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Making Couples, Making Technology
“Did You Say ‘Couples?’”
2
“‘look at this area of life and find us something interesting!’”
(Bannon, 2011)
HCI researchers are already designing for couples
“Is your blackberry ruining your sex life?”
Forbes article
Could or should we design technologies for couples?
What does it mean to be a couple?
What technologies might we design for couples?
Research Questions
3
Background
Methodology
Completed Work
Proposed Work
Outline
4
Background
5
Hug Over a
Distance
Background
6
Background
distant partners:cannot readily have f2f
access on a regular basis
abstracted presence:abstract
sensory: aural, tactile, visualemotional communication
ephemeral, lightweight
7
Background
Existing Design Space
abstracted presence
distant partners
8
abstracted presence
distant partners
Background
Existing Design Space
Is this all there is to couples?9
local partners:have f2f access on a
regular basis
deep interpersonal sharing:mutual reflection:
groundedintellectual: language
reflective communicationongoing, serious
Background
10
Background
Expanded Design Space
11
Background
Expanded Design Space
12
Background
Expanded Design Space
Technologies published in HCI13
Background
Expanded Design Space
Technologies that have been built14
Background
Expanded Design Space
Technologies that have been studied in use15
BackgroundExisting Design Space
abstracted presence
distant partners
9
Summary & Questions
16
BackgroundExpanded Design Space
Technologies that have not been studied in use
16
Hug Over a
Distance
Background
7
MethodologyDesign-Based Research Cycle
1
2
3
design(re)design
intervention based on (revised)
prototheories
analyzeanalyze data to confirm/revise prototheories
deploydeploy intervention
and collect field data
17
Methodology
semi-structured interviews
grounded theory
case studies
design journal
design narrative
18
DBR and qualitative methods acknowledge complexity
DBR is pragmatic
DBR is action-oriented
DBR supports longitudinal engagement
Methodology
19
Methodology
semi-structured interviews
grounded theory
case studies
design narrative
22
Summary & Questions
20
Methodology
Design-Based Research Cycle
1
2
3
design(re)design
intervention based
on (revised)
prototheories
analyzeanalyze data to
confirm/revise
prototheories
deploydeploy intervention
and collect field
data
20
Completed WorkMy Design-Based Research Cycle
1
0
3
2
analyzecurrently transcribing interviews and using open coding towards
answering prototheories
designsketched out aDBFT
and documented prototheories
deploydeployed low-fidelity
prototype to 10 couples for 2 weeks, 50+
hours of interviews
primerinterviewed family
studies experts
21
4 MFTs, 1 LCSW
1 hour phone interview
$50 gift card
how do couples argue? what strategies/tools do therapists use to help?
how does/might technology help?
0primer
interviewed family studies experts
Completed Work
22
“arguments themselves are not necessarily the problem”
“the absence of positive in a relationship is more important than the absence of negative.”
even healthy relationships can use a regular “tune-up” or benefit from “check-ins to remind [them] what
[they] already know.”
0primer
interviewed family studies experts
Completed Work
23
re-pattern:“sleepwalking through life”
“patterned and stuck”
reflect, re-story:“helping people see themselves differently is
certainly a big function of therapy.”
re-connect:“in a sense a relationship needs to be
rebuilt everyday.”
0primer
interviewed family studies experts
Completed Work
24
Completed Work
0primer
interviewed family studies experts
Expanded Design Space
4 R’s of Connection
25
Completed Work
1
designsketched out aDBFT
and documented prototheories
Meg pulls her Diary Built for Two, a mobile touchscreen device, from her bag as she sits down to her daily coffee.
She highlights as she writes, indicating portions of her journal that she would like to share with her partner.
She turns to the next page in her diary and begins to recount and reflect upon her day, an activity that begets new interpretations of herself and her partner.
Tw
a Diary Built for
ReconnectRe-pattern Reflect / Re-story
26
Completed Work
1
designsketched out aDBFT
and documented prototheories
Expanded Design Space
aDBFT
27
2
Completed Work
deploydeployed low-fidelity
prototype to 10 couples for 2 weeks,
50+ hours of interviews
2 weeks, 10 couples
recruited via craigslist
$100, light meals, journal
journaling activity
3 interviews each
28
Week 2:
2deploydeployed low-fidelity
prototype to 10 couples for 2 weeks,
50+ hours of interviews
Study Timeline
Week 1:
Interview 1:discussed relationship, current reflection practice, gave journals
Interview 3:discussed previous week,
journal use,journal summaries,study retrospective
Interview 2:discussed last week,
journal use, journal summaries
each partner writes daily in personal journal
continue daily entries, share 1-3 parts daily
Completed Work
29
Completed Work
3
analyzecurrently transcribing interviews and using open coding towards
answering prototheories
[00:03:11.07]
<F>: What do you think makes you work as a
couple?[F]: I think the fact that we talk all the time.
[M]: yeah, I thi--I think, ah, we're both really
interested in people
[M]: I think that's--
[F]: well, which includes each other
[M]: which includes--but uh--
[F]: I think we both try to figure each other out like
psychologically
[M]: yeah
<F>: oh really?
[F]: yeah[M]: I guess our parents are not necessarily, at least
one of our parents are--
[F]: nuts--<laughs>
[M]: like really don't care--well, yeah, but I mean at
least one of our parents--
[00:03:53.28]
<F>: what'd you say?
[F]: are nuts <laughs>
<F>: <laughs>
[M]: yeah, we've got some interesting parents
[F]: but they don't really care--what were you saying,
like?![M]: yeah, at least one of, my dad I would say doesn't
really like people <laughs>
[F]: yeah, he's, he's a little drama [00:04:05.14][???]
[M]: very much, he's not interested in people
<F>: yeah
[F]: and, yeah. But I mean, I think that like there's
something about us that we both like, we try to get
like 'oh, ok, this is what the other person is
experiencing now--"
[M]: yeah
[F]: like we try to sort of like figure out, figure the--I
mean, I try to figure [M] out like--
[M]: yeah, and that--
[F]: on a deeper level-
[M]: <inaudible> I think, too, we're both kind of um--
[F]: neurotic <laughs>
[M]: <laughs>
[00:04:35.20]
<F>: neurotic? <laughs>
[M]: I think we both sometimes feel like, uh, small
children that are unprepared to deal with the big
world inside, that we're just hiding that from
somebody
[F]: <laughs> yeah
[00:05:42.05]
<F>: Ok, so--this is what he's experiencing, you said
that you're neurotic--
[F]: we are <laughs>
[M]: yeah, we're pretty neurotic
[F]: we're both a little like, we come home and we're
like 'I think my professor thinks I'm stupid' or you
whatever, like, kind of obsessing about little things--
[M]: <laughing> we avoid--sometimes avoid other
people because we feel inferior <laughs>
[F]: <laughs>
<F>: because you feel inferior? <laughs>
[F]: which is like so, and my job is I'm like '[M],
you've got to be kidding me, that's ridiculous,' you
know, and he's like '[F], come on' <laugh>
<F>: ok, so you have to like sort of help the other
person[F]: yeah, talk the other person down
<F>: <laughs>
[F]: <laughs>
[00:06:35.19] <F>: that's really amazing. um, are
there things that cause stress on the relationship, or
like areas where you--
[M]: yeah, definitely
[F]: <laughs>
<F>: what are those things?
[F]: well--
[M]: work habits
[F]: yes. [M]--I consider him to work a ton.
<F>: mm hmm
[F]: which takes away time from me
<F>: huh[F]: and we have some sort of <pause> different
friends.<F>: mm hm
[F]: I mean just that some of his friends I don't really
enjoy hanging out with.
<F>: mm hm
[F]: some of my friends annoy him
<F>: mm hm
[F]: my sister annoys him <laughs>
<F>: uh oh
[F]: that kind of thing, what else [M]?
...
[fiancee]
[fiancee]
[fiancee]
30
Meg pulls her Diary Built for Two, a mobile touchscreen device, from her bag as she sits down to her daily coffee.
She highlights as she writes, indicating portions of her journal that she would like to share with her partner.
She turns to the next page in her diary and begins to recount and reflect upon her day, an activity that begets new interpretations of herself and her partner.
