Technique #3 write-up

CMS.702/802 Technique Write-up Guidelines

Please make sure to put your name on your paper. 5-7 pages long (standard font, double-spaced, +/- 10% is okay). Submit as PDF format via Canvas before start of class on due date.

Due: April 2, April 30, May 14. April 2 must be either interviewing or participant observation. April 30 on any of the techniques from April 2-23. May 14 on any technique you’ve not yet written on.

Each week of the course we will be discussing a different research tool. Over the semester you will select three techniques to write about further (for example, participation observation, interviewing, usability, etc).

The goal of the write-up is that you demonstrate you have used the method and can provide critical reflection on your use.

You should not write, for example, what an interview is generally but instead should focus on demonstrating your specific use of the approach and engagement with any relevant conceptual issues that arose. The emphasis should also not be focused on the findings, though you are asked to briefly address them, but on the process and your reflection about it.

You should not use friends to carry out the assignment (i.e. interviewing someone you know) but instead try and create a condition you are more likely to encounter in a research setting. Leveraging any current research project you are undertaking is also a great approach (if acceptable under your existing IRB approval).

While you may have done some of these techniques in other settings (classes, research projects, etc), you should not repurpose those but instead undertake a new exploration, perhaps pushing yourself to try an approach you’ve not used before. There is real value in trying out new techniques or iterating how you’ve done them in the past so I encourage you to be ambitious in how you tackle this assignment.

Your technique write-up should cover the following angles:

• Briefly discuss the domain/question to be explored via the technique.
• Discuss any relevant instruments (interview guide, cultural probe packet, etc.) and include them as an appendix (not counted in the req’d page length).
• Discuss how you set-up the method you tried (how did you get the interviewee, find the site, etc.).
• Discuss the ethical considerations.
• Reflect on the specific process itself: how it unfolded, what worked well, what didn’t, etc. Pay particular attention to your performance (re-listening to your interview to analyze your technique, or reflecting on the introduction you provided, etc).
• Discuss your review and analysis of the data and briefly address how your findings addressed your original question/interest.
• Reflect on any problems, glitches, failures and discuss how you might do things differently, if at all, next time. Put your overall reflections in conversation with the course readings, discussions, etc.