Activity patterns in intellectual collaboration CSCW 2002 – Workshop 5 Peter Jones, Redesign Research, Dayton 16 November, 2002 A Representation of Practice Knowledge in Information Behavior

Research Question …  How do scientists seek and use information in the conduct of research?  Focus on: Research with context of Program/Project Collaboration in research efforts Individual and social information use Analysis within & across disciplines  How is knowledge used in practice?

Background  Elsevier Science sponsored study to understand: Context of research work Information use by scientists Preparation of articles & use of journals  Approach: Current Review and Analysis Design of Field Study First Field Site – Case Western RNA Center

Research Methodology  Rapid Ethnography (Millen, 2000) Research Task Notebook Ethnographic interview, observing, analysis Individual & group walkthrough sessions  Grounded theory approach Glaser, Strauss: Process theories Iterative theory build & test Field data applied to both product & research  Activity Theory + Case Analysis Framework allows additive construction Supports multiple cases – research database

Analysis and Representation Approaches  Activity theory (Engeström) Social cognition, analysis of multiple activities Motivation, internal & external, organization Focus on technology as instrument of work practice  Contextual Design CD Models useful to triangulate reps Physical, Info Flow, Cultural/Organizational, Artifact  Lifecycle concept Different temporal lifecycles of information use Borgman (1996) only ref to general info lifecycle

Analysis of 25 key studies … ContextCognitive / AnalyticalSocial / Collaborative 1. Scientific Discipline42 2. Institution or Department21 3. Research Program or Project1 (Review study)None 4. Individual133 Levels in Activity Theory – Activity (3), Action (4), Operation Unit of analysis focused on Research Project … Activity level Where the work of science gets done.

Field Research Project  RNA Center for Molecular Biology 5 PIs and 10 Researchers Focus on info behavior in research Used diaries, interviews, observation, artifacts analysis, walkthroughs Information use motivated by knowledge production required for research: Experiments, Articles, Grants, Exploration

Research Project – Focus of research work Projects can be studied, are self-contained Instruments include most research tools & content of interest More defined work roles, project activity similar within discipline

Initial FindingsProposalStart DataFindings ValidationPublish paper (Conference)PlanCollectionArticles Info Use Score Research Project Lifecycle Experimental Study – Molecular Biologist example Identify key issues Prepare Proposal Develop issues Exhaustive review Admin wait Project start, Collect data Develop findings, Compare studies Validate findings: References & lit Prepare article Review & publish Cycle 1 2 3

Where’s the Collaboration?  All PIs and most PhDs collaborate with other researchers (in this field) Not evident from observation  Motivated by knowledge gaps: Required expertise for research Specific equipment needed for exp’s Desire to work with best researchers  Mediated by: Conferences and specific meetings , phone calls, shared artifacts

(Initial) Information Flow Model PhD Student Researcher Principal Investigator Experiments Research Articles Discussion of Findings Review of Data Structuring Paper Collaborator Finding latest in the area New data every day Paper ideas, shared findings Specific contributions

Addressing Analysis Issues  Data overload? Inductive analysis – drawing from the field details means leaving stuff out  Losing focus across findings? Grounded theory approach Coding transcripts for themes Iterating analysis, co-analysts  Bridging design - Walkthroughs, field focus groups, analyzing data across independent studies

Addressing Representation Issues  Iterative abstraction Not modeling further than the data shows Moving “up” but “keeping it real”  Multiple models – Beyond CD A good lesson from CD – Use multiple visualizations to build a complete story Not being constrained by CD – try: Activity models, Temporal cycles, Social networks  Glued together with case details