Investigating the technology-work relationship: a critical comparison of three qualitative field methods
Clay Spinuzzi · International Professional Communication Conference · 2000
Researchers today are increasingly attempting to understand the relationship between technology and work through field methods. Surveying the field methods commonly used by researchers to observe such interactions, I critically discuss the assumptions underpinning three methods (ethnography, participatory design and contextual inquiry) and the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Comparing ways of looking at human-computer interaction across four categories (viz. theoretical bases, data collection methods, data analysis methods and design approaches), I provide guidelines for researchers who are considering ways to examine human interaction and work with computer technologies.