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The KJ Method: A Technique for Analyzing Data Derived from Japanese Ethnology
Abstract
This essay is a discussion of the KJ method developed by a Japanese ethnologist, Jiro Kawakita. A brief biography of Kawakita and the history of the KJ method is described. The KJ method was developed as a result of having difficulties in interpreting ethnographic data in Nepal. The KJ method builds upon Charles Pierce's notions of abduction and relies upon intuitive non-logical thinking processes. Kawakita's methods were developed and diffused throughout Japanese management and educational circles. Kawakita believes that his methodology has the potential of liberating humanity from the mechanistic philosophy imposed by Western Civilization. The KJ mthod, according to Kawakita has universal applicability and does not only conform to Japanese culture and management decision-making processes which are generally based on the group-orientation model. This simplistic group-orientation model of Japanese society is being criticized by anthropologists such as Harumi Befu. Kawakita argues that human nature is universal, and that the KJ method, as a means of decision-making can be utilized in all societies throughout the world to implement social and economic development.
... REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based software platform designed to support data capture for research studies. We used content analysis, affinity mapping [14,25] and rapid qualitative data analysis methods [26] We summarized frequencies of the participant-preferred messages and modes at each study site. We analyzed ideal experience storyboards using affinity diagramming, a collaborative activity to organize related or similar storyboards into distinct, mutually exclusive clusters. ...
Introduction:
A traceback genetic testing program for ovarian cancer has the potential to identify individuals with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and their relatives. Successful implementation depends on understanding and addressing the experiences, barriers, and preferences of the people served.
Methods:
We conducted a remote, human-centered design research study of people with ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer (probands) and people with a family history of ovarian cancer (relatives) at three integrated health systems between May and September 2021. Participants completed activities to elicit their preferences about ovarian cancer genetic testing messaging, and to design their ideal experience receiving an invitation to participate in genetic testing. Interview data were analyzed using a rapid thematic analysis approach.
Results:
We interviewed 70 participants and identified five preferred experiences for a traceback program. Participants strongly prefer discussing genetic testing with their doctor but are comfortable discussing with other clinicians. The most highly preferred experience for both probands and relatives was to discuss with a knowledgeable clinician who can answer questions, followed by directed (sent directly to specific people) or passive (shared in a public area) communication. Repeated contact was acceptable for reminders.
Discussion/conclusion:
Participants were open to receiving information about traceback genetic testing and recognized its value. Participants preferred discussing genetic testing with a trusted clinician. Directed communication was preferable to passive communication. Other valued information included how genetic tests help their family and the cost of genetic testing. These findings are informing traceback cascade genetic testing programs at all three sites.
... To merge the same or similar attribute items by the KJ simplification method [37], and repeat the step until no more grouping is possible, to obtain a clear attractive factor of the product. ...
With the popularization of the concept of sustainability in traditional wickerwork, wickerwork lamps have become the most popular production. When customers purchase wickerwork lamp products, the Kansei consensus has become a key factor influencing the communication between manufacturers and customers. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the product design solutions for wickerwork lamps that meet the emotional satisfaction of users. Firstly, a three-level evaluation grid diagram driven by user attractiveness through Miryoku Engineering is established. Secondly, this paper uses grey relational analysis (GRA) to extract the priority order and its weight values in the perceptual vocabulary to identify the key user needs in product design. In order to effectively deal with the uncertain product evaluation information, the fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) is used to construct the “emotional demand-design parameter” transformation model and derive the optimal design parameters in the mapping process, thus effectively reducing the ambiguity and uncertainty in the demand transformation process. Based on the experimental results, it is found that the best combination of Texture light transmittance, Simple wickerwork material, Wickerwork primary colours, Cascaded type and Pastoral style could be preferred by customers, thus this proposed method can effectively reduce the ambiguity and uncertainty in the design process. The results of study enable designers to accurately grasp customers’ perceptions of wickerwork lamp products and obtain the best design parameters for wickerwork lamp products.
... We have considered the core categories as design influencing factors, found design opportunities from user needs and pain points, and translated them into specific design guidelines (see Table 1). Based on the design opportunities obtained from the above analysis, six design guidelines were summarized in an affinity way by the A-scheme diagramming method [45]. This approach collects linguistic information about the problem to be solved and uses the relationships inherent in the text to categorize and merge them hierarchically. ...
With the rapid development of science and technology, the ability to creative thinking has become an essential criterion for measuring talents. Current creative thinking courses for college students are affected by COVID-19 and are challenging to conduct. This study aimed to explore practical ways to teach creative thinking knowledge online and explored design opportunities for working on this teaching activity online. Through qualitative interviews, we found that the factors that influenced the design of the online virtual simulation course platform were focused on five dimensions: information presentation, platform characteristics, course assessment, instruction design, and presentation format. Through the analysis of user requirements, we obtained six corresponding design guidelines. Based on the knowledge system of design thinking, we set up eight modules in the course platform and developed a prototype including 100 user interfaces. We invited three experts and 30 users to conduct cognitive walk-through sessions and made design iterations based on the feedback. After user evaluation, dimensions of attractiveness, efficiency, dependability, and novelty reached excellent rating and were recognized by users.
... The search results obtained from the survey were categorised by similar content following the KJ method (Kawakita, 1967) and focussing on each type of content. The KJ method is a qualitative analysis method developed by Jiro Kawakita, a Japanese cultural anthropologist, that creates groups through inductive categorisation and conceives new ideas from the relationships between the groups (Scupin, 1997). Regarding the specific procedures, the contents of each form of assistance were written as sticky notes. ...
