Chapter 3: Research Design and Methodology Essay

Chapter 3 mannerological analysis and asylumChapter 3 explore see and methodological analysis3.1 AimsThis investigating was concerned gener tout ensembley to see how tender technologies come into the normal lives of assorted pack, and how in turn these large subdue engage with these saturnineerings the port they be appropriated, including sufferance, culture and struggling, just excessively almost some some different(a)(a) strategies for non- bankers acceptance, or arms property appropriation. exceptional issues include the stoop of k at a durationledge, h doddering and resource on ICT appropriation deep dash off and surrounded by domains of the invigoration- infinite, addressing both opportunities for encompass e re tout ensembleyplace and reinforcement of boundaries. More broadly it asked how the appropriation of technologies, such(prenominal) as the PC, the mobile ph star and the Internet is proceeding now that certain adept elements and skill s absorb left the domain of the early adopter. The view started from three pauperisms1. To study everyday case and context of engine room in its broad rather than narrow definition, c overing the full-page of the intent story post. This seek to overcome the limitations of previous inquiry that foc manipulations rather unsh bedly on the base, or bunk, or clubs lone(prenominal), and generally neglects crossovers, (except when melt comes in to the billet in the shimmy of tele-work). It is alike sought to explore how the reckoner and few other(a)(a) technologies cross over mingled with domains, and the supposed convergence of television, ready reckoner and telecommunications technologies.2. A soul centred fire to aliveness with applied science, rather than an arti incident centred approach. With so umteen products universe au in that locationforetic, rather than follow the up backpack of a precise selected applied science, which whitethorn fail, or succeed, this study looks at what is actually appropriated or engaged with by the answerings in opposite circumstances during a completion of intense technological wobble. 3. A socio skilful approach to appropriation, establishon three levels. Rather than creation artefact or system centred, the study recognises the socio- hea on that pointfore nature of innovation in the development society. It seeks to recordChapter 3 methodology and practicea) The biographies and appropriation of things or artefacts themselves. b) The biography and appropriation and reinvention of proposed hires, programmes and visions that accompany artefacts. much a bulge officular engine room whitethorn fail, entirely it is provided a step on the federal agency to acceptation and development of a class of work such as home shopping, or the mobile office, computers in education. In an age of nonuple competing technologies and service providers, the class of service is a nonher get word l evel of analysis. Reinvention of service and metamorphoses in attitude frequently occurs ahead of technical innovation, only if just back be seen as part of the innovation move.c) A trine level is that of issues on the macro scale, just affect somebodyistics and communities issues such as privacy, belief on engineering, the usualation on the sores media, on content identity, the approximation of progress done engine room and so forth This includes tales of technological u pass a hankerianism (Kling and S., 1988) and dystopianism, as well as to a greater extent concrete issues such as copyright. These may be harder to grasp, but they ar central to the idea of the affirmation society, argon the subject of extensive academic line of descent and insurance policy work, and ar debates that atomic number 18 accessible to everyone. They be overly represented by station products such as politics legislation, which is in its turn consumed in its make appearan ce.3.1.1 Research QuestionsFrom these general aims, a bet of specialized query top dogs and issues emerged and were further down in the course of maturation the enquiry excogitate. The main questions argon summarised downstairs1. What argon the crossovers between work and home and other domains of bearing in the be intimate and appropriation of raw ICTs? How does technology uphold breakdown boundaries, or substance ab utilization to reinforce them?2. What are the issues that devise adoption and employ of ICTs difficult, such at they create ambivalence between benefits and problems, and inquire applicative and genial resources to cope with them3. How of import is the local brotherly interlock as resource and factor in the diffusion of technologies, and the appropriation exhibit? (This question was particularly interesting since just round of the technologies in question are vane technologies, and their part depends on having other batch to go for them with) .4. Why do deal non adopt new ICTs that are becoming common all roughly them, and what does it mean to be a non-adopter? Can we as well ask how people resist technical change?Chapter 3 methodological analysis and DesignThese questions throw light on the greater issue of whether we merchant ship question an individualistic consumption and ownership determine.Two secondary questions that motivate the query, but are non examined in this thesis in dilate are1. How are people experiencing the convergence of technologies, industries etc, and engaging with the manufacturing set development of new classes of service and uses. Are in that respect types of classes of uses developed by users, or parts of everyday vivification that are non part of the indus generate and policy agenda. How are, and may people respond to the key services that are creation developed for new technical platforms, and what applications and services bulge out to be proving most relevant and popular?2. How do the academic and policy issues roughly the innovation and appropriation of new ICTs form part of the get word of people non necessarily engaged with them channelizely? How do these issues beat apparent and how do people engage with them?In these questions issues of ain, social, functional and technical context is be central. The Social Shaping of Technology perspective signals a social constructivist perspective on one hand the way thattechnologies, uses, concepts and agencys are constructed in context and in use, but on the other hand stresses the enamour of the characteristics of the technology, and in this case encyclopedism and communications, in organization the meanings and context. While the meanings of technologies may be shaped by the broader social and cultural context, and discourse, the technology itself has a provideful reverse effect.Most studies of technology and innovations obligate erect the same broad trends in use and adoption of ICTs, with age, gender, funds and occupation organism important predictors of attitudes, use and rate of adoption. Assumptions are shape some the difference between the way men and women, or the adolescent and the old, approach technology, and are addressed by industry. However as ICTs buy the farm less technological, and digital computing technology becomes more and more ubiquitous, I wanted to take a criticalChapter 3 methodological analysis and Designstance, not feel for stereotypes but trying to see from rear end up observation how and wherefore there may be diametric approaches to new ICT between people, establish not only on demographics, but also on a dictate of other influencing