Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Needs assessment and pathology of the efficient design of mosque applications

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Mohammad Javad Norouzi Eghbali
PhD student of the Islamic Studies School of Ethics, Faculty of Theology and Religions, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran
10.22083/jccs.2024.471424.3907
Abstract
The digital realm and its diverse services have presented both opportunities and challenges for mosques. Mosque mobile applications represent a new frontier in the interaction between mosques and the digital space. This study aims to answer the following questions: What needs do these applications fulfill for mosque congregants? And what features should they possess? Through interviews with experts and active individuals in the fields of mosques and digital spaces, this research sought to provide answers to these questions. After developing a questionnaire, 13 interviews were conducted. Subsequently, using thematic analysis, the opportunities, challenges, and desirable features of mosque mobile applications were identified. Furthermore, the most prominent existing mosque applications were examined and evaluated based on the derived indices. The results revealed that the contrasting nature of mosques and the digital space, particularly in terms of religious and ritual functions, necessitates specific considerations for digital media in these applications. Additionally, this study indicated that the most significant strengths of existing mosque applications include easy accessibility, affordability, and alignment with values, while their primary weaknesses are perceived ineffectiveness, poor technical support, and a lack of community-centric focus.
Keywords
mosque mobile application
religious activities
digital space
interaction between tradition and modernity

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