paper to the Political Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Manchester, 7-9 April 2009.
• Margetts, H., John, P. and Escher, T. (2009) Experiments for Web Science: Examining the Effect of the Internet on Collective Action. In: Proceedings of the WebSci'09: Society On-Line, 18-20 March 2009, Athens, Greece.
• Escher, T. and Margetts, H. (2007) Understanding Governments and Citizens On-line: Learning from E-commerce. 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA), Chicago, IL.
• Escher, T., Margetts, H., Petricek, V. and Cox, I. (2006) Governing from the Centre? Comparing the Nodality of Digital Governments. 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.
• Petricek, V., Escher, T., Cox I.J. and Margetts, H. (2006) The Web Structure of E-Government - Developing a Methodology for Quantitative Evaluation. 15th International World Wide Web Conference, Edinburgh, UK.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2004) Government IT performance and the power of the IT industry: A cross-national analysis. Paper presented at the Annual American Political Science Association conference, Chicago, Panel 25-2 'Digital Policy Issues: Inequality, E-government', 4 September 2004.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2003) E-government and Policy Innovation in Seven Liberal Democracies. Presented at the Political Studies Association's Annual Conference, University of Leicester, 15-17 April 2003.
• Margetts, H., Dunleavy, P., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2003) Leaders and Followers: E-government, Policy Innovation and Policy Transfer in the European Union. Paper presented at the EUSA Conference, Nashville, TN, 27 March 2003.

Presentations

• Margetts, H. and Eynon, R. (2007) Online job search in the EU: The potential of web 2.0. Presented at the workshop 'Fostering Innovation in eGovernment', Barcelona, 9 March 2007.
• Margetts, H. and Eynon, R. (2006) Oxford Internet Survey (OXIS) New directions, new questions. Presented at 'The Next Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS)', Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, 24 November 2006.
• Dutton, W.H., Margetts, H. and Eynon, R. (2006) Barriers to eGovernment. Presented at the workshop 'Learning from Experience in eGovernment: Why Projects Fail and Why They Succeed', University of Oxford, 26 June 2006.
• Margetts, H. and Hicks, T. (2006) Barriers to eGovernment: A Case Study in 'Digital Citizen Rights' (DCR). Presented at the workshop 'Learning from Experience in eGovernment: Why Projects Fail and Why They Succeed', University of Oxford, 26 June 2006.
• Margetts, H. and Eynon, R. (2006) Segmenting citizens: group based approaches to eGovernment. Presented at the workshop 'From Barriers to Benefits: Efficiency and Effectiveness of eGovernment', Helsinki, 22 November 2006.
• Margetts, H. (2005) The structure of e-government. Conference of the Communications Research Network, Cambridge-MIT Institute, Cambridge, 29 June-1 July 2005.
• Margetts, H. and Eynon, R. (2005) Organisational Culture as a Barrier to e-Government. Presented at the 5th European Conference on eGovernment, Antwerp, 17 June 2005.

Reports

• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Goldchluk, S., Khan, M.K., Tinkler, J., Towers, E. and Escher, T. (2009) Department for Work and Pensions. Communicating with Customers. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 421 Session 2008-2009. London: The Stationery Office.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Escher, T., Pearce, O. and Tinkler, J. (2007) Government on the Internet. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 529 Session 2006-2007, 13 July 2007. London: The Stationery Office.
• Margetts, H., Peter, J., Rowland, D. and Weir, S. (2006) The BNP: the roots of its appeal. Essex: Democratic Audit.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Tinkler, J., Pearce, O. and Bartholomeou, P. (2006) Achieving innovation in central government organisations. London: The Stationery Office, HC 1447 Session 2005-2006, published 25 July 2006.
• Bartholomeou, P., Bastow, S., Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Pearce, O. and Tinkler, J. (2006) Report on Seven Focus Groups conducted for the Achieving innovation in central government organisations report. Published alongside Achieving innovation in central government organisations: HC 1447-I, Session 2005-2006.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Tinkler, J., Pearce, O. and Bartholomeou, P. (2006) Achieving innovation in central government organisations: Detailed research findings. Published alongside Achieving innovation in central government organisations: HC 1447-I, Session 2005-2006.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Tinkler, J., Pearce, O. and Bartholomeou, P. (2006) Summaries of innovations submitted for the Achieving innovation in central government organisations report. Published alongside Achieving innovation in central government organisations: HC 1447-I, Session 2005-2006.
• Margetts, H., Eynon, R. and Hicks, T. (2006) Research into Barriers and Incentives for Businesses Filing Returns Online. Article to accompany NAO value for money report Filing VAT and Company Tax returns. The Stationary Office: London.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Loughlin, M., Bastow, S., Tinkler, J., Pearce, O. and Bartholomeou, P. (2005) Citizen Redress: What citizens can do if things go wrong with public services. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 21 Session 2004-2005, 9 March 2005.
• Bartholomeou, P., Campbell, R., Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H. and Tinkler, J. (2005) Report on Four Focus Groups conducted for the Citizen Redress NAO report. Published alongside Citizen Redress: What citizens can do if things go wrong with public services: HC 21 Session 2004-2005, 9 March 2005.
• Bartholomeou, P., Bishop, M., Margetts, H., Pearce, O., Tinkler, J. and Welham, S. (2005) Report on the 'Mystery Shopper' exercise conducted for the Citizen Redress NAO report. Published alongside Citizen Redress: What citizens can do if things go wrong with public services: HC 21 Session 2004-2005, 9 March 2005.
• Margetts, H. and Yared, H. (2003) Incentivization of e-government. Article to accompany NAO report: 'Transforming the performance of HM Customs and Excise through Electronic Service Delivery'. London: The Stationery Office.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Bouçek, F. and Campbell, R. (2003) Difficult Forms: How government agencies interact with citizens. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 1145 Session 2002-2003, 31 October 2003.
• Bastow, S., Boucek, F., Campbell, R., Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2003) Form Survey Questions. Published alongside Difficult Forms: How government agencies interact with citizens: HC 1145 Session 2002-2003, 31 October 2003.
• Bastow, S., Boucek, F., Campbell, R., Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2003) Report on Ten Focus Groups conducted for the 'Difficult Forms' NAO report. Published alongside Difficult Forms: How government agencies interact with citizens: HC 1145 Session 2002-2003, 31 October 2003.
• Margetts, H. and Dunleavy, P. (2002) Cultural Barriers to E-Government. Academic article for the report: 'Better Public Services Through e-government'. London: National Audit Office, 2002, HC 704-III.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts, H. (2002) Government on the Web II. London: The Stationery Office, 2002, HC764.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., Tinkler, J. and Yared, H. (2001) Policy Learning and Public Sector Information Technology: Contractual and E-Government Changes in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, CA, 28 August - 1 September 2001.
• Margetts, H. (2001) The Cyber Party. Paper to workshop 'The Causes and Consequences of Organisational Innovation in European Political Parties' at European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR) Joint Sessions of Workshops, Grenoble, 6-11 April 2001.
• Dunleavy, P. and Margetts. H. (2000) The Advent of Digital Government: Public Bureaucracy and the State in the Internet Age. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Political Science Association, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC, 4 September 2000.
• Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S. and Tinkler, J. (2000) The Advent of a Digital State and Government-Business Relations. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Political Science Association, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK, 10-13 April 2000.