factors. Do changes in employment, education and expectations along human face changes in technology challenge our stereotypes of women and men, or the old and the young?In ordinance to tackle this sort of issue I bringed to study a number of divers(prenominal) milieu, with a range of people of va rious ages, occupations, resources, attitudes to technology etc, in order of magnitude to get a range of antithetical examples to spatevas and contrast. However the number of people I could interview would be limited by my prison term and the type of look method I chose.3.2 Designing the Field tapThis interrogation image builds on explore done into use of technology and media in the home in the various other spaces utilize a soft research method1. This raillery of the methodology secures to present some of the specific tools and experiences utilise to inform the design of the research and the development of an interpretation.3.2.1 Studying the Process of Adoption and jejunity few studies of technology are aimed at building up a get a line of the use of technologies in a social system at a particular cartridge holder in a generally unchange adapted power. early(a)s inquire the process of domestic helpation from the moment a technology is adopted. The processes tether up to adoption are generally investigated in hindsight. Diffusion studies hightail it to look in hindsight at the diffusion of an innovation though a community, following one particular technology. Adoption studies, even those concentrating on word-of-mouth, and own(prenominal) form, do not look closely at the actual process of interactions in dilate, and seldom use qualitative research methods.In my research I wanted to look at natural setting over a detail of term, to try and see what natural encounters there were with technologies, why and how these occurred, and how people engaged not only with technologies, but with ideas around them too. I wanted to see how people affaireed innovations into their existent cultural and technical orbit, how disparate technologies were interpreted, and how they were appropriated. I wantedChapter 3 methodological analysis and Designto peril this process and seek to empathise in the context of the everyday activities, alike(p) ityships, minimise and causes of the respondent. In particular, I wanted to see how processes at bottom the social mesh played a role in the way people encountered and coped with innovations.I developed a method of research, more elements of which I were reinforced by observations from number of detectives from different disciplines. Rogers (Rogers and Shoemaker, 1971) suggests that diffusion research needs to be more more processoriented than is general. It should be qualitative, and follow sequences of display cases over eon, to try and get scalelike to reading the actually adoption process. He also suggests that instead of counseling on mavin innovations, we should see them as part of clusters, with adoption of one linked to others, peculiarly when boundaries between technologies is not very clear.These clusters or complexes need to be investigated in anevolutionary sequence. He suggests we pass water to look for how these golf links are made by potential adopters, and not rely on the classification of experts. In particular, he suggest not falling for the evacuate vessel fallacy, assuming that potential adopters do already control the cognition and skills (indigenous familiarity systems) to evaluate and use innovations relevant to their lives. In fact this is the approach of sociology of technology and of consumption to understand how interpretations of an innovation are letd at in the culture in which it emerges or is introduced.Developing research out of the consumer research paradigm, Mick and Fournier (Mick and Fournier, 1995) criticise the lack of research that centralizees on the on the context of consumption, the pre- and post-adoption aspects of consumption and the role of symbolic. They developed a methodology employ phenomenological interviews to give insight into emotional responses, as well as keen explanations granted in retrospective interviewing. In particular, they recommend multi-method approaches used in longitudin al inquiries in natural settings (Mick and Fournier, 1998). Moores, who did several inside study studies of the vapidity of receiving set and satellite TV suggest that future research should look to a range of ICTs, not just media technologies, and look outside the home as well as inside (Moores, 1996). Some demand started to do thisChapter 3 methodological analysis and Designsort of research, such as Frissen and Punie (1998), who study the role of technologies in the lives of busy people.Haddon, who has conducted much research in this field, makes a number of suggestions nearly(predicate) the type of research that needs to be done to understand how people are appropriating the Internet (Haddon and Hartman, 1997).These include what the phenomenon symbolises to different people, including concerns that may make them wary how they commencement exercise encounter the Internet, what support they have and any problems they take care how it is perceived and maybe used in relation to other technologies and media and where it brook possibly fit into the time bodily anatomical structures of households and individuals. (Haddonand Hartman, 1997).Technologies must not only be put in the context of other technologies and the social context, but in terms of the activities that people do to make them relevant and meaningful.It might be more interesting to go beyond what people actually order more or less the idea of electronic barter to consider whether current purchase practices might favour consumption via the Internet. For example, if a particular household only buys goods and services from offices and shops and pays in cash, not even victimization a book of facts card, thence arguably they are far re move from electronic commerce over the Internet such a development would be a major new innovation for them. Whereas for mortal already tele-shopping by some means, doing so over the Internet is a variation or appurtenance of what is familiar to them. (H addon and Hartman, 1997).In studying a long term process of adoption, obviously it is important to take out what people actually do in their everyday activities, to understand how particular products, such as home shopping services could be relevant, and how their adoption may correspond to existing practices, or represent radical changes in activities. In some shipway we are trying to find out what people might need, not in terms of specific solutions, but as an concealed phenomena that can be deduced from the structure of everyday conduct (Desjeux, Taponier et al., 1997, p.253).3.2.2 Focusing on the Life-Space and TechnologyVenkatesh studied the appropriation of computers in the home and suggests that sociotechnical studies have to endeavor to capture the structure and dynamics of computer adoption and use in the home, by looking at the interaction between the social space in which the family behaviour occurs and the technological space in which technologies are introduce an d used. (Venkatesh, 1996) This is similar to much of the domestication research that tries to understand the structure of the righteous economy in the homeChapter 3 Methodology and Design(Silverstone, Hirsch et al., 1992 Silverstone and Hartman, 1998). This involves looking at symbolic and practical structures of the home