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Activity patterns in intellectual collaboration

Activity patterns in intellectual collaboration. A Representation of Practice Knowledge in Information Behavior. CSCW 2002 – Workshop 5 Peter Jones, Redesign Research, Dayton 16 November, 2002. Research Question …. How do scientists seek and use information in the conduct of research?

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Activity patterns in intellectual collaboration

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  1. Activity patterns in intellectual collaboration A Representation of Practice Knowledge in Information Behavior CSCW 2002 – Workshop 5 Peter Jones, Redesign Research, Dayton 16 November, 2002

  2. Research Question … • How do scientists seek and use information in the conduct of research? • Focus on: • Research with context of Program/Project • Collaboration in research efforts • Individual and social information use • Analysis within & across disciplines • How is knowledge used in practice?

  3. Background • Elsevier Science sponsored study to understand: • Context of research work • Information use by scientists • Preparation of articles & use of journals • Approach: • Current Review and Analysis • Design of Field Study • First Field Site – Case Western RNA Center

  4. Research Methodology • Rapid Ethnography (Millen, 2000) • Research Task Notebook • Ethnographic interview, observing, analysis • Individual & group walkthrough sessions • Grounded theory approach • Glaser, Strauss: Process theories • Iterative theory build & test • Field data applied to both product & research • Activity Theory + Case Analysis • Framework allows additive construction • Supports multiple cases – research database

  5. Analysis and Representation Approaches • Activity theory (Engeström) • Social cognition, analysis of multiple activities • Motivation, internal & external, organization • Focus on technology as instrument of work practice • Contextual Design • CD Models useful to triangulate reps • Physical, Info Flow, Cultural/Organizational, Artifact • Lifecycle concept • Different temporal lifecycles of information use • Borgman (1996) only ref to general info lifecycle

  6. Analysis of 25 key studies … Levels in Activity Theory – Activity (3), Action (4), Operation Unit of analysis focused on Research Project … Activity levelWhere the work of science gets done.

  7. Field Research Project • RNA Center for Molecular Biology • 5 PIs and 10 Researchers • Focus on info behavior in research • Used diaries, interviews, observation, artifacts analysis, walkthroughs • Information use motivated by knowledge production required for research: Experiments, Articles, Grants, Exploration

  8. Research Project – Focus of research work Projects can be studied, are self-contained Instruments include most research tools & content of interest More defined work roles, project activity similar within discipline

  9. Research Project LifecycleExperimental Study – Molecular Biologist example Info Use Score 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Prepare article Prepare Proposal Validate findings:References & lit Review & publishCycle Exhaustive review Develop issues 2 Admin wait 3 1 Develop findings,Compare studies Identify key issues Project start,Collect data Initial Findings Proposal Start Data Findings Validation Publishpaper (Conference) Plan Collection Articles

  10. Where’s the Collaboration? • All PIs and most PhDs collaborate with other researchers (in this field) Not evident from observation • Motivated by knowledge gaps: • Required expertise for research • Specific equipment needed for exp’s • Desire to work with best researchers • Mediated by: • Conferences and specific meetings • Email, phone calls, shared artifacts

  11. (Initial) Information Flow Model New data every day Experiments PhD StudentResearcher Finding latest in the area Research Articles Review of DataStructuring Paper Specific contributions Collaborator Discussion of Findings Principal Investigator Paper ideas, shared findings

  12. Addressing Analysis Issues • Data overload? • Inductive analysis – drawing from the field details means leaving stuff out • Losing focus across findings? • Grounded theory approach • Coding transcripts for themes • Iterating analysis, co-analysts • Bridging design - • Walkthroughs, field focus groups, analyzing data across independent studies

  13. Addressing Representation Issues • Iterative abstraction • Not modeling further than the data shows • Moving “up” but “keeping it real” • Multiple models – Beyond CD • A good lesson from CD – Use multiple visualizations to build a complete story • Not being constrained by CD – try: Activity models, Temporal cycles, Social networks • Glued together with case details

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