Content uploaded by Greg Guest
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Greg Guest on Sep 12, 2016
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
An Ethnographic Approach to Design
Abstract
Designing interactive computer systems to be efficient and easy to use is important so that people in our society may realize the potential benefits of computer-based tools .... Although modern cognitive psychology contains a wealth of knowledge of human ...
... The resulting research design was thus a qualitative study where data collection consisted of using technology probes (Hutchinson et al., 2003), in combination with ethnographic methods and approaches such as observation and video-recording (Buur et al., 2010;Blomberg and Burrell, 2012), formal and informal interviews (Holstein, 1995;Kvale, 2007) (in the form of notes constructed afterwards)-inspired by ethnographic fieldwork methods (Nardi, 1997;Blomberg and Burrell, 2012) and written reports (Mason, 2017) as complementary methods. As such, this is a qualitative inquiry into how a specific game design was adopted, played, and experienced in a home setting. ...
... The resulting research design was thus a qualitative study where data collection consisted of using technology probes (Hutchinson et al., 2003), in combination with ethnographic methods and approaches such as observation and video-recording (Buur et al., 2010;Blomberg and Burrell, 2012), formal and informal interviews (Holstein, 1995;Kvale, 2007) (in the form of notes constructed afterwards)-inspired by ethnographic fieldwork methods (Nardi, 1997;Blomberg and Burrell, 2012) and written reports (Mason, 2017) as complementary methods. As such, this is a qualitative inquiry into how a specific game design was adopted, played, and experienced in a home setting. ...
... While this is a tradeoff between the various study approaches, it also influences the analysis of the data, which will-eventually-also entail a degree of interpretation by the researchers. As Boehner et al. (2007) also states, probes is a relational methodology, comparable to ethnographic methods for design inquiries (Buur et al., 2010;Blomberg and Burrell, 2012), where the analysis and thus assessment of the results is partly based on the researcher's subjective interpretation and experience as well (Dourish, 2006). ...
This paper presents an evaluation study of how eighth families adopted, played and experienced a movement-based game system of analog and digital technologies in their homes during a pandemic lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic locked down many countries and grounded people in their homes with social and physical implications. A game system consisting of simple, tangible technologies with modular components was designed to meet these needs. The game system was developed for the players to set up in their homes easily and, therefore, should not depend on screens or extensive physical installations. The game system comprises simple, tangible technologies such as light and music cubes, a simple mobile robot, card game challenges, and a suite of mini-games combining the elements in a variety of playful experiences. Using the technology probes methodology, the game system was packed into a suitcase and evaluated by eight families that played the game in their homes, video-recorded their sessions, wrote a final report and were (informally) interviewed afterwards. The data set presents how the families turned their ordinary everyday spaces into interactive, pervasive playgrounds encouraging social and bodily exploration and play. Furthermore, the study shows how bodily movement and social play can be promoted through different technologies that stimulate various bodily senses and incorporate them through the different game and play structures into their everyday living environments. The findings resulted in four design implications to aid designers and researchers in future work on movement-based game systems and interactive, pervasive playground design. These design implications accommodate social and bodily activities in ordinary places otherwise not pre-allocated for play or game activities.
... La première méthodologie Living Lab structurant les phases d'un processus d'innovation est celle de Pierson et Lievens (2005) (Blomberg et al., 2003) et a pour objectif d'identifier comment introduire des nouveaux usages à l'existant. Et ensuite, l'analyse indirecte est utilisée pour étudier la signification et la motivation du comportement des utilisateurs. ...
... Les sessions de créativité ont pour objectif de stimuler la créativité des acteurs impliqués dans le processus d'innovation (Dupont et al., 2015 ;Skiba, 2014). Quant à l'observation, Blomberg et al. (2003) l'a décrit comme « le meilleur moyen de s'affranchir des interprétations individuelles et d'accéder aux comportements non verbaux dont les participants n'ont pas toujours conscience ». L'observation permet de recueillir des données dans le contexte naturel d'usage. ...