in terms of time, space, activities, roles, power relations, rules, and use of technologies. Studies of the workplace and computerisation take a similar view, looking to understand not only the perfunctory organisation of work, but also the legion(predicate) inner relationships and activities. The aim is to build a model from the bottom up model of how the user will derive value from the product or service (Carey and Elton, 1996, p.41/42), how they will make sense of in light of all their experiences across the life-space2.The intention of this study was to link the various domains of life, to study the example economy of both home and the work place, but also by dint of relationships and activities that cross boundaries. Into this study of the greater life-space I needed to study how technologies arrive in this space and how they are domesticated. To do this I had to look at all the domains of activity and types of activity that made up peoples lives, and could be affected by new ICTs. The following figure gives some of the possible battlegrounds of application of technology.Chapter 3 Methodology and DesignChapter 3 Methodology and Design3.2.3 Gaining AccessOne problem is to gain access to respondents, and the problems of being able to study them, and gain some familiarity with their world, or section their ingenuousness. Social science methodologies propose many different slipway in which this can be achieved, and guidance on the extent to which involution in a respondents life world is necessary to for particular descriptive or analytic ends. Practical problems include getting people to speak to the investigator at all, then g etting them to be open, co-operative, and sober in discussing the aspects of their lives that interest the researcher. More fundamental for research methodology is the reliance on the in-person descriptions of the respondents, who may either intentionally conceal or mislead the researcher, or unintentionally mislead them. In studyingsomeones life world, it is unlikely that the respondent will be able to comprehensively and thoroughly describe not only their opinions and thoughts, but the peaks of everyday activities and relationships, and the context in which they conduct them, especially in the space of a relatively short interview. Participant observation is a method that tries to surmount these obstacles, but at the expense of huge effort by the researcher, and can only be carried out in a situation where the researcher can actually live or work within a small multitude over an extended period of time. Since I intended to look at a number of groups, and across the social netw ork of one particular member, this type of methodology is impossible. What is more, gaining access to the work place or social clubs may be possible, but living in private homes is very difficult.Only a few researchers have move this (for example, James Lull in order to examine media use (Lull, 1990)). I wanted to study the way people encountered new technologies over a period of months or even years, when in fact key government issues may only occur very infrequently, so this did not make much sense. Other research methods used in media studies include postulation the participants to intimidate diaries. This again is does not get any closer if especially if salient events occur very infrequently and outside the period of research interaction.I wanted to interview not only users of new technology for whom the technology had a direct personal relevance, but also non-users for whom it did not. I expected that duringChapter 3 Methodology and Designthe process of research many of th e respondents would be likely to encounter and form opinions on new ICTs and have some work with the process of innovation and diffusion, however unwillingly. I had to find a method that would enable me to gain access to people who did not have any interest in the subject of research- new media technologies, and who would be difficult to contact or engage with though a research method based on current users. Especially for these people I had to develop a number of tactics to bring out the discussion of new ICTs, and to build an understanding of apiece persons life-world and the way that they encountered and engaged with ICTinnovations.3.3 Initial Concept of Research MethodInstead of selecting a range of established social groups, say a workplace, a club, a nuclear family, a group of friends, a shopping centre, I decided from the outset to use an Informer approach, taking as my specify of intro an individual who would to some extent participate in the research as a co-researcher , and provide entry into their social world. Blumer suggest that the researcher seek participants in the sphere of life who are who are crisp observers and who are well informed(Blumer, 1969, p.41).The research design then touch mapping the various other people that these respondents engaged with (both in relation to specific uses of ICTs and more generally) in different domains of their life sphere. I would then conduct interviews with those they work with, their family, their friends, and ask them to report on their experiences of traditional and new media and communication technologies. The Informant, and the others they identify, would not be selected on the basis that they personally use or buy any particular technology given the proportion principle that non-use is just as interesting as use.The crucial diaphragm is that it is the Informants social network and individuals within it that are being studied, not only the key Informants themselves. Whilst the cream of the in itial informants would obviously have an important influence over research outcomes, any such formative by the researcher would then be diffused as the interviews moved out to the networks identified by the Informants. Although such an approach does notChapter 3 Methodology and Designeliminate the bias inherent in selection of respondents this kind of snowballing method does open up the range of people interviewed.The involvement of the Informant was conceived as being important for practical and theoretical reasons as well an informant will have to be engaged as a co-researcher who will provide access for the researcher to their social groups. I did not presume that the Informants position wouldbe un-problematic, but anticipated that there would be many difficulties with their relationship to the research, and their role in forming the opinions of their groups.In fact the informant role as a point of passage between social groups is very important however they are unlikely to be unique points of passage in substantive life. By interviewing a number of people who divided up similar experiences and knew each other, or knew a common contact this method would also enable me to compare the experience and interpretations the respondents had of particular events, dual-lane spaces, relationships and each other. This would make the study pander some of the basic demands of an ethnographical study.The aim was to conduct this study on a longitudinal basis with the idea of repeating the fieldwork after maybe 1 year, by which time I expected that there would be appreciable changes in the discourses and use of technology in society in general and in the groups being studied.Interviews were conducted on a semi-structured basis with the aid of a schedule of questions and issues (included in the extension). I also explored the use of other devices to prompt responses in a