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Data Collection and Analysis
Data Collection
Overview
The methodology of the project has been for a number of research groups to analyse the same set of data. The data comprise of digitial video recordings of a series of 'real world' design meetings. The meetings were filmed in situ using digital video and audio equipment. These data were then distributed to the research groups who have analysed the material, writen a research paper based on this analysis, and presented their work for discussion at the workshop. Workshop papers have been subsequently re-drafted and will appear together in an edited book.
Design Meetings
The data was collected from a series of design meetings and from two design disciplines. We filmed a civic design project and a product design project. Participants were encouraged to augment the data supplied with their own data, allowing comparisons to be made across a number of design disciplines.
Technical Recording Setup
Design meetings were filmed with four camera angles to capture, as far as was possible, all activity at the meeting. Digital cameras, recording to hard disk and placed discreetly around the meeting room, captured activity from a number of perspectives. A wide angle camera gave an overall view of the environment in which the meeting took place. Other cameras were zoomed either to capture material under discussion or on the participants taking part in discussion. It was not possible to remotely control cameras so all cameras remained with a fixed view for the duration of the meeting. Meetings lasted between one and three hours.
A number of pilot studies were conducted to determine the optimal setup of cameras and in general the amount of information that has been captured was good. Pictures of the camera setup along with stills from video that has been recorded can be downloaded in the following pdf file.
Download documentation of the video setup (pdf)
DTRS7 Data Packs
The contents of the DTRS7 data packs sent out to workshop participants were:
• 4 view DVD of Architectural meeting 1
• 4 view DVD of Architectural meeting 2
• 4 view DVD of Engineering meeting 1
• 4 view DVD of Engineering meeting 2
• Data DVD containing all views of Architectural meeting 1 in Windows Media
• Data DVD containing all views of Architectural meeting 2 in Windows Media
• Data DVD containing all views of Engineering meeting 1 in Windows Media
• Data DVD containing all views of Engineering meeting 2 in Windows Media
• Data DVD containing all transcriptions and supplementary materials
Data Analysis
Overview
Once the DVDs had been distributed to research groups the analysis phase of the project begun. On receiving the data research groups were required to write a short abstract outlining their research perspective on the data. There were then three months for research afterwhich papers were submitted.
DVD
The DVD was authored to facilitate the research process. The DVDs contained all the data files for the multiple camera angles, a simultaneous four-screen view, meeting transcriptions, and any other related information.
Transcription
All meetings were transcribed in detail, although some research groups carried out further more detailed transcription. The transcription was formatted with line numbers, with every passing minute noted to allow the quick location of information. A referencing scheme for writing about a particular section of video was developed to consistently reference the filmed material.
Online Discussion
A key component of the research leading up to, and following, the workshop was an email discussion list for the data and other issues relating to the workshop. Every participant in the workshop was registered on this list. The list allowed questions and clarifications concerning the data.
The list continues to be used to make general announcements following the workshop and to give information about more general issues concerning the research process.
Page Last Updated: 25 January, 2008