Tw
a Diary Built for
ReconnectRe-pattern Reflect / Re-story
Expanded Design Space
3
analyzecurrently transcribing interviews and using open coding towards
answering prototheories
Completed Work
Couplehood as Culture: Exploring Intimate Couples through a Domestic Media SpaceStacy M. Branham†, Tad Hirsch‡, Steve Harrison††Center for Human Computer Interaction
Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24060
{sbranham, srh}@vt.edu
‡ Experience Insights Lab Intel Labs
Hillsboro, OR [email protected]
ABSTRACTWe propose that the intimate couple is a significant cultural construct that, like “the user” or collaborative groups, ought to be studied and designed for in HCI. Towards making out the character of couplehood, we consulted with couple therapists and developed a guiding design framework. The resulting design is a mobile media space––A Diary Built for Two––that opens a portal between the personal digital “diaries” of intimate partners. We deployed a paper prototype of our system to 10 couples and conducted extensive interviews. We recognize the couple as constructed both in and out of domestic settings and believe that the domestic and non-domestic are mutually defined. We also suggest that the home does not stop at the door; there are external, home-like spaces that should be considered in the design of mobile domestic technologies.
Author Keywordscouplehood, culture, domestic media space, designACM Classification KeywordsH5.m. Information interfaces and presentation (e.g.,, HCI): Miscellaneous.
INTRODUCTIONThere may be few things as present and profound in human culture as couplehood. Intimate partnership has persisted across time and geography; it extends as far back as prehistory and is as wide as the world. To get a sense for its scope, consider that nearly 90% of citizens aged 45-49 have been married at least once in three quarters of the world’s countries [1]. And, in the United States today, nearly 62% of citizens aged 25-44 are married, with another 8% cohabitating [2]. Clearly, couplehood is pervasive. It is
important to People. Yet, very rarely has couplehood been explored as a construct that technology might conform to, push against, or otherwise interact with.The trouble with couplehood is that it is at once public and private. You and I know what a couple is because we have been a partner in a couple or a child to a couple. We see couples on the big screen, in magazines, on streets holding hands, and in other cultural productions. Yet, much of what happens within couples happens behind many blinds. There are household walls, bedroom doors, diary locks and cell phone passwords, clothes and makeup, conversational filters, and more. So, while “couplehood” (like “the user”) is easily named and imagined, it is just as easily mis-represented. The purpose of our work is to initiate exploration of couple culture and motivate the notion of couple-centered design.
Our approach to understanding couples and technology is design-oriented. We began by considering arguments as a theme about which to explore couples, because most domestic exploration in HCI has navigated towards Utopist views of the home (see [3], [4]) or avoided family relationships altogether (e.g., [5]). However, initial probing interviews with Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) about couple relationships shifted our focus from arguments to underlying conflict to connection. We developed a design framework from our findings––Re-pattern, Reflect, Re-story, Reconnect––and, using our framework, designed a system for supporting intimate couple communication and connection––a Diary Built for Two. We ran a two-week study of 10 couples using a low-fidelity prototype of our design as a way to both probe couplehood and develop our design.MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY INTERVIEWSAs a first foray into couples and argument, we conducted one-hour, semi-structured phone interviews with five MFTs1. We asked about who comes to counseling, when, and why; how couples argue; and, what strategies and tools therapists use. We also asked about the importance of the
1 We understand that by choosing this entry-point we are privileging a particular understanding of couples wherein dissolving relationships are problematized. Again, we are taking a design-oriented approach, not a truth-seeking one.
Designing for CouplehoodStacy Branham, Steve Harrison
Center for Human-Computer InteractionDepartment of Computer ScienceVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA{sbranham, srh}@vt.edu
AbstractThough the design of technologies for couples has been thriving for well over a
decade now, the products we make and the presumed couples needs we address
are surprisingly narrow. We overwhelmingly design for partners at a distance and
lightweight interactions that can best be described as abstracted presence. To-
wards moving couples technologies into broader waters and helping us explore the
many other facets of couplehood, I propose an expanded couples design space that
includes technologies for local partners and rich reflection––hitherto underex-
plored design concerns. I then show that the creation of these new spaces can be
motivated by the needs of couples as characterized by couples experts and present
an example of a new technology that embodies these. Finally, I draw from my
experience with couples in the field to identify research and design considerations
for when couples are the user regarding gender, power, values, and ethics.IntroductionWhen I tell someone for the first time that I design technologies for couples, they
often ask the question “why design for couples; what’s so special about them as
opposed to just anyone?” This question is one that strikes to the core of the bur-
geoning research on domestic technologies, though it is one that we have yet to
seriously address in HCI. When we design for the home, are we designing for the
individual, the couple, the children, or the family? Mightn’t close friends also
benefit from technologies designed for domestic relationships? And, don’t couples
sometimes want to be treated as individuals or friends or any number of other
roles at various times? In essence, what makes a couple a couple (or a family a
family, and so on)?
An example I was at first skeptical myself about the need for what I now call
couple-centered-design––that is, until the need hit close to home. Below, I share
an abbreviated example from my own experience with a technology that seems to
have neglected my needs as a partner in a relationship. The culprit is Netflix circa
31
Week 2:
2
deploydeployed low-fidelity
prototype to 10 couples for 2 weeks,
50+ hours of interviews
Study Timeline
Week 1:
Interview 1:discuss relationship, current reflection practice, gave journals
Interview 3:discuss last week,
journal use,journal summaries,study retrospective
Interview 2:discuss last week,
journal use, journal summaries
each partner writes daily in personal journal continue daily entries,
share 1-3 parts daily
Completed Work
32
Completed Work
1
designsketched out aDBFT
and documented prototheories
Meg pulls her Diary Built for Two, a mobile touchscreen device, from her bag as she sits down to her daily coffee.
She highlights as she writes, indicating portions of her journal that she would like to share with her partner.
She turns to the next page in her diary and begins to recount and reflect upon her day, an activity that begets new interpretations of herself and her partner.
Tw
a Diary Built for
ReconnectRe-pattern Reflect / Re-story
29
Summary & Questions
32
re-pattern:
“sleepwalking through life”“patterned and stuck”
reflect, re-story:
“helping people see themselves differently is
certainly a big function of therapy.”
re-connect:
“in a sense a relationship needs to be rebuilt everyday.”
0primer
interviewed family
studies experts
Completed Work
Completed Work
3
analyzecurrently transcribing interviews and using open coding towards answering
prototheories
[00:03:11.07] <F>: What do you think makes you work as a couple?[F]: I think the fact that we talk all the time.[M]: yeah, I thi--I think, ah, we're both really interested in people[M]: I think that's--[F]: well, which includes each other[M]: which includes--but uh--[F]: I think we both try to figure each other out like psychologically[M]: yeah<F>: oh really?[F]: yeah[M]: I guess our parents are not necessarily, at least one of our parents are--[F]: nuts--<laughs>[M]: like really don't care--well, yeah, but I mean at least one of our parents--
[00:03:53.28] <F>: what'd you say?[F]: are nuts <laughs><F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah, we've got some interesting parents[F]: but they don't really care--what were you saying, like?![M]: yeah, at least one of, my dad I would say doesn't really like people <laughs>[F]: yeah, he's, he's a little drama [00:04:05.14][???][M]: very much, he's not interested in people<F>: yeah[F]: and, yeah. But I mean, I think that like there's something about us that we both like, we try to get like 'oh, ok, this is what the other person is experiencing now--"[M]: yeah[F]: like we try to sort of like figure out, figure the--I mean, I try to figure [M] out like--[M]: yeah, and that--[F]: on a deeper level-[M]: <inaudible> I think, too, we're both kind of um--[F]: neurotic <laughs>[M]: <laughs>
[00:04:35.20] <F>: neurotic? <laughs>[M]: I think we both sometimes feel like, uh, small children that are unprepared to deal with the big
world inside, that we're just hiding that from somebody [F]: <laughs> yeah
[00:05:42.05] <F>: Ok, so--this is what he's experiencing, you said that you're neurotic--[F]: we are <laughs>[M]: yeah, we're pretty neurotic[F]: we're both a little like, we come home and we're like 'I think my professor thinks I'm stupid' or you whatever, like, kind of obsessing about little things--[M]: <laughing> we avoid--sometimes avoid other people because we feel inferior <laughs>[F]: <laughs><F>: because you feel inferior? <laughs>[F]: which is like so, and my job is I'm like '[M], you've got to be kidding me, that's ridiculous,' you know, and he's like '[F], come on' <laugh><F>: ok, so you have to like sort of help the other person[F]: yeah, talk the other person down<F>: <laughs>[F]: <laughs>
[00:06:35.19] <F>: that's really amazing. um, are there things that cause stress on the relationship, or like areas where you--[M]: yeah, definitely[F]: <laughs><F>: what are those things?[F]: well--[M]: work habits[F]: yes. [M]--I consider him to work a ton. <F>: mm hmm[F]: which takes away time from me<F>: huh[F]: and we have some sort of <pause> different friends.<F>: mm hm[F]: I mean just that some of his friends I don't really enjoy hanging out with.<F>: mm hm[F]: some of my friends annoy him<F>: mm hm[F]: my sister annoys him <laughs><F>: uh oh[F]: that kind of thing, what else [M]?...