less structured way. Having carried out a dummy run with these research instruments on friends and fellow students, I then undertook an initial navigate study with the first group of interviewees. Since I was examineing an data-based and rather unstructured research design, which potentially threw up further problems, for example in data analysis, the pilot study provided an important probability for assessing and better the research design.Chapter 3 Methodology and Design3.3.1 Designing the interviewsI was not trying to trace the network of influences, but rather study a group of people who interact at home, work and in other social situations, and compare their different approaches and study how they influence each others, and how the influence of third parties is passed on and negotiated in the group. There is no need to do a complete network analysis for this, but in displace together the sample, an informants ego (personal) network is to bethe basis for selection.I had to design an interview guide that would investigate the individuals cathode-ray oscilloscope, the ir everyday activities, major and electric shaver events in their lives and their relationships with others. This would include information on activities that are currently the target of the development of ICTs, such as workplace activities, shopping, banking, media, entertainment, communications and information use. I mapped out the range of areas of life that I might have come up in the following Table. I would then focus on the enjoyledge and use of ICTs and how they were engaging with them. Since I was investigating the adoption process, I also tried to find out how they went almost adopting new products, covering information seeking, advice taking, buying, learning etc, for what ever product. This included the immenseness of different personal relationships in make decisions, finding out information, and forming opinions, compared with reliance on public sources such as shops and media. I also asked about broader issues to do with the development of technology and its imp act on society, attitudes towards change, and if they had noesis of in policy issues involved in the information society.Chapter 3 Methodology and DesignThe interview was flexible enough to range over issues that the respondents brought up. The main topics cover are in the table. place setting, life themes and historyEducation backgroundFamily backgroundLife historyImportant relationshipsResourcesEveryday activities and recent eventsEventsLife changesWork activitiesDomestic life3Shopping practicesInformation, Media and CommunicationInformation use and attitudeMedia useWork communicationFriends and family communicationICT use and friendshipICT useICT adoptionSocial net profits use of ICTsICT attitudes dispute with ICTs experience about ICTsProblems with technologyKnowledge of implementation of ICTs ingovernment and industryPolicy issues on ICTsTable 1 Topics covered in interview schedule3.3.2 Primary analysis of success of first pilot interviews, and comments for proceeding with c oncluding research on pilot.The initial respondents were found through with(predicate) an acquaintance, a primary school teacher who agreed to help. She named a chap and her family as her closest network, whom she divided most things. The details are given in the next chapter. The first set of interviews was conducted in January 1997. All ogdoad interviews were transcribed. The interviews explored the life of the participant looking at domestic, social, employment, and economic situation, and some life history. It then looked at a number of everyday activities drawn from the accepted plan for looking at new media in everyday life. The interviewing approach started not from technology, but from particular activities, and attitudes towards those activities, the social relations involved, and included instances of specific technologies.The questioning aimed to find out what the important activities, preoccupations and relationships are in the participants lives, and their attitud es and practices around them. Then more particular questions were asked about technology in everyday life, based on the earlier re motley fools of the participant, and introducing new themes. There was not an attempt to get them to define technology, orChapter 3 Methodology and Designuse my vague definition, but technologies were seen in the context of particular practices, activities and expectations.I was happy with the results of the first interviews. They laid wide groundwork for ask about the changes in use and expectations about technologies in context over the hold water year. However I made changes to the question schedule, mostly as a result of how I actually conducted the interviews, but also to reinforce some of the background material. For example, I needed to bring out more details of the relationships between the participants, and ask their opinions on the others attitudes to information, technologies and the other activities and interests identified in the research plan. I also asked more about meaningful others that I was not interviewing, who lay outside the social circle of the question informant.3.3.3 Finding and engaging respondentsI found the rest of the respondents by instruction on finding principal informants with specific backgrounds that I thought would be interesting in the light of particular interpretations of the technology these included computer entrepreneurs, artists, senior business managers, students and unemployed teenagers. I also wanted informants who would be interested in the topic and agree to help me persuade their family, colleagues and friends to help me. Through word of mouth and e brand-lists and a local cybercafe I found three informants who put me in touch with their personal networks. Details of the respondents are given in the next chapter in summary and in the Appendix in much fuller detail.3.3.4 Conduct of the interviewsWhile I only met most of the respondents for the interviews twice, I spent a conside rable amount of time with the Informants. I usually met them once to explain the purpose of the work, and get an idea if they would be interested and willing to help, and also if they could provide me with a network to interview. In particular, I met frequently with the informants in Groups 2 and 3, who were developing very interesting multimedia labours. This included spending the night on the grace of one while visiting his home inChapter 3 Methodology and Designa snowstorm in the north of Scotland. I visited them where they worked and in their homes for the first and second interviews, and in the case of groups 1and 3, travelled to visit other members of the group with them.I made the interview the focus of a concourse in which I also tried to develop an understanding about how they lived, where they worked, the relationships with others, their interests and engagement with the subject by observation and in conversations around the interview. These conversations were used to m ake myself feel at home, and to make the respondent realise that I was not coming to grill them about their knowledge of complex technologies, which discerning some of them.The conversations also revealed things about their relationships with others in the network, and sometimes raised issues that would not have come out in the rather more formal interview. Coming to the second round of interviews was easier in some respects, probably due(p) to familiarity of the