Methodological Approach

Methodologically, the studies reported in this thesis draw upon various research areas and approaches. In this section, I will provide a broad introduction to how this work sits in relation to other methodological approaches in HCI and Computer-Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW). Most particularly, I will describe how I have made use of what might be broadly termed Participatory Action Research, with a focus on empirical methods such as field visits, observations and semi-structured interviews. Here it is important to highlight the extended period over which I and we as a team have been studying these environments.