User Requirements Gathering for the Humanities: How do we establish best practice for the community? Ruth Kirkham – Project Manager John Pybus – Technical Officer DRHA – 3 rd - 6 th September 2006

Building a VRE for the Humanities (very brief re-cap) 15 month JISC project (started last summer) 15 month JISC project (started last summer) Capturing user requirements from researchers across the division at Oxford Capturing user requirements from researchers across the division at Oxford How do the Humanities differ from large scale Science? How do the Humanities differ from large scale Science? No predefined technology (ground up approach) No predefined technology (ground up approach) Build 3 to 4 prototypes/demonstrators Build 3 to 4 prototypes/demonstrators

User Requirements Workshops AHRC funded series of research workshops AHRC funded series of research workshops One held so far One held so far Two coming up in October Two coming up in October

Aims and Objectives Emphasise the importance of Requirements Gathering for e-Research within the Humanities computing community Emphasise the importance of Requirements Gathering for e-Research within the Humanities computing community Establish best practice for user requirements and ongoing user testing within the community Establish best practice for user requirements and ongoing user testing within the community Bring together individuals from the Humanities, e- Science and established Requirements Gathering Centres Bring together individuals from the Humanities, e- Science and established Requirements Gathering Centres Create a Humanities-based user requirements community Create a Humanities-based user requirements community

Structure of Workshops 1. User Requirements in ICT projects in the Humanities Define and discuss current methods in the Humanities. Define and discuss current methods in the Humanities. Inititate discussion around current issues and concerns Inititate discussion around current issues and concerns Think collectively about improving and advancing their methodologies Think collectively about improving and advancing their methodologies 2. Requirements gathering in eScience 3. Establishing a Guide to Best Practice

Structure of Workshops 1. User Requirements in ICT projects in the Humanities 2. Requirements gathering in eScience In conjunction with Oxford Centre for Requirements & Foundations at OUCL In conjunction with Oxford Centre for Requirements & Foundations at OUCL Build on outcomes of first workshop Build on outcomes of first workshop Introduction to methods from eScience Introduction to methods from eScience Discussion of similarities and differences between practices in Science and Humanities computing Discussion of similarities and differences between practices in Science and Humanities computing Consider a methodology devoted to the Humanities Consider a methodology devoted to the Humanities 3. Establishing a Guide to Best Practice

Structure of Workshops 1. User Requirements in ICT projects in the Humanities 2. Requirements gathering in eScience 3. Establishing a Guide to Best Practice Define focus of future User Requirements capture Define focus of future User Requirements capture Produce first draft of a Guide to Best Practice Produce first draft of a Guide to Best Practice Consider how we might embed this work in the community Consider how we might embed this work in the community

Gathering Requirements Technology push or pull? Technology push or pull? Where does it all begin? A project has to come from somewhere. Where does it all begin? A project has to come from somewhere. Research question Research question Institution Institution Funding body Funding body Who are your users? Who are your users?

Gathering Requirements Why bother? Why bother? Know not just who your users are, but; Know not just who your users are, but; What they do, or want to do What they do, or want to do How they go about doing it How they go about doing it Even where they work Even where they work Might turn out that there is no requirement for a tool – and that’s good to know early. Might turn out that there is no requirement for a tool – and that’s good to know early.

Our requirements gathering process Unstructured and semi-structured interviews, researchers were asked about: Unstructured and semi-structured interviews, researchers were asked about: Current IT usage Current IT usage Collaboration specifically using IT Collaboration specifically using IT Local and external tools/processes used to carry out research Local and external tools/processes used to carry out research Interaction with all aspects of grant applications such as seeking funding, interaction with Research Services etc Interaction with all aspects of grant applications such as seeking funding, interaction with Research Services etc No specific questionnaires, informal meetings allowed our researchers to speak freely No specific questionnaires, informal meetings allowed our researchers to speak freely Focus Groups Focus Groups Wherever possible the interviews were recorded Wherever possible the interviews were recorded

Comments “Often as people are carrying out their research it is difficult to take a step back and fully to realise all of the tasks, tools and methods which they employ on a daily basis.” “Often as people are carrying out their research it is difficult to take a step back and fully to realise all of the tasks, tools and methods which they employ on a daily basis.” “Capturing practise and processes would give a useful basis for both reflection and analysis for individuals and for those building IT tools and services to support their work.” “Capturing practise and processes would give a useful basis for both reflection and analysis for individuals and for those building IT tools and services to support their work.”