Purpose
This study aims to provide the history and overview of the major categories of physical education (PE) assistance that Japan has provided to other countries by extracting the major categories from the various materials.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is divided into two phases, Phases 1 and 2. Surveys and analyses were further conducted. In Phase 1, a web browser-based survey was conducted to ascertain the major categories of PE assistance that Japan has provided to other countries. The practices and projects investigated were classified inductively, and the major categories were extracted. In Phase 2, a literature review was conducted to organise the history and overview of each category extracted in Phase 1.
Findings
Six major categories were extracted: (1) dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers engaged in PE assistance, (2) assistance through training for those involved in PE, (3) revision or formulation of a PE curriculum, (4) preparation of textbooks or instructional materials for PE, (5) organising sports event and (6) maintenance of PE equipment and facilities.
Originality/value
Japan has a long history of providing PE assistance to other countries. However, historical materials on the practices and projects of PE are becoming scattered. Little literature addresses this gap, which this study seeks to address. This study can help policy makers in other countries, who can use Japan’s PE assistance practices and policies for reference, to assist them in formulating their own policies.
... This method can assist researchers in collecting the required data from respondents consisting of Community College students of TVET fashion programme. According to Raymond Scupin [7], the use of KJ's method can help researchers in obtaining information easily and effectively using keywords related to issues and problems faced by TVET fashion programme students. ...
... Coding was done through a pre-coded list and developed based on the rural livelihoods' analytical framework; however, codes also emerged in an inductive process (Miles & Huberman, 1994). After coding, all the information, structured with the K-J method (Scupin, 1997), allowed identifying patterns and triangulating information through networks. For a better treatment, organization, and reduction of the amount of information, the ATLAS.ti ...
El propósito de este estudio es analizar las estrategias de medios de vida de los hogares mayas beneficiarios de los programas de política pública en términos de acceso, combinación y transformación de sus activos de capital, información necesaria para el adecuado desarrollo de los programas. Este estudio es cualitativo y el método empleado la etnografía, mediante entrevistas a profundidad y observación directa. Se encontró que la agricultura tradicional, el trabajo remunerado de las mujeres, la dicotomía migración-permanencia del jefe del hogar en la comunidad, la educación y migración de la juventud rural son estrategias empleadas por los hogares mayas. La política pública productiva se enfoca en incentivar los capitales físico y financiero en los hogares, aunque también dependen de los activos de capital humano, el cual es abordado en la política social de manera insuficiente. Finalmente, el capital cultural y el capital social no han sido tenidos en cuenta de manera amplia en la política pública.
Operations management in the public policy context is extremely complex with many mutually interacting factors characterized by feedback loops, delays and nonlinearities as well multiple stakeholders pursuing divergent objectives. Prior researchers have called for a systems approach in these contexts, arguing that standard OM methodologies such as mathematical programming, and queuing theory often cannot fully address these problems. Researchers have employed one such systems approach, system dynamics, successfully for decades for studying OM problems in public policy because it can address such complexity and can also integrate disciplines from outside OM such as political science, epidemiology, ecology, etc. In this paper, we create a roadmap for researchers—both those who are familiar with systems dynamics and those who are not—for the expanded use of system dynamics studying public policy‐related OM problems. We review and organize relevant system dynamics literature in both traditional operations management venues as well as public policy venues unfamiliar to OM audiences. We then identify a set of interesting open questions and potential system dynamics building blocks for answering them by topic. Leveraging this review, we describe under what conditions system dynamics is most appropriate. We then identify several overarching methodological and domain gaps for future research. Finally, we propose a process that extends Bessiou and van Wassenhove's (2015) process for using system dynamics with traditional operations management methodologies. It separates consensus model building into two sequential phases: consensus building models and detailed operational. It also incorporates scenario planning and feedback from implementation outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
The chapter investigates the role of brainstorming as an educational tool on the basis of the author's experience in transnational education, and a review of the literature. Brainstorming is an ideation technique invented by Alex Osborn in the 40s. Still popular today, it has found numerous applications in education. Despite its diffusion, a large body of literature dismisses brainstorming as less effective in comparison to individuals working alone or other techniques in terms of quantity and quality of idea produced. Advocates of brainstorming claim that when done properly it can be very powerful in generating breakthrough ideas, and studies show that factors such as the presence of a facilitator, training, and the right time and type of problem assigned can greatly change the outcome of a session. After reviewing this contrasting literature, the author concludes that these studies ignore the cultural origin of brainstorming and attention should be paid to the cultural implications of the technique in transnational contexts outside the US.
To improve the feasibility of accomplishing the superordinate concepts for corporate social responsibility (CSR), the person in charge must efficiently execute development processes. This study aims to make persons in charge recognize task importance by visualizing the value engineering process in automobile interior development, especially design for environment (DfE) process based on the Spiral model and V-model approach of system engineering. Therefore, a method for visualizing the entire DfE process is proposed through the assurance case. The effectiveness of the proposed method was examined through a survey of DfE project members.
The affinity research approach also known as the Kawakita Jiro or KJ method, (also referred to as an “affinity diagram”) was created by Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita in the 1960s. Kawakita, a cultural anthropologist, was searching for a method to organize data collected from various cultures.
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