HOW TO MEASURE DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE OF INDIVIDUAL

1Hasran

Faculty of Economic
2Zulfikar

Faculty of Language
Islamic Sultan Agung University of Semarang
Hasran.aslan95@gmail.com, ikar.hunt@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Rapid changes in technology have a great impact on human lives. Humans use
technology to facilitate their performance, no exception with digital technology.
However many people consider that it would bring negative impact on the
individual behavior such as internet addiction, play games online, social media
addiction and explore the malicious websites. Apart from such point of view,
digital is a necessity that could not be rejected and avoided. Digital is necessity
for human live and the best thing that can be taken is to accept it cooperatively.
This study aims to elaborate the methods how to measure digital intelligence of
individual. Previous literature will be reviewed to find out the methods how to
measure digital intelligence of individual. This research will have great
contribution for the next research and many stakeholders who has interest
regarding digital intelligence.

Keywords: digital Intelligence, Individual, Measurement, Methods

1. INTRODUCTION

People could be differentiated by intelligence they had (Adam, 2003).

Intelligence then becomes a measure to gauge the quality of each person. Along
with the times, labor market requires a measurement of a person's intelligence. In
order to cope with this phenomenon, Gardner (1983) develops a theoretical
framework regarding the various types of intelligence which was then known as
the Intelligence Quotient. With the increasing complexity of the world of work,

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the necessity of other intelligences is emerged. Thus, Gardner (1999) added two
types of intelligence known as emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence.

Now days we are in millenium era where digital become an important aspect of
lives. Every day we use technology to communicate with other people either
directly or indirectly. Digital is used by human to simplify their daily activities.
However, digital era is not merely accepted by all human being, some of them
refused it because of the negative impact which maight be occured especially for
children. According to the report by Agencies Childwise (2015), children have
been using digital since five years ld, they spent average seven hours with digital
longer than they spent with their families. They also found that children spent 3
hours for internet, 2.1 hours for watching TV and 3 hours for playing online
games.
A part from its negative impact, digital has become necessity which could not be
prohobited. We have been in it and the best way to take is accept the digital itself
or use the digital. However, there are still limited literatures which discuss about
digital intelligence and nothing about how to measure the digital intelligence
itself. wheares this measurement is very important. Thus, its stakeholders include
work forces, parents, and education world could obtain benefit from the digital.

2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Digital intelligence

Our ability to gain and apply knowledges and skills we had is known as
intelligence. According to Gardner (1993), intelligence is “the ability to solve
problems or designing good quality products. at present, access toward digital is
getting increase. Even we have facebook, twitter, and many kinds of social media
to communicate with other people. We also have some electronic devices such as
tablet which make us more flexible in obtain information from internet. Even,
work force has used IT as its main driver.

When technology growing faster, we need some progresive critical thinking to

make everything running effectively. That is way of thinking which lay the

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technology as new intelligence or digital intelligence. Simply, digital intelligence
is the ability in gaining and actuating knowledge and skill we have regarding
digital technology. This digital intelligence is more than just the ability to use but
understand how, why, and when the digital should be used to improve the
expected output. (Rible, 2011).
The Only problem is we are actually using the technology for negative things such
as cyber bullying, online fraud, and for some negative content. Moreover, many of
us only use digital technology to access social media such as Facebook, BBM,
Instagram and some kind of activity that have no positive impact on our
development (Nordin et al, 2016).

Digital intelligence levels

Digital intelligence has three difference levels. These levels describe someone
intelligence level in using digital, those are Digital Citizenship, Digital Creativity,
and Digital Entrepreneurship.

1) Digital citizenship
Digital Citizenship is the basic digital intelligence should be possesed by
individual in this era. This concern the ability of individual to participate in
digital society (Rible,2011). Furthermore, this also requires overall usage of
digital in many kinds of activities in the right way. Even, Nordin et al (2016)
revealed that digital citizenship is concern about the norms of accepted behavior
regarding digital usage. According to the Rible (2011), Digital citizenship could
be devided into nine elements, those are:
 Digital Access, the ability to participate or join online and have good digital
access in home or public spots such as computer, laptop mobile phone and
internet.
 Digital Commerce. The ability to participate in online business through
buying and selling something online.
 Digital Communication. The ability to communicate or change information
by using digital devices in right way and time.