Requirements in e-Science eScience/eSocialScience eScience/eSocialScience Extensive programme of work Extensive programme of work Often very large scale computing and data Often very large scale computing and data Effective user requirements capture an important part of this Effective user requirements capture an important part of this Need to learn the lessons of this as we consider the transfer of e-Science technologies to the Humanities Need to learn the lessons of this as we consider the transfer of e-Science technologies to the Humanities “we must take advantage of technologies, but not slavishly follow the methods and cultures of the sciences”

Use in the Humanities Which methodologies would be useful to adopt (from e­Science?) and which might we (AH computing community) create ourselves? Which methodologies would be useful to adopt (from e­Science?) and which might we (AH computing community) create ourselves? Two way process: Two way process: Arts and Humanities can contribute back to e­Science as it moves towards e-Research Arts and Humanities can contribute back to e­Science as it moves towards e-Research

e-Science Adopters Scholars working with IT specialists inevitably become more aware of opportunities Scholars working with IT specialists inevitably become more aware of opportunities As their peers take an interest As their peers take an interest “that’s amazing, how do you do that?” “that’s amazing, how do you do that?” “How could we use that in our work?” “How could we use that in our work?” “what on earth’s the point?” “what on earth’s the point?”

Getting a balance How do we make people aware of technological potential – what doors are opening – without forcing particular practices on them? How do we make people aware of technological potential – what doors are opening – without forcing particular practices on them? Researchers will evaluate for themselves whether they believe a particular tool will support, or enhance their research Researchers will evaluate for themselves whether they believe a particular tool will support, or enhance their research

Getting a balance Bridging the gap between developers and researchers Bridging the gap between developers and researchers BVREH project experience: BVREH project experience: Developer part of user requirements survey Developer part of user requirements survey Actively speaking to researchers Actively speaking to researchers Two way process: Two way process: Arts and Humanities can contribute back to e­Science as it moves towards e-Research Arts and Humanities can contribute back to e­Science as it moves towards e-Research

“It is vital that as new systems are introduced it is done in a way that truly enhances the working practices of the individual researcher. This is only possible if those involved in creating these technologies have a full understanding of how research is currently undertaken and how new developments will be incorporated.” “It is vital that as new systems are introduced it is done in a way that truly enhances the working practices of the individual researcher. This is only possible if those involved in creating these technologies have a full understanding of how research is currently undertaken and how new developments will be incorporated.”

What can we do? Budgeting user requirements into project plan Budgeting user requirements into project plan Awareness in institutions and funding bodies Awareness in institutions and funding bodies Encourage good communication between users and technologists Encourage good communication between users and technologists

Workshops: Next steps This is still work in progress! This is still work in progress! report of first workshops in preparation report of first workshops in preparation remaining workshops next month remaining workshops next month Bring together community in which the methodologies for requirements gathering will grow and evolve Bring together community in which the methodologies for requirements gathering will grow and evolve Identifying current issues and gaps Identifying current issues and gaps

Workshops: Next steps We are keen for feedback We are keen for feedback and wider participation in the workshops and wider participation in the workshops Final Thought: “Faster, better, but not different” Two out of three – perhaps fast & better is different

Acknowledgements Principle Investigators: Professor Alan Bowman and Dr Charles Crowther Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Oxford Dr Michael Fraser Oxford University Computing Services Also: Marina Jirotka – Centre for Requirements and Foundations, Oxford University Computing Laboratory

Feedback/Questions Any questions? Any questions?