Fieldwork for Design by Randall, David; Harper, Richard; Rouncefield, Mark;

Long description:

This book looks at why ethnographic approaches have been turned to in the design of computing devices for the workplace, for the home and elsewhere. It presents a history of ethnography, both as it was practiced before computer science picked it up and since, most especially in the CSCW and HCI domains. It examines, further, the various ethnographic or ‘fieldwork’ frameworks currently popular, explaining and examining what each claims and entails. The focus of the book throughout is on the practical relationship between theory and practice, a relationship that is often misunderstood yet fundamental to successful design.

The book is illustrated with real examples from the authors’ various experiences in academic and commercial settings, reporting on the use of ethnography before, during and after design innovation and implementation. The result is a book that provides the working knowledge necessary for using any kind of ethnographic approach in the design of computer technologies.

This book shows why ethnographic approaches have been turned to in the design of computing devices for the workplace, for the home and elsewhere. It presents a history of ethnography, as it was practiced before computer science picked it up and since, most especially in the CSCW and HCI domains. It further examines the various currently popular ethnographic or ‘fieldwork’ frameworks, explaining and examining what each claims and entails. The focus of the book throughout is on the practical relationship between theory and practice, a relationship that is often misunderstood yet fundamental to successful design. The book is illustrated with real examples from the authors’ various experiences in academic and commercial settings, reporting on the use of ethnography before, during and after design innovation and implementation. The result is a book that provides the working knowledge necessary for using any kind of ethnographic approach in the design of computer technologies.

Table of Contents:

Ethnography, Fieldwork, and Design: Preliminary Remarks.- Ethnography, Fieldwork, and Design: Preliminary Remarks.- Theoretical and Analytic Issues.- The State of Play.- Some Perspectives.- Activity Theory, Distributed Cognition, and Actor-Network Theory.- Methods for Social Investigation: Practical Issues.- Ethnography and Its Role in the Design Process - “If You Must Work Together'.- Ethnography and How to Do It.- Analytic Issues: What Have We Got?.- Common sense and Context.- Organisations and Work.- Into the Home.- Conclusion: Not the Last Word.