[fiancee]
[fiancee]
[fiancee]
33
Research Timeline
Dec.
Write cases
Design Analyze
Write dissertation
’11
Analyze Build, Deploy
Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec. Feb. Mar.
2012 2013
Proposed Work
Design
3
analyzeselect couples,
transcribe, analyze, write case studies,
address prototheories 33
Proposed Work
3
analyzeselect couples,
transcribe, analyze, write case studies,
address prototheories
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
Theme 1
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
[ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.
Theme 2
Interview
Audio
Interview Transcripts
Affinity Diagrams of Interview Cut-outs
Theme 3
[00:02:27.23]
[ M ]: [Still talking]
[00:02:30.11]
[ F ]: You're what? I can't hear you. [laughs]
[00:02:31.29]
< F >: Yeah. I think we should go inside. I don't even know. Are we by the airport, is that
[00:02:40.01]
[ M ]: [??? They come back over. No, those are like military planes...
[00:02:45.15]
< F >: Are they jets? They sound like jets.
[00:02:46.05]
< F >: Yeah, cool. [chuckles back] Like what sorts of things, um... Can you give me
examples of "pure kindness"? Like what were the things that...
[00:02:26.15]
[ M ]: [Speaking over jets]
[ F ]: What?
[00:02:27.23]
[ M ]: [Still talking]
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works. [00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
Memo: Information Management Practice as Improvisational
Information management varies within a single childcare; practice it is situationally-
determined and negotiated based upon contextual properties. There are rules and
policies in place regarding how to collect, store, access, and distribute information, but
because a great deal of activity in a childcare is unpredictable, such management
requires improvisational activity that accords with the context.
As a result, we find policy modification that is mostly reactive (instead of predictive) or
unfeasible. And, we find members at all levels of the childcare management (all the way
up to the director and owner) filling odd jobs to keep the ship sailing smoothly in times of
chaotic breakdown.
Most importantly, when improvisational activity breeches prescriptive policies, the
breech may be considered acceptable by the participants. Despite this, there are hints
of denial about the deviation of these practices from the formal protocol.
Three classes of confirmation
There are at least three key exhibitions of the “management practice as improvisational”
category. They are unpredictability of daycare happenings, reactive policy management,
and community responsibility for getting things done. I will talk about these briefly below,
giving examples of each.Unpredictability of events
The daycare is a place of great complexity and dynamism--a breeding ground for
controlled chaos. As both P1 and P4 say, there is no typical day as a director of a
daycare, no predictable busy times or down times; every moment is a possibility for
the unexpected. I witnessed P1 get surprised with an unannounced inspection
(which can be expected twice a year for established centers, and 3 times in the first
6 months for provisionally-licensed centers). Two of my observation sessions were
cancelled--one because too many teachers were out sick, keeping the director busy
hopping between classrooms, the other because the director took the day off on
account of her daughter being sick. Another observation was cut short when the
director had to suddenly leave to take her daughter to the hospital. When students
get sick at P1!s facility, the director has to tend to them in her office, which meant
cradling a baby to sleep for a half hour in once case. Another director picked up the
role of cook when the regular called in sick. Both facilities have hosted graduate
student researchers like me in the past and juggle those responsibilities in addition
to their childcare duties. And, with up to 250 children enrolled in the daycare, there!s
never lack of “special cases”--someone new picking Beverly up, Brandy!s leaving
early, Brent is out sick today, Brittany is on vacation for the next two days, and so on
and so forth. Let!s not also forget accidents and incidents and parent-teacher
conferences, or all the calls coming into the daycare center to schedule these events
or make other communications. In the first 5 minutes of P1!s observation, the
director had interacted with 7 different people in 7 separate instances. P4 says she
Theme 1
Expanded Memos
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
Memo: Information Management Practice as ImprovisationalInformation management varies within a single childcare; practice it is situationally-determined and negotiated based upon contextual properties. There are rules and policies in place regarding how to collect, store, access, and distribute information, but because a great deal of activity in a childcare is unpredictable, such management requires improvisational activity that accords with the context.
As a result, we find policy modification that is mostly reactive (instead of predictive) or unfeasible. And, we find members at all levels of the childcare management (all the way up to the director and owner) filling odd jobs to keep the ship sailing smoothly in times of chaotic breakdown.
Most importantly, when improvisational activity breeches prescriptive policies, the breech may be considered acceptable by the participants. Despite this, there are hints of denial about the deviation of these practices from the formal protocol.
Three classes of confirmationThere are at least three key exhibitions of the “management practice as improvisational” category. They are unpredictability of daycare happenings, reactive policy management, and community responsibility for getting things done. I will talk about these briefly below, giving examples of each.
Unpredictability of eventsThe daycare is a place of great complexity and dynamism--a breeding ground for controlled chaos. As both P1 and P4 say, there is no typical day as a director of a daycare, no predictable busy times or down times; every moment is a possibility for the unexpected. I witnessed P1 get surprised with an unannounced inspection (which can be expected twice a year for established centers, and 3 times in the first 6 months for provisionally-licensed centers). Two of my observation sessions were cancelled--one because too many teachers were out sick, keeping the director busy hopping between classrooms, the other because the director took the day off on account of her daughter being sick. Another observation was cut short when the director had to suddenly leave to take her daughter to the hospital. When students get sick at P1!s facility, the director has to tend to them in her office, which meant cradling a baby to sleep for a half hour in once case. Another director picked up the role of cook when the regular called in sick. Both facilities have hosted graduate student researchers like me in the past and juggle those responsibilities in addition to their childcare duties. And, with up to 250 children enrolled in the daycare, there!s never lack of “special cases”--someone new picking Beverly up, Brandy!s leaving early, Brent is out sick today, Brittany is on vacation for the next two days, and so on and so forth. Let!s not also forget accidents and incidents and parent-teacher conferences, or all the calls coming into the daycare center to schedule these events or make other communications. In the first 5 minutes of P1!s observation, the director had interacted with 7 different people in 7 separate instances. P4 says she
Theme 1
Short
MemosTheme 2
Theme 3
Theme 4
Theme 5
Theme 6
Theme 7
Theme 10
Theme 1
Theme 8
Theme 9
Cluster Diagrams
CasesKEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
38
5 Results from observations and initial coding
The goals of the current project were to (R1) describe in detail how the set of observed
classrooms varied in their use of SimCalc, (R2) demonstrate the potential consequences of these
implementations on student access to learning resources, and (R3) theorize on the effects to
student learning and other outcomes with regards to resource access, allocation, and use. By
systematically observing classrooms, reviewing video and field note data, and coding data for
patterns of student, teacher and resource interactions, I was able to develop thick descriptions of
classroom behavior from which we are able to generate theories about student, teacher, and
resource interactions. In this chapter I will describe my observations and experiences from
spending extensive time in each of the classrooms, and report on the descriptive classroom
statistics calculated using the initial coding scheme.
5.1 Case descriptions – How observed teachers implemented
SimCalc The four case-study classrooms were selected based on their variation of on a particular factor:
technological set-up and the corresponding inferred use of SimCalc resources. However, the four
classrooms also varied on a number of other factors, including the community setting, school
setting and size, physical classroom size and arrangement, number and type of students,
responsibilities and experience of the teachers, and other potential variations due to the specific
faculties of the school, classroom, teacher, and students. Throughout the course of conducting
the observations and subsequently reviewing the gathered data, I would record the variety of
factors that impacted how classroom events proceeded. The following sections provide a
narrative description of each of the classrooms with a focus on singular factors that characterized
how those particular classrooms proceeded.