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 Digital Literacy, the ability to use digital devices as supporting tools to
support teaching and learning process such as cyber learning, online book,
etc.
 Digital etitquitte, the ability to understand procedures or standards of
digital technology usage. For instance the procedure to not use digital for
negative activities such as cyber bullying, online gambling, etc.
 Digital Law. The ability to consider and understand the regulation standards
in using digital.
 Digital Rights and Responsibilities. Ability to understand rights and
responsibilities in online group or community regarding what is allowed and
prohibitted in the community online.
 Digital Health and Wellness. Ability to understand and realize about the
negative impact which might occured physically and psychologically.
According to Manjoo (2003), carpal tunnel syndrome is not the only the
disease should be feared because of the excessive use of digital.
 Digital Security. The ability to secure and protect the data in computers or
mobile phones by using passwords or some kind of virus applications.

2) Digital creativity
In the last few decades, the development of technologies has changed human
creativity. In other word, democratization computer and internet has allowed
people to access various types of widely information and use the digital devices
in order to create something which beneficial for mankind (Bonnardel and
Zenasni, 2010).
When the role of technology become improve in our lives, it is crucial to
measure and understand the creative behavior of digital usage which also
known as digital creativity. Digital creativity is the ability to become a part of
digital ecosystem through creates new contents as well as turns the idea into
reality by using digital technology. Creativity in digital terms comprises many
aspects. Hocevar (1979) revealed that creativity in digital technology at least
comprises some areas such as literatures, musics, designs, maths, sciences, and
arts. In literatures field, digital creativity could take form such as designing

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cyber learning website, blogs, write and publish literatures (Gugane, 2014). In
musics field, digital creativity could take form as creating music player
application such mp3 (Cope,2005).

3) Digital Entrepreneurship

In economic aspect, entrepreneur has become the most important things either
in small scales or large scales. National University Comission (2013) defines
entrepreneurship as activity which involves identification some opportunities in
economic system, creating new organizations, willingness and ability of
individual in monitoring business opportunities as well as success in running
business.
Business has become an integral part of entrepreneurship. The way to operating
business has different from the past. Now days, many of business activities is
driven by digital which lead to the emergence of many possibilities. McKinsey
assumes that one job is omitted because of the development of new technology.
However along with that approximately 2,6 new jobs is emerged as the
consequences of the emergence of new technology. This phenomenon indicates
that digital (McKinsey & Company,2012).
This study more emphasis on individual aspect of entrepreneurship which
mean that with the existence of digital technology people could be able to see
the opportunity and react as an entrepreneur in order to create something which
have bargaining value. By using digital technology there will be various things
could be done by an entrepreneur such as selling the product through internet
which could minimize the distribution cost or advertise their product by online.

The level of individual digital intelligence could be seen in the picture 1

bellow:

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Digital intelligence aspects

As has been mentioned above, digital intelligence has three different levels.
Digital intelligence also has 8 interrelated aspects those are:

1) Digital Identity. The ability to create online identity as well as keep

people reputations by online such as individual awareness to manage long
term or short term of online activity. Some competence of digitals
identities are digital citizenship, digital co-creator (creativity), and digital
entrepreneur.
2) Digital Use. The ability to use digital technology and social media as well
as control the digital technology itself in order to create a balancing
between online and offline. There are some competences of digital use:
screen time digital health and community participation.
3) Digital Safety. The ability to manage or overcome some online risks such
as cyber bullying, radical activity, and online content problems. Some
competences of digital safeties are behavioral risk, content risk, and
contact risk
4) Digital Security. The ability to detect cyber threat such as hacking, scams,
and malware. Beside that the ability to understand the usage of tools and
applications to protect data also consider as digital security aspects. Some

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 competences of digital security are password protection , internet security
and mobile security
5) Digital Communication. The ability to communicate and connected with
other people by using digital technology as well as social media. Some
competences of digital communication are online communication and
digital footprints.
6) Digital Emotional Intelligence. The ability to empathy and built good
relation with other people through online. Some competence of digital
emotional intelligence are social and emotional awareness, emotional
awareness/ regulation, and empathy
7) Digital Literacy. The ability to find, evaluate, use, share, and create
certain contents and competences in computerize. Some competence of
digital literacy are computational thinking, content creation and critical
thinking
8) Digital Right. The ability to understand and protect individual rights.
Some competences of digital right are freedom of speech, intellectual
property right and privacy.
The aspects of digital intelligence of individual could be seen in the picture 2
bellow:

Picture 2. Eight aspects digital intelligence of individual

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3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Digital Intelligence Measurement

Digital intelligence aspect requires indicators measurement as well as with other

intelligence models such as intellectual Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Quotient (EQ).

