This course will provide a survey of research methods applicable to
human computer interaction (HCI) and detailed experience with one
method of the studentbthe main qualitative and quantitative
approaches. During this time, students will read from both the HCI
literature and related disciplines. In the HCI literature,
participants will read primary sources: Studies that exemplify the
appropriate use of different research methods. In addition, students
will read secondary sources in fields whose research methods may apply
to the analysis and evaluation of interactive systems. These fields
include sociology, communications, psychology, statistics, and
engineering. At the end of this phase, students will prepare a survey
of a general research approach, such as interviewing or quantitative
experimental design.
In the second portion of the course, students will study a specific
research method in depth. Students will search the appropriate
literature for articles describing the method, make an oral
presentation in class, and apply the method on actual data from an
ongoing research project in the Medical Imaging, Gruvi, or Interactive
Arts and Technology Labs. Given the limited time (5 weeks) it is not
required that the analysis produce anything more than preliminary
results. In order for the class to have exposure to a diverse range
of methods, students will be required to coordinate their projects so
that their methods come from significantly different research
traditions.