5.1.1 Computer lab case - Teacher G
Figure 11. Teacher G's computer lab
Case 1
select 3 couples 1.
transcribe interviews 2.
qualitative analysis 3.
case study write-up 4.
address prototheories 5.
34
Research Timeline
Dec.
Write cases
Design Analyze
Write dissertation
’11
Analyze Build, Deploy
Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec. Feb. Mar.
2012 2013
Proposed Work
Design
4
designideate, select,
document prototheories,
build353 analyze
39
Proposed Work
4
designideate, select,
document prototheories,
build
generate multiple designs from case studies 1.
select one design to build 2.
formalize prototheories regarding design 3.
build key features 4.
363 analyze
Research Timeline
Dec.
Write cases
Design Analyze
Write dissertation
’11
Analyze Build, Deploy
Design
Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec. Feb. Mar.
2012 2013
Proposed Work
5deploy
recruit, deploy longitudinally, collect
data
9/12research defense
37 4
3 designanalyze
5
Proposed Work
deployrecruit, deploy
longitudinally, collect data
recruit participants 1.
deploy system for extended period 2.
conduct interviews, collect relevant data 3.
38 4
3 designanalyze
Research Timeline
Dec.
Write cases
Design Analyze
Write dissertation
’11
Analyze Build, Deploy
Design
Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec. Feb. Mar.
2012 2013
Proposed Work
4/13 final defense
7
designideate, select,
document prototheories, design
implications
9/12research defense
6analyze
analyze data, address prototheories
39 4
3
5
designanalyze deploy
Proposed Work
analyze data 1.
address prototheories 2.
generate multiple designs from analysis 3.
select one design, implications for my design 4.
40 7
designideate, select,
document prototheories, design
implications
6analyze
analyze data, address prototheories
4
3
5
designanalyze deploy
Summary & Questions
41
Proposed Work
3
analyze
select couples,
transcribe, analyze,
write case studies,
address
prototheories
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
Theme 1
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
Theme 2Intervie
w
Audio
Interview Transcripts
Affinity Diagrams of Interview Cut-outs
Theme 3
[00:02:27.23]
[ M ]: [Still talking]
[00:02:30.11]
[ F ]: You're what? I can't hear you. [laughs]
[00:02:31.29]
< F >: Yeah. I think we should go inside. I don't even know. Are we by the airport, is that
[00:02:40.01]
[ M ]: [??? They come back over. No, those are like military planes...
[00:02:45.15]
< F >: Are they jets? They sound like jets.
[00:02:46.05]
< F >: Yeah, cool. [chuckles back] Like what sorts of things, um... Can you give me
examples of "pure kindness"? Like what were the things that...
[00:02:26.15]
[ M ]: [Speaking over jets]
[ F ]: What?
[00:02:27.23]
[ M ]: [Still talking]
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs][00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
Memo: Information Management Practice as Improvisational
Information management varies within a single childcare; practice it is situationally-
determined and negotiated based upon contextual properties. There are rules and
policies in place regarding how to collect, store, access, and distribute information, but
because a great deal of activity in a childcare is unpredictable, such management
requires improvisational activity that accords with the context.
As a result, we find policy modification that is mostly reactive (instead of predictive) or
unfeasible. And, we find members at all levels of the childcare management (all the way
up to the director and owner) filling odd jobs to keep the ship sailing smoothly in times of
chaotic breakdown. Most importantly, when improvisational activity breeches prescriptive policies, the
breech may be considered acceptable by the participants. Despite this, there are hints
of denial about the deviation of these practices from the formal protocol.
Three classes of confirmation
There are at least three key exhibitions of the “management practice as improvisational”
category. They are unpredictability of daycare happenings, reactive policy management,
and community responsibility for getting things done. I will talk about these briefly below,
giving examples of each.Unpredictability of events
The daycare is a place of great complexity and dynamism--a breeding ground for
controlled chaos. As both P1 and P4 say, there is no typical day as a director of a
daycare, no predictable busy times or down times; every moment is a possibility for
the unexpected. I witnessed P1 get surprised with an unannounced inspection
(which can be expected twice a year for established centers, and 3 times in the first
6 months for provisionally-licensed centers). Two of my observation sessions were
cancelled--one because too many teachers were out sick, keeping the director busy
hopping between classrooms, the other because the director took the day off on
account of her daughter being sick. Another observation was cut short when the
director had to suddenly leave to take her daughter to the hospital. When students
get sick at P1!s facility, the director has to tend to them in her office, which meant
cradling a baby to sleep for a half hour in once case. Another director picked up the
role of cook when the regular called in sick. Both facilities have hosted graduate
student researchers like me in the past and juggle those responsibilities in addition
to their childcare duties. And, with up to 250 children enrolled in the daycare, there!s
never lack of “special cases”--someone new picking Beverly up, Brandy!s leaving
early, Brent is out sick today, Brittany is on vacation for the next two days, and so on
and so forth. Let!s not also forget accidents and incidents and parent-teacher
conferences, or all the calls coming into the daycare center to schedule these events
or make other communications. In the first 5 minutes of P1!s observation, the
director had interacted with 7 different people in 7 separate instances. P4 says she
Theme 1Expanded
Memos
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
Memo: Information Management Practice as Improvisational
Information management varies within a single childcare; practice it is situationally-
determined and negotiated based upon contextual properties. There are rules and
policies in place regarding how to collect, store, access, and distribute information, but
because a great deal of activity in a childcare is unpredictable, such management
requires improvisational activity that accords with the context.
As a result, we find policy modification that is mostly reactive (instead of predictive) or
unfeasible. And, we find members at all levels of the childcare management (all the way
up to the director and owner) filling odd jobs to keep the ship sailing smoothly in times of
chaotic breakdown.
Most importantly, when improvisational activity breeches prescriptive policies, the
breech may be considered acceptable by the participants. Despite this, there are hints
of denial about the deviation of these practices from the formal protocol.
Three classes of confirmation
There are at least three key exhibitions of the “management practice as improvisational”
category. They are unpredictability of daycare happenings, reactive policy management,
and community responsibility for getting things done. I will talk about these briefly below,
giving examples of each.
Unpredictability of events
The daycare is a place of great complexity and dynamism--a breeding ground for
controlled chaos. As both P1 and P4 say, there is no typical day as a director of a
daycare, no predictable busy times or down times; every moment is a possibility for
the unexpected. I witnessed P1 get surprised with an unannounced inspection
(which can be expected twice a year for established centers, and 3 times in the first
6 months for provisionally-licensed centers). Two of my observation sessions were
cancelled--one because too many teachers were out sick, keeping the director busy
hopping between classrooms, the other because the director took the day off on
account of her daughter being sick. Another observation was cut short when the
director had to suddenly leave to take her daughter to the hospital. When students
get sick at P1!s facility, the director has to tend to them in her office, which meant
cradling a baby to sleep for a half hour in once case. Another director picked up the
role of cook when the regular called in sick. Both facilities have hosted graduate
student researchers like me in the past and juggle those responsibilities in addition
to their childcare duties. And, with up to 250 children enrolled in the daycare, there!s
never lack of “special cases”--someone new picking Beverly up, Brandy!s leaving
early, Brent is out sick today, Brittany is on vacation for the next two days, and so on
and so forth. Let!s not also forget accidents and incidents and parent-teacher
conferences, or all the calls coming into the daycare center to schedule these events
or make other communications. In the first 5 minutes of P1!s observation, the
director had interacted with 7 different people in 7 separate instances. P4 says she
Theme 1
Short
Memos Theme 2
Theme 3
Theme 4
Theme 5
Theme 6
Theme 7
Theme 10
Theme 1
Theme 8
Theme 9
Cluster Diagrams
Cases
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
38
5 Results from observations and initial coding
The goals of the current project were to (R1) describe in detail how the set of observed
classrooms varied in their use of SimCalc, (R2) demonstrate the potential consequences of these
implementations on student access to learning resources, and (R3) theorize on the effects to
student learning and other outcomes with regards to resource access, allocation, and use. By
systematically observing classrooms, reviewing video and field note data, and coding data for
patterns of student, teacher and resource interactions, I was able to develop thick descriptions of
classroom behavior from which we are able to generate theories about student, teacher, and
resource interactions. In this chapter I will describe my observations and experiences from
spending extensive time in each of the classrooms, and report on the descriptive classroom
statistics calculated using the initial coding scheme.
