Multimodal Semiotics and Collaborative Design
Multimodal Semiotics and Collaborative Design
Multimodal Semiotics and Collaborative Design
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
METROTOPIA<br />
COMMUNICATION &<br />
DESIGN WORKSHOP<br />
POP ART LAB (PAL)<br />
TYPE OF<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
intrinsic (exploring<br />
contexts, actors,<br />
affordances <strong>and</strong><br />
methods)<br />
intrinsic (teaching in SL) +<br />
instrumental (novice users<br />
in their learning<br />
environments)<br />
instrumental (naturally<br />
occurring inworld<br />
collaborations)<br />
ACTORS<br />
multidisciplinary team<br />
of researchers &<br />
designers<br />
communication students<br />
(little or no VW experience)<br />
inworld team of SL<br />
builders (professional &<br />
amateur)<br />
CONTEXT OF<br />
DESIGN<br />
a virtual laboratory in<br />
the form of a city<br />
(whole sim)<br />
fictional narratives,<br />
avatars/characters <strong>and</strong><br />
spatial objects<br />
abstract virtual place for<br />
social music-listening<br />
experience (whole sim)<br />
CONTEXT OF<br />
COLLABORATION<br />
collaborative design for<br />
research purposes,<br />
professional, long-term<br />
(3-4 months)<br />
pedagogical group study,<br />
teaching/learning<br />
environment, long-term (3<br />
weeks)<br />
inworld collaboration for<br />
personal/professional<br />
interest<br />
DESIGN<br />
METHODS<br />
inworld+RL<br />
collaboration,<br />
collaborative design<br />
inworld+RL collaboration,<br />
collaborative design<br />
mostly inworld<br />
collaboration,<br />
collaborative design<br />
RESEARCH<br />
participant observation,<br />
participant observation,<br />
interviews <strong>and</strong> field<br />
METHODS<br />
interviews<br />
focus group interviews<br />
observations<br />
Table 6.1. The three case studies in comparison<br />
I aim to triangulate findings from the exp<strong>and</strong>ing empirical knowledge by using various data<br />
resources, data types <strong>and</strong> points of view for interpreting the observed phenomenon. For Stake<br />
(2005), triangulating descriptions <strong>and</strong> interpretations ought to be a continuous (iterative) process,<br />
which is not applied only in a single step but all through the study. Triangulation enables<br />
researcher to use multiple resources to verify <strong>and</strong> clarify meanings by identifying different ways in<br />
which the case is experienced, <strong>and</strong> provides stronger substantiation of constructs <strong>and</strong> hypotheses<br />
(Eisenhardt 1989). Thomas (2011) uses the Foucaultian concept of ‘polyhedron of intelligibility’ to<br />
describe triangulation as a ‘3D view of the subject’. By following Wieviorka’s (1992) model, Thomas<br />
describes the two essential elements of a case: its ‘practical, historical unity’ (subject) <strong>and</strong> its<br />
‘theoretical, scientific basis’ (object, or analytical frame). For increasing the efficacy of<br />
triangulation, Baxter <strong>and</strong> Jack (2008) also mention prolonged <strong>and</strong> intense exposure to the<br />
phenomenon under study, member-checking, peer review of data <strong>and</strong> field notes <strong>and</strong> continuous<br />
self-reflexivity as other possible ways of grounding the analytical framework with empirical <strong>and</strong><br />
theoretical validity. Another method of triangulation is applied in terms of the sampling of cases<br />
132