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Teaching

Courses taught at the OII

• Digital Era Government and Politics

  Providing an in-depth understanding of the changing nature of digital-era governance and politics and the theoretical, practical and ethical questions surrounding the role of the Internet and related technologies in political life.

• Social Research Methods and the Internet (Parts I and II)

  Examining issues concerning application of traditional social research methods to the study of emerging ICTs, as well as the use of new methods, enabled by the Internet and ICTs, in the study of an array of social research problems.

DPhil students supervised at the OII

Current students

• Roy Nyberg

  Thesis title to be confirmed.

Completed students

• Max Loubser

  Organisational Mechanisms in Peer Productions: The Case of Wikipedia

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Webcasts

• Mapping and Measuring Cybercrime (Public Forum)

  Recorded on: 22 January 2010 Duration: 00:00:00

  This public panel discussion focuses on the most appropriate ways of mapping and measuring cybercrime to inform legislative, research and policy debates. It highlights the findings of an all-day invited forum on the topic.

• Parties, Campaigns and Representation: The Political Impact of Blogs and Social Media

  Recorded on: 18 September 2009 Duration: 00:00:00

  Are social media tools likely to prove effective in engaging any voters except those who are already interested in politics? Is their apparent 'democratisation' of traditional party structures to be believed?

• The Virtue of Forgetting

  Recorded on: 18 September 2009 Duration: 00:00:00

  Digital technology empowers us to find and share information as never before, but we do not always foresee the consequences of these new powers. Can the dangers of everlasting digital memory be avoided? Can we reintroduce our capacity to forget?

• Studying at the Oxford Internet Institute

  Recorded on: 27 October 2008 Duration: 00:00:00

  Thinking about applying for our DPhil or MSc courses? Want to know more about what it's like to study at the OII? In this ten minute video, faculty and students talk about the OII's DPhil and MSc programmes.

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News

• New Journal: Policy and Internet

  18 February 2009 Oxford Internet Institute

  The OII, the Policy Studies Organization (PSO), and BEPress announce 'Policy and Internet', the first major peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary journal investigating the implications of the Internet and associated technologies for public policy

• New Report: State of UK Government on the Internet

  13 July 2007 Oxford Internet Institute

  The UK National Audit Office publishes a report on the state of UK government on the Internet, based on research by Helen Margetts (OII) and Patrick Dunleavy (LSE)

• Snagged up in the web? New report on how the government is using the internet

  13 July 2007 University of Oxford

  A new report to parliament on whether the UK government's own websites are effective is published by the UK National Audit Office (NAO), written and researched by an OII-LSE team

• Electing the House of Lords: Political scientists call for a 280 seat Senate, elected using proportional representation

  8 March 2007 Oxford Internet Institute

  Professor Helen Margetts comments on the House of Commons' vote for an entirely elected second chamber

• Helen Margetts becomes University of Oxford's Professor of Society and the Internet

  22 April 2004 Oxford Internet Institute

  Helen Margetts becomes the University of Oxford's Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, also taking up a Professorial Fellowship in Mansfield College

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Events

• Undergraduate Lecture Series (H1): Politics and the Internet

  Monday 17 January 2011 16:00 - 17:00

  What impact do ICTs have on the core activities and institutions of government and politics? Do these technologies serve to reinforce, undermine or otherwise alter traditional political models or patterns of behaviour?

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