5.1 Case descriptions – How observed teachers implemented
SimCalc
The four case-study classrooms were selected based on their variation of on a particular factor:
technological set-up and the corresponding inferred use of SimCalc resources. However, the four
classrooms also varied on a number of other factors, including the community setting, school
setting and size, physical classroom size and arrangement, number and type of students,
responsibilities and experience of the teachers, and other potential variations due to the specific
faculties of the school, classroom, teacher, and students. Throughout the course of conducting
the observations and subsequently reviewing the gathered data, I would record the variety of
factors that impacted how classroom events proceeded. The following sections provide a
narrative description of each of the classrooms with a focus on singular factors that characterized
how those particular classrooms proceeded.
5.1.1 Computer lab case - Teacher G
Figure 11. Teacher G's computer lab
Case 1
select 3 couples 1.
transcribe interviews 2.
qualitative analysis 3.
case study write-up 4.
address prototheories 5.
37
Wishful Thinking
Dec.
Write cases
Design Analyze
Write dissertation
’11
AnalyzeBuild, Deploy
Design
Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec. Feb. Mar.
20122013
Proposed Work
4/13 final defense
7
designideate, select, document
prototheories, design implications
9/12research defense
6analyze
analyze data, address prototheories42
4
3
5
designanalyze deploy
pervasive, yet idiosyncratic
we are all couples experts
we are all couples novices
Couplehood
“Walking into someone’s house for the first time is like entering another country––not that I’ve ever been to another country.”
- Claire Danes’ character, “My So Called Life”
42
ThanksMy Committee
Steve Harrison
Chris Hoadley
Fred PiercyManuel Pérez-Quiñones
Dennis Kafura
Intel
Tad Hirsch
Dawn Nafus
Third Lab
Deborah Tatar
Joon Suk Lee
My Husband
Jason Chong Lee
My Family
Kelly, Mom, Dad
Ugrad Researcher
Clarissa ‘K’ Stiles
43
Auxiliary Slides
44
Backgroundabstracted presence:
abstractsensory: aural, tactile, visual
emotional communicationephemeral, lightweight
local partners:have f2f access on a
regular basis
deep interpersonal sharing:mutual reflection:
groundedintellectual: language
reflective communicationongoing, serious
distant partners:cannot readily have f2f
access on a regular basis
45
Grounded Theory
inductive theory generation
initial coding, focused coding, memo writing, cluster
diagramming
constructivist approach
46
Semi-Structured Interviews
allows researcher to deviate from the interview protocol
well suited to cultural inquiry
47
Case Studies
a detailed example, at the unit of the couple
descriptive power over generalizations
“[case studies] can connect the [design] student to social phenomena, real life experience, and existential situations in a
way that helps to sharpen thinking and inform decision-making.”- Breslin & Buchanan (2008)
48
Completed Work
1
designsketched out aDBFT
and documented prototheories
aDBFT will cast journaling as a couples activity
aDBFT will create a space for new patterns of couple interaction
aDBFT will encourage mutual reflection
aDBFT will encourage mutual empathy and a sense of connection
aDBFT will support (re)connection through ritualistic communication
49
Proposed Work
Analyze data from a subset of couples
Redesign aDBFT
Deploy a subset of features of aDBFT
Analyze deployment feedback
Redesign aDBFT
50
Example Dissertation Outline
Cor
e C
ontri
butio
n
Ch
. 1
Ch
. 2
Ch
. 3
Ch
. 7
Dissertation Chapters
Ch
. 4
Ch
. 5
Ch
. 6
Introduction
Background
Methods
Conclusion
Case Studies
Design Narrative
Design Space Reflections
What does it mean to be a couple?
What technologies might we design for couples?
Could or should we design technologies for couples?
Research Questions
51
Tw
a Diary Built for
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
38
5 Results from observations and initial coding
The goals of the current project were to (R1) describe in detail how the set of observed
classrooms varied in their use of SimCalc, (R2) demonstrate the potential consequences of these
implementations on student access to learning resources, and (R3) theorize on the effects to
student learning and other outcomes with regards to resource access, allocation, and use. By
systematically observing classrooms, reviewing video and field note data, and coding data for
patterns of student, teacher and resource interactions, I was able to develop thick descriptions of
classroom behavior from which we are able to generate theories about student, teacher, and
resource interactions. In this chapter I will describe my observations and experiences from
spending extensive time in each of the classrooms, and report on the descriptive classroom
statistics calculated using the initial coding scheme.
5.1 Case descriptions – How observed teachers implemented
SimCalc The four case-study classrooms were selected based on their variation of on a particular factor:
technological set-up and the corresponding inferred use of SimCalc resources. However, the four
classrooms also varied on a number of other factors, including the community setting, school
setting and size, physical classroom size and arrangement, number and type of students,
responsibilities and experience of the teachers, and other potential variations due to the specific
faculties of the school, classroom, teacher, and students. Throughout the course of conducting
the observations and subsequently reviewing the gathered data, I would record the variety of
factors that impacted how classroom events proceeded. The following sections provide a
narrative description of each of the classrooms with a focus on singular factors that characterized
how those particular classrooms proceeded.
5.1.1 Computer lab case - Teacher G
Figure 11. Teacher G's computer lab
Case 1KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
I took detailed notes during each interview that sometimes identified themes within and across therapist interpretations of couples. I then listened to each audio interview in full at least once, and transcribed key portions (~13,000 words, or ~25 single-spaced pages) of interviews (Appendix, 6.1.3). I identified and organized themes by taking targeted notes like those shown in Figure 4, making mind maps like the one shown in Figure 5, and assigning codes or short labels to examples in the transcript files. Tad and I discussed and honed
themes collaboratively. Certainly, there are many ways in which these transcripts might have been interpreted, and our interpretation
was guided by our interest in developing an intervention. The result of this frame was 7 main categories and 16 sub-categories that characterize the experts’ descriptions of how couples interact and mechanisms of
change within relationships. Our main categories were ‘patterns of interaction,’ ‘conflict as underlying argument,’ ‘spiraling out of control,’ ‘reclaiming agency,’ ‘breaking out of patterns,’ ‘reflecting,’ ‘re-storying,’ and ‘connection.’ For the sake of this design narrative, I will present only
a subset of these themes in the following subsections and discuss how they have guided the design process.
Before moving on to discuss key themes, I would like to acknowledge that other portions of the interview that were not coded may still have left a lasting impression on this work. For example, one therapist went on at length about the pros and cons of doing in-home as opposed to in-office therapy:
You get to see the family operating in a much more natural environment. You get to see some of the stressors that you might never otherwise be aware of. I think there can be real value in that. The downside is that when you do therapy in a client's home it is much more chaotic for the very same reasons. When someone comes and sits in my office, no one is going to ring the doorbell, a dog is not going to come running through, a kid is not going to fall down and need mom or dad, so when you do it in their home even if you just say you're gonna set aside an hour you're all gonna meet in this room, it doesn't matter, I've done it and ... all the facts of daily life tend to interrupt. So, you have to do therapy very differently when you operate in the home.” (P1)
While this type of comment was not coded due to my particular design thinking at the time, it may be one of many thoughts that has changed my understanding of the design situation and potential interventions (or of the research situation and potential approaches). For example, I now (November 2011) see technologies for couples as being a very small part of any couple relationship, one of a host of concerns that may dynamically move to the foreground and background over time. This is an extension of the thought that bringing a technology into the home means that technology must contend with the sort of chaotic life situations that the MFT described above. And, in a more literal interpretation of the quote, I now consider in-home interviews to be similarly marked by tradeoffs.
3.1.2. From Couple Arguments to Couple ConnectionOne of the most significant outcomes of the interviews at the time was a shift in our thinking about the role of arguments within couples. We initially assumed arguments were a central issue and potential site for technological intervention, whether it be to encourage, discourage, or modify them. However, our interviews revealed that the MFT discipline, as described by our experts, has a different emphasis.
Figure 4. notes from MFT interviews; each page corresponds to an interview
!
20
Re-Pattern,Reflect,Re-StoryReconnect
Case Studies
Design Space aDBFT
Design Narrative
Connection Model
The Big Picture
52
What technologies might we design
for couples?
Could or should we design
technologies for couples?
What does it mean to be a couple?
