W3: HCI Research Approaches

Question 1

What are the 3 frameworks for designing a proposal?

Answer 1

• quantitative
• qualitative
• mixed method

Question 2

Explain the ‘quantitative’ approach.

Answer 2

Involves experiments and surveys to gather data. It emphasises empirical observation, measurement, and theory verification.

Question 3

Explain the ‘qualitative’ approach.

Answer 3

Aims to understand lived experiences, cultures, and the meanings people attach to their actions.

Question 4

Explain the ‘mixed method’ approach.

Answer 4

Researchers can use a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. This approach can be sequential (using one method to elaborate on the findings of the other), concurrent (investigating both simultaneously), or transformative (using a theoretical lens overarching both methods).

Question 5

What are the 3 central design questions?

Answer 5

1. What knowledge claims are being made by the researcher?
2. What strategies of inquiry will inform the procedures?
3. What methods of data collection and analysis will be used?

Question 6

What are the 4 major research paradigms or epistemology?

Answer 6

• Postpositivism
• Constructivism
• Advocacy / Participatory
• Pragmatism

Question 7

What are the things to consider when choosing a research approach?

Answer 7

• The nature of the problem they are investigating.
• Your personal experiences and background.
• The target audience for the research.

Question 8

Explain ‘postpositivism’.

Answer 8

This paradigm emphasises cause-and-effect relationships, empirical observation, and theory verification. It involves quantitative methods and reducing complex ideas into testable chunks.
- determination
- reductionism
- empirical observation & measurement
- theory verification

Question 9

Explain ‘constructivism’.

Answer 9

Researchers seek to understand multiple meanings, social and historical constructions, and generate theories from qualitative data.
- understanding
- multiple participant meanings
- social & historical construction
- theory generation

Question 10

Explain ‘advocacy / participatory’.

Answer 10

Politically and change-oriented, emphasising collaboration and empowerment. Researchers aim to create change and often involve participants in the research process.
- political
- empowerment issue-oriented
- collaborative
- change-oriented

Question 11

Explain ‘pragmatism’.

Answer 11

Looks at the consequences of actions, is problem-centered, pluralistic, and practice-oriented. It often involves mixed-method approaches to solve real-world problems.
- consequences of actions
- problem-centred
- pluralistic
- real-world practice oriented (e.g. usability testing)

Question 12

What are the 3 paradigms of HCI?

Answer 12

• man-made machine coupling
• optimising accuracy / efficiency
• understanding situatedness, phenomenology

Question 13

Based on what do academic knowledge claim contributions?

Answer 13

standards of the epistemological foundation

Question 14

Research articles have underlying epistemology shown through their…

Answer 14

questions, methods, and claims.

Question 15

What are 3 theoretical approaches to design?

Answer 15

• conservative
• pragmatic
• romantic