However, all this time there has been no literature that attempts to measure the

intelligence of people in using digital tools. Due to that reason, this research explaining

the measurement model of digital intelligence. Measurement model of this research

adopts the measurement models used by the European Commission (2014) when

measuring the digital skills of all students in European countries in 2014 and combines it

with the digital skills indicators used by Hoffmann (2016). The first thing that we have to

conduct in measuring the digital intelligence is identifying the eight aspects of digital

intelligence, then define each competence of each of these aspects. Eighth aspect and

Operational definitions of each competency can be seen in table 1 bellow:

Table 1:
Competency of Digital Intelligence Aspect
Competence areas Competences
Dimension 1 Dimension 2
1. Digital Identity 1.1 Digital Citizen
To participate in online communities in good ways.
1.2 Digital Co-Creator
To create something creatively by using digital media or digital technology.
1.3 Digital Entrepreneur
To participate in the online trading and to market products in ways that
will attract the consumer attention.
2. Digital Use 2.1 Screen Time
To manage online time, so online and offline activities will be balanced.
2.2 Digital Health
Aware of digital effects for health and capable to use the media as well as
digital technology in healthy ways.
2.3 Community Participation

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 To participate in online community.
3. Digital Security 3.1 Password Protection
To secure data by creating a password or protective application data.
3.2 Internet Security
To realize the importance of online explorations securely and capable to
use a particular application to browse securely.
3.3 Mobile Security
To protect privacy in the mobile phone by using certain applications to
protect data in the mobile phone.
4. Digital Safety 4.1 Behavior Risk
To identify potential risk of negative behaviour in online activities and
after online activities.
4.2 Content Risk
To comprehend, identify and manage potential risks of harmful content in
online activities for both physical and psychological condition.
4.3 Contact Risk
To realize and to identify potential risks to contacts who are not known
and mitigate these risks.
5. Digital Emotional 5.1 Social and Emotional Awareness
Intelligence To realize the importance of increasing social awareness and emotional
awareness.
5.2 Emotional Awareness and Regulation
To comprehend and raise awareness of the importance of regulation in the
use of media and digital technology.
5.3 Empathy
To raise a feeling empathetic to the people online needs.
6.Digital 6.1 Online Collaboration
communication To use technology and media to work in groups.
6.2 Online Communication
Use digital technology and media to communicate and interact with others.
6.3 Digital Footprints
To comprehend the essence of footprints and use them wisely and
responsibly.
7. Digital Literacy 7.1 Computational Thinking
To comprehend, use and make computational thinking (CI).
7.2 Content Creation
To create contents such as blogs and other programs using digital media or
technology.
7.3 Critical Thinking

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 To think more objectively and scientifically by using digital technology and
media in the learning process.
8. Digital Right 8.1 Freedom of Speech
To realize the freedom of speech of others in the online world. And
understand the limits of the freedom of speech.
8.2 Intellectual Property Right
To respect the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim
others intellectual property rights.
8.3 Privacy
To comprehend and respect the privacy of others in the digital world.

Digital Intelligence Indicators

a. Digital Identify
Here is a digital identity indicator that covers the three competences of the
digital citizen (1.1), digital co-creator (1.2), digital entrepreneur (1.3)
 Have a good tool or good digital technology such as computers, or mobile
phones
 Capable to access the internet or perform online activities
 Creating a blog, programming languages, application of music and video
players
 Capable to conduct online trading
 Marketing products through social media
 Finding information about goods or services
 Creating a database
b. Digital Use
Here is a digital use indicator that covers the three competences of screen
time (2.1), digital health (2.2), Community participation (2.3)
 Managing time online and offline in a day proportionally
 Have a social group or community in social media
 Participating in social media and group or community in social media
 Prioritizing and pay attention to physical health when using digital
technology

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c. Digital Safety
Here is a digital safety indicator that covers the three competencies of
behavioral risk (3.1), content risk (3.2), contacts risk (3.3)
 Do not access malicious websites
 Do not serve communication with unknown contacts
 Recognizing the dangers of dependence on digital technology and avoid it.
d. Digital Security
Here is a digital indicator of security that covers the three competencies of
password protection (4.1), internet security (4.2), mobile phones security (4.3)
 Setting a password on digital tools such as computers and mobile phones
 Renewing password at least once in a month
 Installing the latest antivirus on digital technology in our tools.
e. Digital Emotional intelligence
Here is a digital emotional indicator that covers the competency of empathy
(5.3), social and emotional awareness (5.1), and does not include emotional awareness
/ regulation (5.2)

 Sharing information and appreciate the success of others through the media or
digital technology

 Do not share information that showed excessive expression such as anger on

social media.
f. Digital Communication
Here is a digital communication indicator that covers the three
competencies of digital collaboration (6.1), digital communication (6.2), digital
footprints (6.3)
 Making communication with social media in the last one week
 Giving appreciation or comments after taking information from others
such as blogs or social media
 Capable work with others in the social media community
 Participating in a discussion forum on the internet