The Big Picture
look at couplehood as microculture
iteratively build/deploy technology probe
share what I have learned
designs occupy a narrow region of the design space
and user population
technologies have not been thoroughly user-
tested or even built
Problem Approach
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
38
5 Results from observations and initial coding
The goals of the current project were to (R1) describe in detail how the set of observed
classrooms varied in their use of SimCalc, (R2) demonstrate the potential consequences of these
implementations on student access to learning resources, and (R3) theorize on the effects to
student learning and other outcomes with regards to resource access, allocation, and use. By
systematically observing classrooms, reviewing video and field note data, and coding data for
patterns of student, teacher and resource interactions, I was able to develop thick descriptions of
classroom behavior from which we are able to generate theories about student, teacher, and
resource interactions. In this chapter I will describe my observations and experiences from
spending extensive time in each of the classrooms, and report on the descriptive classroom
statistics calculated using the initial coding scheme.
5.1 Case descriptions – How observed teachers implemented
SimCalc The four case-study classrooms were selected based on their variation of on a particular factor:
technological set-up and the corresponding inferred use of SimCalc resources. However, the four
classrooms also varied on a number of other factors, including the community setting, school
setting and size, physical classroom size and arrangement, number and type of students,
responsibilities and experience of the teachers, and other potential variations due to the specific
faculties of the school, classroom, teacher, and students. Throughout the course of conducting
the observations and subsequently reviewing the gathered data, I would record the variety of
factors that impacted how classroom events proceeded. The following sections provide a
narrative description of each of the classrooms with a focus on singular factors that characterized
how those particular classrooms proceeded.
5.1.1 Computer lab case - Teacher G
Figure 11. Teacher G's computer lab
Case 1
Tw
a Diary Built for
Re-Pattern,Reflect,Re-Story,Reconnect
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29]
< F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25]
< F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02]
[ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02]
< F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03]
[ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17]
[ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00]
[ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22]
< F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06]
< F >: Yeah.
[ F ]: [laughs]
< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.
[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male
[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing
that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um,
cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never
works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so
that's just I acknowledge the deficiency.
[00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your
relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .
[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have
been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we
had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other.
[00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.
[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.
[00:01:15.15] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...
[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
KEY: < > interviewer; [ ] subject; F, female; M, male[00:00:01.29] < F >: I'm going to go ahead and start recording. Alright, there we go. Um, another thing that I'm going to do, which is sort of weird because I have recordings, is take notes, um, cause in case both of those fail then I have my notes. Um, because technology never works.
[00:00:21.12] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:21.25] < F >: So... Which is funny because I'm a technologist. Like, I create technology so that's just I acknowledge the deficiency. [00:00:31.02] [ F ]: [laughs]
[00:00:31.02] < F >: Um, the first thing that I wanted to ask you guys is just to tell me about your relationship.
[00:00:38.03] [ F ]: Go ahead, [Male Subject] .[00:00:41.17] [ M ]: Uh, we met four years ago. Um... Uh, through family member and, um, we have been pretty much inseperable since then except for a couple, uh, times that, um, we had bumps in the road. but we've always lived together since we met each other. [00:01:06.00] [ F ]: [laughs] Yeah, I moved in with him like two weeks after we met.[00:01:08.22] < F >: No way! Wow, that's awesome.[ F ]: [laughs] So for me, at least, it was kind of like love at first sight.[00:01:15.15]
< F >: Yeah.[ F ]: Which I never believed in before, but...[00:01:18.06] < F >: Yeah.[ F ]: [laughs]< F >: Tell me so much more about that.
I took detailed notes during each interview that sometimes identified themes within and across therapist interpretations of couples. I then listened to each audio interview in full at least once, and transcribed key portions (~13,000 words, or ~25 single-spaced pages) of interviews (Appendix, 6.1.3). I identified and organized themes by taking targeted notes like those shown in Figure 4, making mind maps like the one shown in Figure 5, and assigning codes or short labels to examples in the transcript files. Tad and I discussed and honed
themes collaboratively. Certainly, there are many ways in which these transcripts might have been interpreted, and our interpretation
was guided by our interest in developing an intervention. The result of this frame was 7 main categories and 16 sub-categories that characterize the experts’ descriptions of how couples interact and mechanisms of
change within relationships. Our main categories were ‘patterns of interaction,’ ‘conflict as underlying argument,’ ‘spiraling out of control,’ ‘reclaiming agency,’ ‘breaking out of patterns,’ ‘reflecting,’ ‘re-storying,’ and ‘connection.’ For the sake of this design narrative, I will present only
a subset of these themes in the following subsections and discuss how they have guided the design process.
Before moving on to discuss key themes, I would like to acknowledge that other portions of the interview that were not coded may still have left a lasting impression on this work. For example, one therapist went on at length about the pros and cons of doing in-home as opposed to in-office therapy:
You get to see the family operating in a much more natural environment. You get to see some of the stressors that you might never otherwise be aware of. I think there can be real value in that. The downside is that when you do therapy in a client's home it is much more chaotic for the very same reasons. When someone comes and sits in my office, no one is going to ring the doorbell, a dog is not going to come running through, a kid is not going to fall down and need mom or dad, so when you do it in their home even if you just say you're gonna set aside an hour you're all gonna meet in this room, it doesn't matter, I've done it and ... all the facts of daily life tend to interrupt. So, you have to do therapy very differently when you operate in the home.” (P1)
While this type of comment was not coded due to my particular design thinking at the time, it may be one of many thoughts that has changed my understanding of the design situation and potential interventions (or of the research situation and potential approaches). For example, I now (November 2011) see technologies for couples as being a very small part of any couple relationship, one of a host of concerns that may dynamically move to the foreground and background over time. This is an extension of the thought that bringing a technology into the home means that technology must contend with the sort of chaotic life situations that the MFT described above. And, in a more literal interpretation of the quote, I now consider in-home interviews to be similarly marked by tradeoffs.
3.1.2. From Couple Arguments to Couple ConnectionOne of the most significant outcomes of the interviews at the time was a shift in our thinking about the role of arguments within couples. We initially assumed arguments were a central issue and potential site for technological intervention, whether it be to encourage, discourage, or modify them. However, our interviews revealed that the MFT discipline, as described by our experts, has a different emphasis.
Figure 4. notes from MFT interviews; each page corresponds to an interview
!
20
Cases
Design Space
aDBFT
Design Narrative
Stage-based Model
Products
What does it mean to be a couple?What technologies might we design for couples?
Could or should we design technologies for couples?
Research Questions
53
Publications
Branham, S. & Harrison, S.H. (forthcoming). Designing for Collocated Couples. In: Neustaedter, C., Harrison, S.H., and Sellen, A.,
eds. Connecting Families: The Impact of New Communication Technologies on Domestic Life. Springer.
Branham, S.M., Hirsch, T. & Harrison, S., 2010. Couplehood as Culture: Exploring Intimate Couples Through a Domestic Media
Space. In Workshop Paper in CHI ‘10 workshop on Connecting Families. Sanibel Island, FL.
54
55
[00:03:11.07] <F>: What do you think makes you work as a
couple?[F]: I think the fact that we talk all the time.
[M]: yeah, I thi--I think, ah, we're both really
interested in people
[M]: I think that's--
[F]: well, which includes each other
[M]: which includes--but uh--
[F]: I think we both try to figure each other out like
psychologically[M]: yeah<F>: oh really?[F]: yeah[M]: I guess our parents are not necessarily, at least
one of our parents are--
[F]: nuts--<laughs>
[M]: like really don't care--well, yeah, but I mean at
least one of our parents--
[00:03:53.28] <F>: what'd you say?
[F]: are nuts <laughs>
<F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah, we've got some interesting parents
[F]: but they don't really care--what were you saying,
like?![M]: yeah, at least one of, my dad I would say doesn't
really like people <laughs>
[F]: yeah, he's, he's a little drama [00:04:05.14][???]
