Nature and outcome of technology adaptation: A study of Rohingya refugees’ use of smartphones in Bangladesh

It is argued that information and communication technology such as smartphones can contribute to the socio-economic wellbeing of disadvantaged communities. However, there is limited research on the nature of their technology use and perceived outcome on their wellbeing in various non-standard contexts such as refugees in developing countries. Our paper addresses this research gap by identifying and categorising Rohingya refugees’ adaptation behaviour for smartphone use and resulting impact on their perceived wellbeing. By conducting a survey on 350 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, this research finds that exploration of innovative ways lead to enhanced wellbeing. Exploitation of benefits, exploration to revert back to previous technology and avoidance of using technology are found to be less effective for achieving wellbeing.