interviewee with me and the process of the interview, and the more relaxed relationship between me and the interviewee However, while some of the respondents had had many experiences with new technologies over the gap, others had had almost none, and could not see the point of the interview. til now it was important for me to find out why they had not, and find out what they knew about the experiences of others in their network.3.3.5 guerilla Stage Empirical info CollectionThe Second Interviews focused on current attit udes and use of technology, and investigate experiences and changes in activities, personal situation andtechnology awareness since the first interview. It looked for the role of others in these experiences. I attempted to get participants to tell more in- insight stories about their encounters with technologies, and the way these experiences were communicated and shared at the time, and subsequently. I also wanted to try some other interview techniques to enriched the research. This is not quite triangulation but a way to stretch forth and deepen the understanding, rather than perform any alternative or cross-checking. For this I included interviewing in groups and using pictures to stimulate talkChapter 3 Methodology and Design1. To discover what each participant knows about and is ignorant of, in relation to technological developments that have been announced by the supply side of industry and government, particular functions and uses of new media technology, or issues raised by multimedia use. In the first interviews I waited to the very end to ask about awareness of the Internet, Digital TV etc, and offered short explanations if the participant did not know and wanted me to explain. Otherwise I did not. I wished to pursue a similar course this time, finding out how aware of these developments they are today. I used pictures, and scenarios based on their particular life-worlds. This way I hoped to discover the depth of knowledge, and interest in developments in multimedia.This will enhance my understanding of what technologies or ideas the participant comes into contact with. 2. To investigate the importance of the close social network, and to use it as a reflexive tool to bring out shared experience, and differences in attitudes and knowledge. To do this I interviewed some of the respondents in pairs or group. This was aimed at bringing out stories that did not come up in our individual talks, and to bring up more details about the relationships. It was also an attempt to give me a closer insight into shared experiences around technologies, uses of technology and attitudes including what views are held in common, what has not been shared by the participants, how they rate different sources of information and influence, and their impressions of future developments in new media technology.3. To investigate the interaction between different areas of everyday lifehome, work, social, public, the different relationships with people in these different domains, different communications patterns, and the boundaries created between these areas.4. To investigate changes in multimedia. Originally the research tried to focus on the aspects of everyday life that the supply industry has been predicting would be affected by new technology e.g. shopping, information, communication at home and work, a range of work practices and activities, education and training, banking, entertainment etc. The questions explored these areas, focusing inChapter 3 M ethodology and Designadvance on the issues that were arising from the supply side agenda, but allowing the respondent space to speak about how new technology was coming into their lives, and look for areas where it might do. Over the time of the research, a great many changes have come about in the use of ICTs often in areas quite banal, and with unforeseen applications and technologies. The second interviews tried to uncover those experiences, and applications that have developed that are outside the main areas of hype.The interviews looked for slipway that new technology came to be judged or coped with. I specifically looked for engagement and utility dimension of relationship to information, communications, learning or entertainment systems.The manage showing the photographs was somewhat successful, although with some people they had no idea about any of the issues involved. The photos mean that it was easier to introduce the subjects. Sometimes it felt like departure over ol d ground. Doing the interviews in groups led to some more information being divulged and the discussion that ensured were interesting as they revealed differences in knowledge, and attitude between those in the groups, be they a couple, a family etc.3.4 Analysis of DataI interviewed 29 people in 4 groups, with two sets of interviews, with each interview lasting between one and two hours. Computer-aids were used to hang the management and analysis of the draw of interview transcripts. The first job was to try and extract from this material quotes corresponding to all the issues I had raised, and look for new ideas and issues arising directly from the respondents words. The NUDIST package turn up extremely helpful with its stiff facilities for cross-referencing excerpts. Crucial to this is the elaboration of a set of reference terms. I developed a rough set of terms in analysing initial interviews from the first group and subsequently refined these in the light of a large number of responses. The aim was to balance on the one hand an desolation to a wide range of responses, and on the other the need to group these experiences. This enabled a simultaneous investigation of the data from the bottom up, i.e. from the interviews themselves, and from the top down, engagement based onChapter 3 Methodology and Designthemes derived from existing theory and research questions. The categories generated and classified are listed in the Appendix. They proved very helpful in analysis, building up a picture of important dimensions of the experience of ICTs. However, as we see in the detailed falsifiable chapters, it was necessary to generate further more detailed schema for analysing particular aspects and processes in ICT adoption (and nonadoption). The use of computer-tools allowed considerable flexibility in this respect. These nodes were then linked further together in a number of emergent themes relevant to the network, technology, technology problems and attitud es, non-adoption, adoption, knowledge, communication and information use. Searches of the marked texts enabled groups of quotes reflecting different issues to be bought together quickly. However there was still a need to structure this in a simpler and more straight forward way in order to actually write the stories and compare and contrast experiences.3.5 bean (Background, Events, Activities and Network)To structure the resultant data a framework was needed that would focus on particular dimensions of everyday life relevant to understanding the waythat people encounter technologies, think about them, adopt and use them. The approach I chose was to look at the data from four angles Background or personal history, Events, Activities and the social Network or BEAN to make an easily memorable acronym. This gives a way to assemble the contextual information, and to highlight crossovers and boundaries in the consumption, use and domestication process. It also gives framework for then mo ving to analysis based on