Reading Seminar 1- Dawood Rehman

Chapter 7 manages the notion data gathering. The text emphasizes five key concept that requires attention for a successful data gathering session: goal setting, pilot studies, triangulation, identifying participants and the relationship between the individuals that collects and provides the data. Furthermore the chapter introduces some main techniques for collecting information: observation, interviews and questionnaires. Since we will be traveling between Slussen and Allmänna Gränd with a ferry, we will probably mostly be using direct observations and a semi-structured interviews to get the most reliable data. I also think that it is important to give the five key concepts that were earlier mentioned our attention because these concepts are necessary for successful data gathering sessions.

Once the data have been gathered one need to analyse the data. The difference between qualitative and quantitative data and analysis is discussed throughout the chapter. The separation between these concepts is how the data is expressed and the methods that are used to ascertain various attributes during the analysis. Quantitative data is expressed in numerical terms and Quantitative analyses uses numerical methods. Since the majority of the data that we need to gather cannot be attained using numerical methods we will mostly be focusing on qualitative analysis. But we will undoubtedly utilize quantitative analysis as well to represent data that can be represented numerically, such as age and gender. We might even utilize some of the frameworks presented for qualitative analysis.

Chapter 10 emphasizes the importance of articulated requirements and explains some useful techniques that can be used for establishing requirements. The reason why this is so important is because it clarifies the expected behaviour of the product. Not having a clear picture of the final product may result in setting up false objectives which may end up in collecting the wrong data. This will undoubtedly lead to the fact that the product that we expected is not product that we produced. There are various requirements and in chapter 10 some useful techniques are presented for establishing the different requirements.

These chapters present some very useful ideas and techniques that I had not thought of. I think that bearing these ideas and techniques in mind can help us greatly along the way. In my opinion our group should focus on having clear requirements and establishing the requirements. This will save us from having to redo our work which otherwise we might have to do because our objectives were not set properly.

Question: How can we articulate and establish the requirements so that we can set clear and precise objectives to work towards?