Database Reference
In-Depth Information
within the group. The results of these experiments are regarded as providing impor-
tant information about what group processes to support and some indication about
how this might be done. This type of research can be particularly important in com-
plex or sensitive scenarios such as health care situations [72]. Brereton and McGarry
[11] observed groups of engineering students and professional designers using physi-
cal objects to prototype designs. They found that the interpretation and use of physical
objects depended greatly on the context of its placement, indicating that the context of
people's work is important and is difficult to capture quantitatively. Their goal was to
determine implications for the design of tangible interfaces. Other examples include
Saraiya et al. [63] who used domain expert assessments of insight to evaluate bioin-
formatics visualizations, while Mazza and Berre [48] used focus groups and semi-
structured interviews in their analysis of visualization approaches to support instruc-
tors in web-based distance education.
The following are simply examples of empirical methods in which gathering of
qualitative data is primary. There are many others; for instance, Moggridge [51] men-
tions that his group makes active use of fifty-one qualitative methods in their design
processes.
In Situ Observational Studies:
These studies are at the heart of field studies. Here,
the experimenter gets permission to observe activities as they take place in situ. In
these studies the observer does their best to remain unobtrusive during the observa-
tions. The ideal in Moggridge's terms is to become as a 'fly on the wall' that no one
notices [51]. This can be hard to achieve in an actual setting. However, over time a
good observer does usually fade into the background. Sometimes observations can be
collected via video and audio tapes to avoid the more obvious presence of a person as
observer but sometimes making such recordings is not appropriate as in medical situa-
tions. In these studies the intention is usually to gather a rich description of the situa-
tion being observed. However, there is both a difference and an overlap in the type of
observations to be gathered when the intention is (a) to better understand the particu-
lar activities in a given of setting, or (b) to use these observations to inform technol-
ogy design. Thus, because different details are of prime interest it is important that
our research community conducts these types of observational studies to better inform
initial design as well as to better understand the effectiveness of new technology in
use. These studies have high realism, result in rich context explicit data and are time
and labour intensive when it comes to both data collection and data analysis.
Participatory Observation:
This practice is the opposite of participatory design.
Here an information visualization expert becomes part of the application expert's
team to experience the work practices first hand rather than application experts be-
coming part of the information visualization design team. In participatory observa-
tion, additional insights can be gained through first-hand observer experience of the
tasks and processes of interest in the context of the real world situation
.
Here, rather
than endeavouring to be unobtrusive, the observer works towards becoming an ac-
cepted part of the community. Participatory observation is demonstrably an effective
approach since as trust and rapport develop, an increasingly in-depth understanding is
possible. Our research community is interested in being able to better understand the
work practices of many different types of knowledge workers. These workers are
usually highly trained, highly paid, and often under considerable time pressures. Not
Search WWH ::
Custom Search