Research Methods for HCI BCS HCI Tutorial 1 st September, 2008

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York2 Aims for the day  Introduction to various research methods  Discuss and explore  Write yourself into your project  Emphasis on academic research

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York3 Introductions  Name  Where you are from (place/organisation)  Hopes for the day

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York4 Introductions  Paul Cairns  Natalie Webb  Harold Thimbleby (arriving lunch time)  Anna Cox

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York5 Plan: four 1½ hour sessions 1.Introductory session 2.Discussion of your research 3.Write Now! - Writing as a research method 4.Presenting your ideas and summing up

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York6 What is research?

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York7 Research Methods  Soundness  Reliability  Generalizability

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York8 A model  Research question/direction  Gather data  Analyse  Answer the question – Or raise another one

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York9 Causal chain  From question  To data  Through analysis  To interpretation  And hence answer

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York10 Validity  Construct validity – Are you really measuring what you think?  Internal validity – Does the data relate to your question?  External validity – How generalizable? Scope?  Reliability – Repeatable?

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York11 What are your research questions?  Some guidance: 1.A single sentence question 2.Yes or no (most likely maybe!) 3.Concrete

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York12 Methods you have suggested  Exptl method and stats for hard topics!  Survey  Cog modelling  Eye tracking  Case studies  Methodological development  New methods?

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York13 What so special about HCI?  Teleological research  Multi-faceted  Messiness is crucial

QNT, Paul Cairns, University of York14 Good books  Cairns and Cox, Research Methods for HCI  Chalmers, What is this thing called science?