[M]: very much, he's not interested in people
<F>: yeah[F]: and, yeah. But I mean, I think that like there's
something about us that we both like, we try to get
like 'oh, ok, this is what the other person is
experiencing now--"
[M]: yeah[F]: like we try to sort of like figure out, figure the--I
mean, I try to figure [M] out like--
[M]: yeah, and that--
[F]: on a deeper level-
[M]: <inaudible> I think, too, we're both kind of um--
[F]: neurotic <laughs>
[M]: <laughs>
[00:04:35.20] <F>: neurotic? <laughs>
[M]: I think we both sometimes feel like, uh, small
children that are unprepared to deal with the big
world inside, that we're just hiding that from
somebody [F]: <laughs> yeah
[00:05:42.05] <F>: Ok, so--this is what he's experiencing, you said
that you're neurotic--
[F]: we are <laughs>
[M]: yeah, we're pretty neurotic
[F]: we're both a little like, we come home and we're
like 'I think my professor thinks I'm stupid' or you
whatever, like, kind of obsessing about little things--
[M]: <laughing> we avoid--sometimes avoid other
people because we feel inferior <laughs>
[F]: <laughs><F>: because you feel inferior? <laughs>
[F]: which is like so, and my job is I'm like '[M],
you've got to be kidding me, that's ridiculous,' you
know, and he's like '[F], come on' <laugh>
<F>: ok, so you have to like sort of help the other
person[F]: yeah, talk the other person down
<F>: <laughs>[F]: <laughs>
[00:06:35.19] <F>: that's really amazing. um, are
there things that cause stress on the relationship, or
like areas where you--
[M]: yeah, definitely
[F]: <laughs><F>: what are those things?
[F]: well--[M]: work habits
[F]: yes. [M]--I consider him to work a ton.
<F>: mm hmm[F]: which takes away time from me
<F>: huh[F]: and we have some sort of <pause> different
friends.<F>: mm hm[F]: I mean just that some of his friends I don't really
enjoy hanging out with.
<F>: mm hm[F]: some of my friends annoy him
<F>: mm hm[F]: my sister annoys him <laughs>
<F>: uh oh[F]: that kind of thing, what else [M]?
...
Completed Work
Interview 1
56
[00:03:11.07] <F>: What do you think makes you work as a
couple?[F]: I think the fact that we talk all the time.
[M]: yeah, I thi--I think, ah, we're both really
interested in people
[M]: I think that's--
[F]: well, which includes each other
[M]: which includes--but uh--
[F]: I think we both try to figure each other out like
psychologically[M]: yeah<F>: oh really?[F]: yeah[M]: I guess our parents are not necessarily, at least
one of our parents are--
[F]: nuts--<laughs>
[M]: like really don't care--well, yeah, but I mean at
least one of our parents--
[00:03:53.28] <F>: what'd you say?
[F]: are nuts <laughs>
<F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah, we've got some interesting parents
[F]: but they don't really care--what were you saying,
like?![M]: yeah, at least one of, my dad I would say doesn't
really like people <laughs>
[F]: yeah, he's, he's a little drama [00:04:05.14][???]
[M]: very much, he's not interested in people
<F>: yeah[F]: and, yeah. But I mean, I think that like there's
something about us that we both like, we try to get
like 'oh, ok, this is what the other person is
experiencing now--"
[M]: yeah[F]: like we try to sort of like figure out, figure the--I
mean, I try to figure [M] out like--
[M]: yeah, and that--
[F]: on a deeper level-
[M]: <inaudible> I think, too, we're both kind of um--
[F]: neurotic <laughs>
[M]: <laughs>
[00:04:35.20] <F>: neurotic? <laughs>
[M]: I think we both sometimes feel like, uh, small
children that are unprepared to deal with the big
world inside, that we're just hiding that from
somebody [F]: <laughs> yeah
[00:05:42.05] <F>: Ok, so--this is what he's experiencing, you said
that you're neurotic--
[F]: we are <laughs>
[M]: yeah, we're pretty neurotic
[F]: we're both a little like, we come home and we're
like 'I think my professor thinks I'm stupid' or you
whatever, like, kind of obsessing about little things--
[M]: <laughing> we avoid--sometimes avoid other
people because we feel inferior <laughs>
[F]: <laughs><F>: because you feel inferior? <laughs>
[F]: which is like so, and my job is I'm like '[M],
you've got to be kidding me, that's ridiculous,' you
know, and he's like '[F], come on' <laugh>
<F>: ok, so you have to like sort of help the other
person[F]: yeah, talk the other person down
<F>: <laughs>[F]: <laughs>
[00:06:35.19] <F>: that's really amazing. um, are
there things that cause stress on the relationship, or
like areas where you--
[M]: yeah, definitely
[F]: <laughs><F>: what are those things?
[F]: well--[M]: work habits
[F]: yes. [M]--I consider him to work a ton.
<F>: mm hmm[F]: which takes away time from me
<F>: huh[F]: and we have some sort of <pause> different
friends.<F>: mm hm[F]: I mean just that some of his friends I don't really
enjoy hanging out with.
<F>: mm hm[F]: some of my friends annoy him
<F>: mm hm[F]: my sister annoys him <laughs>
<F>: uh oh[F]: that kind of thing, what else [M]?
...
[01:00:22.00] <F>: Um, first of all about the journal, I wonder if you guys um talked with each other about it at all, like about the content or anything like that?[F]: we did briefly[M]: really?[F]: yes, because I knew the first, well you were done really fast and you were like 'it was easy' and it's like <laughs>[M]: <laughs>[F]: and I don't know if you told me or I imagined because I could be wrong, I thought that you wrote a list*interesting that she imagined what was in his journal*[M]: no, not really[F]: ok, so we didn't talk about it, I just filled in the blanks <laughs>[M]: we did, we did say, we did remind each other that we had to do the journal<F>: yeah, ok[F]: and I read you my rant last night[M]: yeah, you did<F>: oh you did?[F]: yeah
[01:01:22.03] <F>: oh, that's so cool. Tell me more about that.[F]: well, I had a, a crisis <laughs><F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah[F]: <laughs><F>: like, we were talking about, you felt inept?[F]: yes, feeling inadequate and then I wrote, yeah I told you I wrote this whole list of things that like I _should_ be doing more of but I'm not, but I was really mostly like pissed off about it because I like at that point I was like, I shouldn't have to be doing this, so I, I wrote it all down and I read it to [M]. He said--it was so sweet--he said 'yeah, I could probably write a list like that too.<F>: aw[F]: it was like a bonding moment.<F>: yeah. <long pause> That is so cool.[F]: <laughs>[M]: <laughs>
[01:02:04.09]<F>: are you sure there isn't like anything more you
can tell me about that, because I want to know like every detail, but I mean, I don't want to, it doesn't--[M]: well you had two lists[F]: it started out with like a miscommunication where I thought he was criticizing me and I like got kind of like upset about it and then [M] felt bad and um, so I wrote in my journal and then we talked about it some more and then um--[M]: because she had a--[F]: I was like 'you want to hear it?' <teary voice> I was crying <laughs> 'do you want to hear my list?' <teary voice> <laughs>[M]: you had a 'don't do enough' and then a 'do too much', right?[F]: yeah, I know. yes. um, and then we briefly we talked about um, where we thought these ideas came from, i.e., parents, society <whispered dramatically>--that's like our favorite one--society makes us feel this way <whispered dramatically>.<F>: yeah[F]: and then I think I, [M] said 'I could write my own list' I said 'yeah' and I like said a bunch of things that I assumed you <laughing>[M]: <laughs> and I was like, 'those--what are you talking about?' <laughs>[F]: <laughs><F>: <laughs>[F]: no, but it was more of an empathic thing[M]: yeah[F]: it wasn't like a criticism, or it definitely wasn't a criticism, I think. They were like absurd things.
[01:03:28.21] <F>: so, there's like two parts of this I want to get at. The first one is like, um, what impact do you think this had on your relationship at the time? And, then the second thing is like how did the journal function as a part of that interaction?
[01:03:47.08] [F]: Actually, [M] and I hadn't thought about this, but it may have saved our asses. <laughs>[01:03:51.17] [M]: yeah, we, it was a bad, it was--[01:03:55.06] [F]: it was a little bit ugly[01:03:57.03] [M]: yeah, it was a little ugly[01:03:58.09] [F]: but I was upset and I just didn't want to talk about it, so I, I wrote, wrote it down and then it turned into like a way that we could bond[01:04:02.23] [M]: I think that, that was really good. ...
Completed Work
Interview 2
[00:03:11.07] <F>: What do you think makes you work as a
couple?[F]: I think the fact that we talk all the time.