domestication, appropriation, adoption, diffusion, and consumption models.These dimensions are obviously not independent activities are cogitate to the network, and changes in activities and relationships. Many events could be argued to be particular types of activities that people take part in.Background or in-person History The respondents all have a history of experiences, of use and adoption of technologies and services that influence their activities and attitudes during the study. The personal history goes beyond this to broader history of relationships, education, and other activities. This dimension includes reflections on theChapter 3 Methodology and Designlife course of the individual or group. It looks at the possibility of personal innovativeness.Events There are three types of events that influence the adoption and appropriation of innovations life course events, circular events, and one off social events or technological experiences. These events may be periods of considerable length (such as particular project at work, or the learning period for a new innovation). Activities these describe the spheres of everyday life in which the respondent takes part, such as work, school, family life, community life, and the activities they engage in within those spheres. The use and attitude to information, technologies and communication is examined within the context of these activities. These include work tasks, domestic tasks, leisure activities, media use etc. Activities will reflect, but not be actually linked to the stages of the respondents life course. Changes in activities are linked to events.Network the personal network describes the relationships of the respondent, with whom they share spaces, ideas, decisions, experiences etc. The network is not fixed, but evolves over time.These are now examined in more detail3.5.1 Background/Personal HistoryBackground and personal history approach looks for the attitudes, experienc es, knowledge and motivations of the respondentsLife themes,Motivations, values, attitudes that are broadly continuous during our lives, or through long periods. They include certain psychological factors related to innovativeness, enterpreneurialism, self-centredness etc. outlook on life, attitude towards relationships and community, priorities. At any one time certain themes may be more apparent or easily expressed than at others. They can also develop over time as a result of major events and experiences (e.g. (Douglas and Isherwood, 1979, 1996 Douglas, 1996) and work on lifestyles (Chaney, 1996)). It is not obviously not possible to look at why these exist in detail where the line between genetic, early life shaping, and later life changes is, and how we can change ourselves.Past life projects, Past life eventsChapter 3 Methodology and DesignThe past experiences and events that shape attitudes, knowledge, social network, Knowledge, values, priorities and attitudesThe attitudes a nd knowledge that are carried forward at each stage of life to the next. Routines, repertoires, habits, beliefsThere is nought deterministic about the influence of our past on our present, new life projects can draw on this knowledge and experience, but can also be attempts to overcome, change or retreat from aspects of earlier life projects. At the level of technology, media, information and communications there are Experience of using and seeing technology, personal and vicarious Education in ICTInterest in innovation, new products and servicesInterest in information about the worldAttitudes towards technically talk terms or interactive activities. Particular experiences, personal habits and flakes, myths and beliefs about ICTs,3.5.2 NetworkThe personal network is those people we have relationships with in our free-and-easy life. It ranges from close and intimate relationships of family friends, through colleagues in public life to casual, wanton relationships, acquaintances etc. These relationships can be instinctive or obligatory, friendly or hostile, or anywhere in between. Networks associated with life projectse.g. family, work colleagues, friends from other activitiesKnowledge and resources associated with networksThe network brings with it knowledge and resources, obligations, division of responsibility and resources). shared out myths of social groups in the networks,History of relationships, shared experiences, knowledge of and about those in the network. Symbols with meaning exclusive or special to the network. Cross over of networks.Different networks in our lives can be kept separate or overlap. pot have different sorts of networks strong, close, highly connected, weak and dispersed, radial an individual is part of several not overlapping networks.Self-perception within network,Relates to our own perception of our place within a network our status, value, contribution etc.Chapter 3 Methodology and Design operable and symbolic roles in ne tworksResponsibilities, status, influence, specialisation, demands. This includes what we do in the network, and how we are respected the moral and the economic roles and the stereotypes and images of others in the networks.At the level of ICTs there arePeople in network who use new technologyThose who are bank and accessible for information and advice Those who are considered examples, opinion leadersStatus of technology knowledge and use in a relationshipUse of technology in mediating relationships3.5.3 ActivitiesThese are the things we do they are not always rationally explained by goals, and often emerge from compromises and restrictions, as much as from voluntary choice. Activities include routine everyday activities. They include maintain and developing relationships, motivation and goals, actions, consumption, creation and production, communication, and learning.Current life projectsThe activities that make up and support our life projects i.e. Work status, family status, leisure interests. These life projects are linked closely to life stage. These include all the things we do as part of jobs, studying, maintaining our relationships, managing our home, being a citizen, and aconsumer.ChildhoodAdolescenceLeaving homeStudent earlier unemployment20sEarly FamilyDelayed SingleDelayed FamilyMaturity in work senior childrenMotherhoodChildren leaving homeDivorceSecond FamilyEmpty near IIEarly retirementYoung elderlyOld sr.Table 2 Possible Life stagesCurrent Goals and motivations(Why, what) These are specific to life projects and to more general life themes, and are the reasons why we undertake (most of) our activities.Chapter 3 Methodology and DesignPriorities and pressuresLimits of time, space, efficiencies sought we prioritise activities according to pressures and restrictions, often trading off between different demands, projects and motivations.InteractionsMany of our activities are related to our interactions with others our network Crossover between life projectsManagement of boundaries we have activities aimed at maintaining boundaries between different areas of life, or trying to bridge them.Knowledge associated with activities mum and verbalised knowledge related to activities. Myths associated with the activities and the institutions.Knowledge needed to perform activitiesAt the level of ICTsActivities using ICTsActivities where ICTs currently in common useActivities where use of ICTs are currently being innovatedCommunication circles and patternsInformation work impact information, finding information EducationActivities were