Les forêts françaises sont au cœur d’enjeux historiques, comme la production de bois et le renouvellement du patrimoine forestier, qui aujourd’hui se croisent avec des défis environnementaux, économiques et sociaux dans un contexte de changement climatique et de transition écologique (par exemple, la préservation des sols, de la biodiversité et des ressources en eau, la bioéconomie circulaire, la conception de forêts résilientes face à des risques inédits et extrêmes etc.). Pour répondre à ces enjeux et défis, les décideurs publics ont formulé de nouvelles stratégies nationales et régionales qui traduisent un ensemble d’attentes envers le secteur forestier. Dans ce contexte, décideurs politiques et acteurs forestiers ont pris conscience qu’il était nécessaire d’innover au sein d’écosystèmes complexes d’acteurs, pour s’adapter à cette situation inédite avec cohérence et organisation. L’ambition de cette thèse est donc de démontrer que les approches living Labs, souvent évoquées mais rarement pratiquées avec rigueur et méthode procurent un cadre méthodologique performant et adapté pour impulser cette innovation collective et faire évoluer les usages des acteurs (en matière de gestion sylvicole mais aussi de travail en réseau et de partage d’information). Nous proposons de construire un cadre de référence méthodologique, selon une posture de recherche-action, basée sur l’approche Living Lab pour piloter l’innovation dans des contextes forestiers caractérisés comme complexes, multi-acteurs et multi-échelles (dans le temps et l’espace), territorialisés. Ce travail propose donc un transfert théorique et méthodologique de l’approche Living Lab vers l’amont du secteur forestier au travers de trois études de cas. Des outils particuliers sont développés ou adaptés, tels des personas pour toucher les petits propriétaires privés, les jeux de territoire pour aborder la spatialisation des ressources ou des questionnements. La discussion montre la pertinence de l’approche pour piloter les processus d’innovation dans un contexte forestier multiacteurs, multifonctionnel et incertain, en faisant émerger des idées inédites pour résoudre des points de blocage.
... The choice of methods is driven by the diverse nature of the data collected through participant observations, interviews, surveys, document analysis, visual analysis, ethnographic fieldwork, and comparative analysis (Blomberg & Burrel, 2009) (Saldaña, 2003). Here is a detailed plan for data analysis a. Qualitative Data Analysis: ...
This research unveils the symbolic depth of the Panggih Ceremony, a central component of traditional Javanese weddings. The ceremony is a living canvas upon which intricate symbols are painted, embodying the core values and beliefs of Javanese culture. Through a detailed exploration of the symbolism inherent in the ceremony's elements, this research offers an illuminating journey into the heart of Javanese traditions. The traditional attire of the bride and groom, marked by the pristine white of the kebaya and the vibrant batik sarong, signifies purity, unity, and balance. The siraman, a ritual of purification, prepares the couple with spiritual and emotional clarity, highlighting the importance of starting their journey with pure hearts. The exchange of gifts, including twin hairpins and a ceremonial dagger, symbolizes promises of love, protection, and support, reinforcing the commitment to mutual well-being. The seserahan, the ceremonial exchange of gifts between families, signifies unity and the merging of households, with each item exchanged carrying specific meaning. The Serimpi dance, celebrated for its grace and harmony, emphasizes coordination and mutual understanding in the marital relationship. The orientation of the couple facing west symbolizes the end of their individual journeys and the commencement of their shared path. The Panggih Ceremony embodies the essence of purity, unity, and balance, celebrating the enduring values and traditions of Javanese culture. It transcends borders and speaks to universal themes, emphasizing the power of tradition and symbolism in commemorating love and unity. This research not only enriches our understanding of the symbolism within cultural ceremonies but also serves as a tribute to the cultural heritage of Javanese society, encapsulating the timeless message that love, unity, and harmony are the cornerstones of a meaningful life journey.