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g. Digital Literacy
Here is a digital literacy indicator that covers the three competency,
content creation (7.2), critical thinking (7.3) and does not include
computational thinking (7.1)
 Capable to operate Microsoft Office for learning activities
 Creating a blog
 Creating a website
 Creating a programming language
 Creating multimedia presentations (pictures, video and graphics)
h. Digital Right
Here is a digital right indicator that covers the three comptences,
intellectual property right (8.2) and privacy (8.3), and does not include freedom
of speech (8.1)
 Do not copy or download other people's work without permission
 No damage or hijack the social accounts of others
 Using information obtained from the Internet without plagiarism (copy and
paste in the task)

Standard Determining Method

After formulated the indicator of each competency, the next steps is determining
the scale of measurement. This research adopts the scale used in the study
European Commission (2014), which uses a scale of none, basic and above basic.
The scale of measurement for each aspect is as follows:
1) Aspects of digital identity, digital use, digital security and digital
communication has a measurement scale:
None: not mastering any of the indicators
Basic: control of two indicators of all the indicators of each aspect
Above basic: control more than two indicators of all the indicators of each
aspect
2) The digital aspect of safety, digital literacy, and digital right to have a
measurement scale:
None: not mastering any of the indicators

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 Basic: mastering one indicator of all indicators of each aspect
Above basic: control more than one indicator of all indicators of each
aspect
3) The digital aspect of emotional intelligence had a scale of measurement:
None: not mastering any of the indicators
Above basic: mastering one indicator of all indicators of each aspect.
Further elaboration of the scale of every aspect of digital intelligence can be
analyzed in Table 2:

Table 2:
Table of Competence, Indicators and Measurement Category Digital
Intelligence

Area of Competency Indicator of Competence Category of

Measurement
1. Digital Identity  Have a good tool or digital technology such as None : 0 indicator
Basic : 2 indicator
computers, or mobile phones
Above basic: more
 Capable to access the internet or perform online than 2 indicator
activities

 Create a blog, programming languages, application of

music and video players

 Capable to make online transaction

Marketing products through social media

 Finding information about goods or services

 Creating a database
2. Digital Use  Managing time online and offline in a day None : 0 indicator
proportionally Basic : 2 indicator
 Have a social group or community in social media
Above basic: more
 Participating in social media and group or community than 2 indicator
in social media
 Prioritizing and pay attention to physical health when
using digital technology

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3. Digital Security  Setting a password on digital tools such as computers None : 0 indicator
and mobile phones Basic : 2 indicator
 Renewing password at least once in a month
Above basic: more
 Installing the latest antivirus on digital technology in than 2 indicator
our tools.

4. Digital Safety  Do not access malicious websites None : 0 indicator

 Do not serve communication with unknown contacts Basic : 1 indicator

 Recognizing the dangers of dependence on digital Above basic: more

technology and avoid it. than 1 indicator

5. Digital Emotional  Sharing information and appreciate the success of others None : 0 indicator
Intelligence through the media or digital technology
Above basic: 1
 Do not share information that showed excessive expression indicator
such as anger on social media.
6.Digital Communication  Making communication with social media in the last None : 0 indicator

one week Basic : 2 indicator

 Giving appreciation or comments after taking
Above basic: more
information from others such as blogs or social media than 2 indicator
 Capable work with others in the social media
community

 Participating in a discussion forum on the internet

7. Digital Literacy  Capable to operate Microsoft Office for learning None : 0 indicator

activities Basic : 1 indicator

 Creating a blog
Above basic: more
 Creating a website than 1 indicator

 Creating a programming language

 Creating multimedia presentations (pictures, video and

graphics)

8. Digital Right  Do not copy or download other people's work without None : 0 indicator

permission Basic : 1 indicator

 No damage or hijack the social accounts of others
Above basic: more
 Using information obtained from the Internet without than 1 indicator

plagiarism (copy and paste in the task)

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4.CONCLUSIONS

Digital Intelligence is the ability to find out and actualize the knowledge and skills that
we have, it associated with digital technology. Digital intelligence is more than just the
ability to use technology equipment but also to know why, what, how and when the
technology is used to enhance an expected output.
Digital intelligence has three levels, namely digital citizenship as a first stage, the digital
creativity as the second and a digital entrepreneurship as the final stage. Digital
intelligence also has 8 elements related to each other, namely digital identity, digital use,
digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication,
digital literacy, and digital right.
Digital intelligence requires a standard as well as other form of intelligence that already
exists. Digital intelligence is measured by f determining the indicators of each element of
digital intelligence. Scale size in this research can be categorized into three namely none,
basic and above basic.

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