there is pressure for efficiency improvements prison term hungry activities3.5.4 EventsEvents are particular sorts of activities that take a short time to achieve and stand out as remarkable against normal activities. They ordinarily involve a change in regular or routine activities and have a real effect, but can themselves be cyclical or regular as well as unique. appropriation and domesticat ion process events are very important as they often mark important stages in personalisation, in ever-changing attitudes, in making rules, learning and in changing relationships. Events picked up on in the interviews were those that occurred before or during the period of study. Since this wasdone by self reporting, only the events that they found significant to the questions (which were varied) were reported. However the questioning was designed to reveal a range of events.Chapter 3 Methodology and DesignOne class of events I call life events. I group life events into two categories, major, those that have involve upheaval, and minor, things that may not involve much change, but can be the opportunity or cause of change. Of course there is cross-over, and with hindsight a minor event could be the cause of major change (a new friendship that ends in marriage, or a new interest that leads to a career or major leisure activity). Major life events are events that involve considerable m aterial, relationship and symbolic upheaval.They include marriage, divorce, changing job, major injury, moving house, scratch line and finishing education, redundancy, entering relationship. How these effect different people is of course a subject for other research, but for my purposes, I see them as important trigger events, and the research shows they can have some considerable effect both in the material erudition of ICTs. Minor events include minor illness, holidays, buying large items, promotion, making new friends, new activities.Life events pregnant events in life projects often changing points between one project and a new one.Annual eventsRegular practical and symbolic events that are marked by activities of the individual or shared in their group, organisation. Often mark cycles of life, and can be connected to particular life projects. Some may be linked to a subculture, others drawn from more public culture (public holidays, festivals)Network eventsEvents that invol ve the network, these particularly relate to forging or changing relationships.Boundary eventsThe boundary event initially marks the change from one regime to another, but can also be an event that confirms the boundary when it is challenged. For example, boundaries in relationships, domains in life, the start and end of life projects, the making of rules. Often they are symbolic activities marking other changes (e.g. beating the bounds, initiation rites, and special anniversaries). I also include events that become important in defining boundaries, or for breaking them down e.g. getting a computer that enables work to be done at home, a decision not to get a computer to keep home and work separate, a family decision to limit TV viewing for children. Appropriation eventsChapter 3 Methodology and DesignRelated to technology events but particularly to do with the adoption of new innovations, and important events in the appropriation and integration of them. Technology events uncommon events with the use and adoption of technology, maybe a number of small events that are linked together in the mind of the respondent. One of the problems of one-off interviews is to try and understand how people change their minds, and when. One model would be to assume that there are specific events or experiences during which people either gain information, or have to make decisions and analyse and take evaluate that information or knowledge according to their values, circumstances, goals, relationships and resources. However, under this model how large or explicit are these events. For some people there may be explicit times when decisions or knowledge and attitude formation, affirmation or change occurred. For others there may be a slow accumulation of knowledge, through minor events, or for example, constant use of a technology.Any event may also only be a marker or a crisis point in some underlying situation, something that is the cummulation of chronic problems, or a trigg er that tips the balance in favour of adoption. Equally there may be a decision against adoption. A vaguely soggy or negative position may be crystallised by a particular event. Sometimes it is an event from outside (e.g. the arrival of a bill), or an individual deciding that enough isenough.3.5.5 BEAN and models of consumption and jejunenessThe analysis was helped by linking the BEAN framework to two other analytic frameworks, the domestication model and the consumption model of Holt (1995). By working with these I was able to derive grid indicating a range of issues to look for in relation to how people used and interpreted ICTs both in use and in the process of domestication. Again, these were used as a guide in the analysis of the data, rather than as boxes to be filled in from to garnish every possible combination.Chapter 3 Methodology and DesignActivitiesExperiencemediated by work,domestic, leisure,social activitiesNetworkExperience incontext of otherpeople theirinfluence. EventsContext ortrigger foradoptionshapesexperiencePersonal HistoryAttitudes builtover time andexperience desegregationIntegration of ICTsthrough everydayactivities. Meaningsthrough using/doingIntegration in asocial space(moral economy)Meanings throughsharing.?Appropriationat a time ofchange.Integrationwork time learningClassificationClassificationagainst otherspecialities ininstitutionsOthers to classifyoneself with andagainst in relationto ICTsPlayActivities that areshared around ICTuse, maintenance,purchase etcThe people withwhominnovations,adoption, use areshared.Developingrelationshipsaround ICTsBring intocontact withnew people,obliged toreconsideridentityShared eventsPersonal capacityto appropriate andpersonalise ICTsand innovationsdevelopedthroughexperience(scripts, creativity)Attitudes to othersv.v. ICTsdeveloped overtime andexperiencesExperience(Subjective)Table 3 The BEAN approach and. Holts consumption modelPast experiencesof using andadoptinginnovations andICTsChapter 3 Methodology and DesignActivitiesAppropriationObjectificationNetworkEventsPersonal HistoryAppropriationimposed fromoutside, or seen asfitting activities ofhousehold fromwork to media use.Activities enableappropriation(resources, money,knowledge)Object brought intothe home and placedrelevant to activitiesintended for work,play, individual orgroup use.Discussion, debatewithin household,and with, networksoutside enrollingexpertise, andresourcesEvent for wholehousehold e.g.moving, or forindividual e.g. newjob, school. Orregular event, e.g.Christmas. MediaeventPast experiences ofICTs in the home,and the experiencesof individualsappropriating fromoutsideDebate over whereit should be placed,in what context,how it can bemoved. Who is incontrol Who isexpert set.Discussions of newacquisitionRoutines of sharing,Emerging rules ofuse, disputes overuse, sharing,discussionintegrated intoroutines, everydaylife. ever-changingrelationships ofcontrol, expertise. implement to challenge orre-enforce.B ringing knowledge,attitudes fromoutside network in,developingknowledge that istranslated outagain. Attitudes ofthose outside.Changingboundaries. Otherscome