Finding a research topic is difficult because in order to come up with a specific problem, one needs to have thoroughly examined the existing body of knowledge in the topic and related disciplines. This would take a long time if one just searches through research journals online to gather and analyze information.
I find Ellis and Levy's flow-chart of the process of finding research-worthy problems helpful(from "A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem.") It is about forming a specific and concrete problem statement by going through cycles of looking, reading, synthesizing, and consulting.
Synthesizing and consulting are the two important skills that I would need to work on this semester to learn about carrying a research project.
Synthesizing process is combining insights from a number of scholarly articles and/or different but related fields, and consulting is getting feedback about the research topic from experienced researchers and people at various conferences.
I would need to do more thorough literature reviews since the current rough draft does not satisfy two conditions for a research problem; current state differs from the ideal state (Sekaran, 2003) and there is no "acceptable" solution available (Ellis & Levy, 2008). I will figure out what studies have been done to increase empathy for people in developing regions, and also look at digital ethnography and online traces of people in developing regions.
References:
Ellis, T. and Levy, Y. (2008). A Guide for novice researchers on the development of a research-worthy problem. Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline Volume 11.
Sekaran, U. (2003). Research methods for business (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
About Understanding Users
Given our short time (5 weeks) to conduct a research, I think contextual inquiry is one of the possible ways to learn about disadvantaged people in our area.
For "HCI Methods" class, my first homework included completing an affinity diagram with group members to set two focus statements/questions for Contextual Inquiry (CI).
From clustering post-its to categories and choosing a participant to do contextual inquiry, to deciding what task the participant should do and what questions to ask, I realized that CI is a carefully constructed process in which interviewer would need to be sensitive about phrasing questions and the way they behave.
I wonder though, to what extent is the data from CI valid assuming that the participant (user) is not 100% honest/comfortable with the interviewer.
Also, since each person has different personality, culture, and background, CI would need to be done on more than one participant. Then when would qualitative information carry more weight than quantitative information?
How much information does the interviewer need to gather to understand the environment of the user and the needs of the user? Can CI be done to inspire universal designs?
For "HCI Methods" class, my first homework included completing an affinity diagram with group members to set two focus statements/questions for Contextual Inquiry (CI).
From clustering post-its to categories and choosing a participant to do contextual inquiry, to deciding what task the participant should do and what questions to ask, I realized that CI is a carefully constructed process in which interviewer would need to be sensitive about phrasing questions and the way they behave.
I wonder though, to what extent is the data from CI valid assuming that the participant (user) is not 100% honest/comfortable with the interviewer.
Also, since each person has different personality, culture, and background, CI would need to be done on more than one participant. Then when would qualitative information carry more weight than quantitative information?
How much information does the interviewer need to gather to understand the environment of the user and the needs of the user? Can CI be done to inspire universal designs?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
HCI for Developing Regions
I am not too familiar with issues in developing regions nor the culture and lives of the people there. So to me, this is a very interesting topic since I would not assume anything and start from a blank slate.
I have noticed that research proposals in developing regions focus more than just the results and analysis of the studies. This area of study is different in that people are also interested in working their solutions to the society right away.
For example, MILLEE project considers how to increase visibility of the project so that the government and NGOs could adopt the project and provide edutainment to more disadvantaged children in India.
The group in ICT4B project are concerned about the social conditions after the new devices and technologies are in effect. The group would perform socio-economic evaluation and economic impact evaluations to ensure their devices were also available to under-privileged (women/minorities).
I appreciate that HCI is expanding its realm to another unfamiliar territory. I am excited about how much we will learn about underserved communities in our city, and in turn, increase our understanding of the people in developing regions.
I have noticed that research proposals in developing regions focus more than just the results and analysis of the studies. This area of study is different in that people are also interested in working their solutions to the society right away.
For example, MILLEE project considers how to increase visibility of the project so that the government and NGOs could adopt the project and provide edutainment to more disadvantaged children in India.
The group in ICT4B project are concerned about the social conditions after the new devices and technologies are in effect. The group would perform socio-economic evaluation and economic impact evaluations to ensure their devices were also available to under-privileged (women/minorities).
I appreciate that HCI is expanding its realm to another unfamiliar territory. I am excited about how much we will learn about underserved communities in our city, and in turn, increase our understanding of the people in developing regions.
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