Analysis of Interactive Systems

Question 1: You will be exploring the different public areas of the library. We may conventionally think of libraries as places for borrowing books, but you will see all sorts of other activities as well, including multimedia libraries, children’s areas, special collections, cafes, performance spaces, archives, cafes, and so on.

You will look for requirements for opportunities for one or more “Library 2.0” information systems. You will therefore need to develop example questions and data collection instruments to help with your observation, as well as a preliminary data analysis plan.

Your questions and data collection instruments should focus on topics such as:

• the activities people are engaged in (both with and without technology)
• details of the library itself (physical layout, availability, services offered, interactive systems available, information available)
• patrons (demographics, goals, needs, etc.).

In your data collection plan, please include which library you plan to visit and when.  Please  allow for 4 hours minimum for the actual observation. You do not need to visit the same library as your group members and it would be best if you did not (so as to get as much diverse information as possible). Also you may want to observe in two different sessions (2 hours each) as you may want to go and different times to see if there are differences.

In this assignment please ensure that you do the following:

• Define the goals of the data collection (what questions do you hope to be able to answer and why)
• Define the data collection procedure (what will you do during the data collection and how will you do it)
• Define the instruments and tools to be used for the data collection
• Define the preliminary data analysis plan (once you have completed the observation, what is the plan for using the collected data to address the goals)

Include any data collection tools you plan to use (interview instruments, recorders, cameras and and so on).

Include your strategy for any interviews you may conduct with patrons and/or library staff. Please also include what data sets you plan to have when you are finished with the observation and how you plan to analyze it.

You may deviate from this plan for the actual observations but without a plan, it is unlikely you will be prepared. You will earn a higher grade if it is clear how the procedure and instruments support collecting the data to address the goals of the observation. You will also earn a higher grade if you are clear about how the data will be analyzed in order to meet the analysis goals.

Reference:

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/field-studies-done-right-fast-and-observational/

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/best-application-designs/

https://learn.dcollege.net/bbcswebdav/pid-5409616-dt-content-rid-28208432_1/courses/XLSINFO610001900sed_201635/Interaction%20Design_chap%207.pdf

https://learn.dcollege.net/bbcswebdav/pid-5409616-dt-content-rid-28208399_1/courses/XLSINFO610001900sed_201635/Blomberg%20An%20Ethnographic%20Approach%20to%20Designpdf.pdf

Question 2: This is an individual assignment. Compile a report of at least 800 words that describes the library. Please report the behaviors you observed, how people interact with the library’s services and with the space in general. Don’t forget to give the date and time of your observation(s). You can add photos if you have them, scans of sketches, and so on.

You should write your report as an ethnographer. This involves at least two things. First, you must try and think of your observation scene as being strange to you. Don’t take anything for granted, and don’t assume that I know anything about the library scene(s) and activities that you are reporting on. Second, and related, you should give as much detail as possible. Don’t take anything for granted, and don’t assume that a reader knows anything about the library you visited.

You may include your original or updated data analysis plan as an appendix but this addition is not part of the 800 words.

Appendices with images, drawings and other data are also highly encouraged. If your images have people in them, please alter the images so the people are not recognizable.