into to useConflict overchangingboundariesThe installationevent, ceremony,the gift giving event,Previous experiencewith ICTs of differentsorts, pause points,rule making points,particular eventsdemanding use,decisions to restrict,change use,upgrade,Attitudes to othersv.v. ICTs developedover time andexperiences. Preexisting routines howthey fit newacquisition, preexisting hierarchiesEvents use of ICTfor/by people fromoutside. Particulardiscussions outsidehome, experiencesoutside that arebrought in, real orelectronic.Willingness to sharehome experience withoutside, pre-existingrelationships withoutside.IncorporationIntegration into theactivities in the home,routines of space andtime changes inactivities Changingexisting routines andactivities (e.g.displacement,replacement ofactivities)ConversionChanging boundaryof activities. Use o fICT at home thatchange outsideactivities (e.g. workroutines) bringactivities into thehome e.g.socialising in home,electronic or real.Reinforcement ofboundary.Table 4 The BEAN approach and the domestication model3.6 Preparative Work and Reflections on the Research Process In preparing the research, and developing an understanding of the process I would be investigating in others, I reflected on my own experience and everyday life, using a number of the tools from the literature and those I was developing myself. As IChapter 3 Methodology and Designdeveloped the research from the original rather different conception, and discover a number of issues that would subsequently become important. These tools included keeping a diary of my own social network and contacts, and a diary of my own adoption of the mobile telephone, in the context of the issues raised by the BEAN, jejuneness and Consumption models, recording my own subjective reactions and thoughts and learning, the practical a spects of learning and using a mobile phone, particular events, and the reactions of other others over a period of two years (These are given in the Appendix). This gave considerable insights into a personal technology that created ambivalence and crossed over into all domains of life, and into the way I could engage with those I was interviewing, and the sort of issues I would have to investigate.Finally, in parallel to the formal research, I was continually watching the way I saw people using and talking about new ICTs, and asking for stories, which were usually forthcoming in response to finding out what I was investigating. These stories reinforced what I was finding in the interviews, and in many ways pushed the direction of the research. One aspect was constant trade in ICTs between people, gifts, sharing etc. Second was the importance of individuals who were enthusiasts and earlier adopters in their social networks, who provided resources, help and encouragement for others. T his was true for groups of experienced users, who needed someone to keep them updated on new technology, and for novices who needed a first step on the ladder. Third were the constant problems that were encountered, and the stress that went along with the benefits of use.A number of events also prompted and encouraged my research. One of these was a major trial in the US of an English au pair accused of murdering a child in her care. At the time of the judgement the judge chose to put the verdict on the Internet. He did this not out because the Justice Department had instigated it as a policy, but because his son had persuaded him it was an good thing to do. This was a very public demonstration of the cross-over of influence between home and work in the adoption of the Internet.Chapter 3 Methodology and Design1Interpretative or qualitative research, developed in the 20th century based on the ethnographic research of the Chicago school, especially George Herbert Mead. Herbert Blumer, who developed the ideas of Symbolic Interactionalism based on the work Mead suggests The task of scientific study is to lift the veils that cover the area of group life that one proposes to study (Blumer, 1969)p.39. Interpretative research stresses the importance of the individual and intersubjective interpretation in understanding social processes, but also in the actual practice of social science there is the picture hermeneutic (Giddens 1976) of the researcher interacting and interpreting Mead (1934) in (Prus, 1996)) the social situation that is being studied. The ethnographic method calls for the researcher to put themselves in the shoes of the other person (Berger and Luckmann, 1966), to share the reality of the life-world of the other. Although a theoretical basis is important, the researcher should use inspection with a great deal of flexibility to investigate presumptions.The social situation should be approached from different angles and be imaginative, free, flexible, c reative. Interpretative research stresses the importance of the individual and intersubjective interpretation in understanding social processes, but also in the actual practice of social science there is the double hermeneutic (Giddens 1976) of the researcher interacting and interpreting (Mead (1934) in (Prus, 1996)) the social situation that is being studied. However, what ever the lengths a researcher may go to take the others stand point they are inevitably red ink to interpret the social situation according to a formal and informal logic that they bring to the research process. What a researcher should do wherefore is to try and make explicit both to themselves, and to their readers is not only the theoretically imposed interpretative window or frame, but the emotional, personal and point influences on their interactions with the those whose lives that are studying and on the interpretative process. 2Desjeux et al. (Desjeux, Taponier et al., 1997) suggest four main dimension of investigation of the everyday to investigate the link between the social and the technical Delegation of responsibility, to machines, to other people in the social network, and to commercial providers RoutinesPlanning of activities Improvisation.3Shopping is an area where there is considerable promise for new technology for home shopping, information garner etc. There are very different types of use of technology in different retail outlets and for different goods, and different goods lend to air order etc. Mail order is also an established business used by may people, from books and CDs, to clothes, consumer electronics, white goods, almost anything. The mail order market serves different groups. Catalogues that sell a wide range of goods are generally providing a planned credit service for low income purchasers. Other products such as books and music are sold though clubs and mail order because overheads are set out, and they service a regular purchasing habit. They can al so provide a greater choice, and operate on lower overheads than high pathway retailers.There are specialist mail order services for products that are not normally available except in specialist shops, and mail order companies can offer better prices based on lower overheads and economies of scale from a country wide or global market. There are also more and more single range or brand name mail order services from high street retailers and others, for whom mail order is a form of direct marketing. They run services as a complement to high street operations. Mail order and use of direct marketing information resources has been a big area of development in multimedia around mass market e-commerce