Research Approaches and Field Work Methods z Mapping

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

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

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

Research Approaches and Field Work Methods z. Conceptual Maps z. Levels of Analysis z. Unit of analysis (activity theory) y“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

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