Research Approaches and Field Work Methods

1. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Interpretive vs. Positivist Research • Action Research • Case Studies • Longitudinal Research • Comparative Research • Surveys vs. Survey Research

2. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Field Research Documentation • Interviewing • Observations • Ethnographic Research • Visual, Photo documentation, Audio • Documented Records & Forms • Information & Communication Systems • Actors & Networks • Histories (local, global)

3. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Case Study Research: Design & Methods, Robert K. Yin, Applied Social Research Methods Series, Volume 5. NY, London: Sage Publications, Inc., 1994. • Designing case studies: different types of case studies; criteria for quality of research designs • Preparing for data collection: research skills; training & preparation; case study protocol; pilot case study • Collecting evidence: sources; principles • Analyzing case study evidence: modes of analysis; pressing for high quality analysis • Composing the case study “report”: audiences; varieties; procedures; what makes an exemplary case study?

4. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • What makes an exemplary case study? • Significance of the case study • A single case can have significance • “Completeness” • Well defined boundaries of the case • Critical evidence has been given “complete” attention • Consideration of alternative perspectives • Perspectives of all major actors • Sufficient evidence presented in case study analysis • Reader can reach an independent judgment of its merits • Engaging write-up • Enthusiasm for meaning of findings & results

5. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Mapping - Conceptual Maps • Mapping - Information Flows, Information Audits • Mapping - Analysis, Visualizations • Mapping - Cumulative Knowledge • Building shared pictures from field research and analysis • Communities of practice, larger communities • Networks of activity systems, communities (Korpela)

6. Field Research & Analysis • Multi-disciplinary field research • Perspectives: research team members • Resources for sharing perspectives • Field notes template: flexible, iterative • Perspectives: practitioners, communities of practice • Mapping diverse perspectives in relation to a shared object of activity • Interviews: planning to include perspectives • Resources for reflection

7. Field Research & Analysis • Tools for multi-disciplinary field research • Web site • Field notes template, in-progress reporting • Visual representations: photos, graphics • Mapping activities and communities of practice • Information flows, information audits • Audio: interviews, talk at work, communicative action • Video: naturally occurring activities, active interviewing, interaction analysis • Portfolios: artifacts, documents, screen prints

8. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Conceptual Maps • Levels of Analysis • Unit of analysis (activity theory) • “One should be able to delineate the object of research and to draw a boundary between the object and the background, and one should be able to find an entity in which all the threads of research can be conveniently connected.” (Kuutti, p. 249

9. Research Approaches and Field Work Methods • Contexts of activities • Organizational context • Sociohistorical context • Situated contexts • How contexts interact & co-construct instances of activities