In the realm of information studies, I think we need to expand the definition of "field research". With so much information is housed, used, and exchanged digitally, field research needs to occur in spaces that aren't literally/physically "in the field". With that being said, there are still opportunities for field research to take place, especially when we are looking at aspects such as user design and user experience. In my research, field research comes into play through the use of focus groups. The role of using focus groups is to gather students who are trying to locate information on academic websites, and analyzing how they actually use these websites, and whether or not their attempts at information retrieval is successful. Organizing focus groups involves the recruitment of participants, as well as being with them in the same space, to observe as they navigate their way through online information.
Food for thought: typically with ethnographic research, we expect researchers to immerse themselves into an environment so they can observe their surroundings. However, with information, aren't we all already immersed in it? Aren't we all participating in the information realm on a daily basis? And if we are, are we able to enter the field without any already existing bias?
No comments:
Post a Comment