This thesis explores digital identity. Digital identity is a technological component of information systems. It enables the system to differentiate between the users and to recognise the users. Digital identity can be also part of a human life, which makes it an interesting topic of exploration.
I am interested in student’s digital identity in university’s student record management system. To perform this specific inquiry, I also need to examine digital identity in general. I develop a techno-philosophical framework of identity management. The framework integrates technological and philosophical perspective.
Techno-philosophical framework of identity management consists of two parts: a model of digital identity and a reflective questions pattern. The model of digital identity describes what kind of technological component digital identity is and how it fits within human life. The model has five central concepts: account, digital self, digital identity, identity management and personal identity.
The reflective question pattern is a tool for applying the model of digital identity. The pattern consists of 26 questions. They help to generate an analysis of digital identity in a particular information system. I utilise the question pattern in a small-scale study setting in which I analyse student’s digital identity in a student record management of European university.
My thesis aims to contribute for academic understanding in three different ways. The first contribution is a novel framework of identity management that I develop. The second contribution is my analysis on student’s digital identity in a particular system. Third, I try to promote academic creativity by intertwining different types of approaches to supersede what these approaches attempt to achieve alone.
