Reading Seminar 1- Ramtin Javanmardi

In chapter 7 we are introduced to the concept of data gathering and all the standardized structures around data gathering such as interviews, observation and questionnaires. The text goes on to describe sub-structures to each of the above mentioned data gathering methods, for example interviews can be structured, semi-structured or unstructured.

This chapter presented these concepts, that I believe are familiar to most in a way that made me realize that there is actually a fairly rigid structure around something as simple as an interview for example. The two key concepts that stood out to me from this chapter was:

     1)    Its is extremely important that the data gathering is done with focus on a target group.

     2)    Triangulation, which is when the thing we want to study is viewed from many different angles.

Chapter 8 teaches us how to analyze the data that we have gathered. The difference between quantitative and qualitative analysis is explained to great detail and a few frameworks such as grounded theory, distributed cognition and activity theory is presented.

I find the parts about the theoretical frameworks to be really interesting, in particular activity theory. Reason being that we could use this theoretical framework to identify how people use the current technologies at the end points of the route we have chosen for this project i.e. we could use this find reoccurring patterns.  

Chapter 10 describes the importance of setting up clear requirements for each part of the project, and indeed the interactive product itself. Not surprisingly we are presented with different standard methods for finding the right requirements such as Task analysis which helps us get a better understanding of existing systems and practises.

I think that our group should really look into the Essential Use Cases method since it allows for abstraction of what the user is supposed to do and what the system that is to be designed should do. I believe that this would give a great deal of clarity regarding what the system we are to design should have as it’s main focus. 

Question : how do we ensure that the data we get correlates with what they do in reality?