... Other ethnographers have emerged themselves in participatory design processes taking on roles as mediators and facilitators of collaborations and co-creation activities, as part of an interdisciplinary collaborative pursuit [8,13,14]. Here we have seen an increased preoccupation with how we might understand and work with emergent relations between designed objects and use-practices, and a growing interest in experimenting with various ways of combining understandings of and interventions in 'use-contexts' [15,16,17]. However different the various approaches to ethnography in design might be, they often seem to share an interest in minimizing distance between contexts of use and design, creating familiarity and empathy with 'the (ethnographic) Other' -whether in the form of user, informant or design partner. ...
... Limitations of user description ability Blomberg et al. pointed out that users cannot clearly describe their requirements for situations that are not directly accessible 1 . In LBSN, the values of context dimensions such as the location and time of users are diverse, and this diversity is not completely predictable, so it is very difficult for users to express their contextual features clearly 2 . ...
As data becomes available online, it often remains inaccessible to marginalized communities where the resources, skills, and knowledge required to access and use such data are unevenly distributed. To make data more accessible to one such marginalized community in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood, I participated in infrastructuring their civic data using city commons framework developed by Balestrini et al. This process involved three steps: taking a design based ethnographic approach to investigate a data dashboard, organizing data literacy workshops, and reimagining what a community-owned and operated form of data infrastructure would look like. My three-step process led me to identify the human infrastructure, which includes the individuals, organizations, values, needs, resources, and capital needed to do the work of infrastructuring civic data. I organize these elements of the human infrastructure into a taxonomy I call the Human Infrastructure of Civic Data (HICD). The HICD builds on the city commons framework and offers the CSCW community a taxonomy that can be used to identify the human infrastructure within communities and engage them in infrastructuring their civic data.
Studies indicate that people living with cognitive disabilities face digital social challenges, i.e. challenges in digital interactions. However, few studies have focused on their coping strategies. To bridge this knowledge gap and facilitate constructive digital experiences with others, this study explores how young people living with cognitive disabilities cope with digital social challenges. The study used interviews, video-diaries and workshops with 25 young individuals (aged 14–27) living with cognitive disabilities. The data analysis revealed three main digital social challenges experienced by the study participants: harassment, exclusion and disturbance. Participants manage digital social challenges using emotion-focused coping: acceptance, avoidance and caution, and problem-focused coping: confrontation, blocking, constructing digital relationships and cooperation. We argue that young people living with cognitive disabilities can cope with digital social challenges if they are able to access problem-solving resources, social resources and social support from peers.
Ethnographic methods are widely used in design research and provide valuable data for gaining in-depth understanding of any particular situation. To broaden the use of ethnography in design research, first, we investigated how ethnography and design research are related in the last 36 years by focusing on which ethnographic methods are utilized; why and in which domains of design research these methods are applied and, how these three aspects relate to each other altogether. Through content analyses we found meaningful associations between methods, goals and domains of application. Our research identifies gaps on theoretical, methodological and contextual implications. Based on these gaps we propose particular opportunities for future research.
Technical debt (TD) entails the shortcuts and unsuitable choices made during the development or maintenance of an IT system, which can result in negative consequences such as inefficiency and instability of the IT system. Digitalizing the government has led to the development of numerous IT systems which must be maintained to prevent decay, standstill, additional costs, and a decline in software quality. Previous studies on TD have primarily focused on the private sector, while TD in the public sector has largely been ignored. Therefore, this case study investigated TD management in relation to two IT systems in a Danish agency. Through participant observations and in-situ interviews we studied actual TD behavior, while stakeholder theory combined with a categorization of TD types and activities served as our theoretical lens. Thus, our study (1) identifies the stakeholders influencing an agency's TD management, (2) maps stakeholders' actions, and (3) identifies stakeholders' influence on TD. We found that TD extends beyond the influence of software developers and is also influenced by the behavior of several non-technical stakeholders, e.g., the European Parliament. We offer practical recommendations for TD management based on these findings.