[M]: yeah, I thi--I think, ah, we're both really
interested in people
[M]: I think that's--
[F]: well, which includes each other
[M]: which includes--but uh--
[F]: I think we both try to figure each other out like
psychologically[M]: yeah<F>: oh really?[F]: yeah[M]: I guess our parents are not necessarily, at least
one of our parents are--
[F]: nuts--<laughs>
[M]: like really don't care--well, yeah, but I mean at
least one of our parents--
[00:03:53.28] <F>: what'd you say?
[F]: are nuts <laughs>
<F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah, we've got some interesting parents
[F]: but they don't really care--what were you saying,
like?![M]: yeah, at least one of, my dad I would say doesn't
really like people <laughs>
[F]: yeah, he's, he's a little drama [00:04:05.14][???]
[M]: very much, he's not interested in people
<F>: yeah[F]: and, yeah. But I mean, I think that like there's
something about us that we both like, we try to get
like 'oh, ok, this is what the other person is
experiencing now--"
[M]: yeah[F]: like we try to sort of like figure out, figure the--I
mean, I try to figure [M] out like--
[M]: yeah, and that--
[F]: on a deeper level-
[M]: <inaudible> I think, too, we're both kind of um--
[F]: neurotic <laughs>
[M]: <laughs>
[00:04:35.20] <F>: neurotic? <laughs>
[M]: I think we both sometimes feel like, uh, small
children that are unprepared to deal with the big
world inside, that we're just hiding that from
somebody [F]: <laughs> yeah
[00:05:42.05] <F>: Ok, so--this is what he's experiencing, you said
that you're neurotic--
[F]: we are <laughs>
[M]: yeah, we're pretty neurotic
[F]: we're both a little like, we come home and we're
like 'I think my professor thinks I'm stupid' or you
whatever, like, kind of obsessing about little things--
[M]: <laughing> we avoid--sometimes avoid other
people because we feel inferior <laughs>
[F]: <laughs><F>: because you feel inferior? <laughs>
[F]: which is like so, and my job is I'm like '[M],
you've got to be kidding me, that's ridiculous,' you
know, and he's like '[F], come on' <laugh>
<F>: ok, so you have to like sort of help the other
person[F]: yeah, talk the other person down
<F>: <laughs>[F]: <laughs>
[00:06:35.19] <F>: that's really amazing. um, are
there things that cause stress on the relationship, or
like areas where you--
[M]: yeah, definitely
[F]: <laughs><F>: what are those things?
[F]: well--[M]: work habits
[F]: yes. [M]--I consider him to work a ton.
<F>: mm hmm[F]: which takes away time from me
<F>: huh[F]: and we have some sort of <pause> different
friends.<F>: mm hm[F]: I mean just that some of his friends I don't really
enjoy hanging out with.
<F>: mm hm[F]: some of my friends annoy him
<F>: mm hm[F]: my sister annoys him <laughs>
<F>: uh oh[F]: that kind of thing, what else [M]?
...
[01:00:22.00] <F>: Um, first of all about the journal, I wonder if you guys um talked with each other about it at all, like about the content or anything like that?[F]: we did briefly[M]: really?[F]: yes, because I knew the first, well you were done really fast and you were like 'it was easy' and it's like <laughs>[M]: <laughs>[F]: and I don't know if you told me or I imagined because I could be wrong, I thought that you wrote a list*interesting that she imagined what was in his journal*[M]: no, not really[F]: ok, so we didn't talk about it, I just filled in the blanks <laughs>[M]: we did, we did say, we did remind each other that we had to do the journal<F>: yeah, ok[F]: and I read you my rant last night[M]: yeah, you did<F>: oh you did?[F]: yeah
[01:01:22.03] <F>: oh, that's so cool. Tell me more about that.[F]: well, I had a, a crisis <laughs><F>: <laughs>[M]: yeah[F]: <laughs><F>: like, we were talking about, you felt inept?[F]: yes, feeling inadequate and then I wrote, yeah I told you I wrote this whole list of things that like I _should_ be doing more of but I'm not, but I was really mostly like pissed off about it because I like at that point I was like, I shouldn't have to be doing this, so I, I wrote it all down and I read it to [M]. He said--it was so sweet--he said 'yeah, I could probably write a list like that too.<F>: aw[F]: it was like a bonding moment.<F>: yeah. <long pause> That is so cool.[F]: <laughs>[M]: <laughs>
[01:02:04.09]<F>: are you sure there isn't like anything more you
can tell me about that, because I want to know like every detail, but I mean, I don't want to, it doesn't--[M]: well you had two lists[F]: it started out with like a miscommunication where I thought he was criticizing me and I like got kind of like upset about it and then [M] felt bad and um, so I wrote in my journal and then we talked about it some more and then um--[M]: because she had a--[F]: I was like 'you want to hear it?' <teary voice> I was crying <laughs> 'do you want to hear my list?' <teary voice> <laughs>[M]: you had a 'don't do enough' and then a 'do too much', right?[F]: yeah, I know. yes. um, and then we briefly we talked about um, where we thought these ideas came from, i.e., parents, society <whispered dramatically>--that's like our favorite one--society makes us feel this way <whispered dramatically>.<F>: yeah[F]: and then I think I, [M] said 'I could write my own list' I said 'yeah' and I like said a bunch of things that I assumed you <laughing>[M]: <laughs> and I was like, 'those--what are you talking about?' <laughs>[F]: <laughs><F>: <laughs>[F]: no, but it was more of an empathic thing[M]: yeah[F]: it wasn't like a criticism, or it definitely wasn't a criticism, I think. They were like absurd things.
[01:03:28.21] <F>: so, there's like two parts of this I want to get at. The first one is like, um, what impact do you think this had on your relationship at the time? And, then the second thing is like how did the journal function as a part of that interaction?
[01:03:47.08] [F]: Actually, [M] and I hadn't thought about this, but it may have saved our asses. <laughs>[01:03:51.17] [M]: yeah, we, it was a bad, it was--[01:03:55.06] [F]: it was a little bit ugly[01:03:57.03] [M]: yeah, it was a little ugly[01:03:58.09] [F]: but I was upset and I just didn't want to talk about it, so I, I wrote, wrote it down and then it turned into like a way that we could bond[01:04:02.23] [M]: I think that, that was really good. ...
[00:00:06.22] <F>: so, tell me about this week[M]: oh, um--<F>: or, 10 days[M]: well it was, it was kinda funny because [F] and I ended up spending so much of it together. At least uh, we were, we were together from Thursday through Sunday, like basically, well Thursday morning through Sunday, like every minute of the day and um, and actually we didn't, I mean, I guess there were some minor conflicts but uh, I don't think, there weren't really any major conflicts. I think we both had, we had, there were some, we both had some different ideas about what we wanted to do when we went to the Olympic National Forest which was just great and there's kind of um, there's all kinds of hikes there and some of them are short and there's like hot springs at the end and some of them are longer and there's like a really great view at the end and they're harder and I was kind of all for the the longer harder great view at the end and [F] was all about the shorter hot springs at the end. And so we compromised but uh--
[00:01:28.12] <F>: how did you compromise?[M]: [F] basically said what she, she hinted what she wanted to do and I was like 'well, maybe we can do both' and of course we went to one and then we didn't have enough time to go to the other. But then I, I ended up, that was, that was fine. That was probably the closest thing to a compromise--<F>: cool
[M]: but we, I mean, I don't know if we've. It's been a long time since we've spent that much time together. <F>: really?[M]: yeah. Because it was like, it was like 5 days. I don't think we've taken, I mean, even when you're, when you're um at home and you're on a break, you don't spend like--
<F>: every minute[M]: yeah every minute together. But that, it worked out very well.
[00:02:09.13] <F>: cool. So, maybe it was difficult finding things to share?[M]: yeah, it was a little difficult because you know when we wrote in our journals so much of it was
what we did that day. And, I think there was, when we shared there, sometimes there were, we did kind of, there was one instance where I think we revealed something to each other um about the, that we didn't know, that was kind of our, it specifically was related to the kind of conflict we had about where we wanted to go and I think we both kind of, because we, I kind of got a little, for whatever reason I kind of got, I felt like myself kind of close up and I don't know why, I I guess--and then, so I I kind of, I talked to, I wrote about that in the journal and then I talked with [F] about that. And she kinda shared what she had been thinking because at the time we both kind of were um--no one really wanted to ask the other person what they were saying, we we both just kind of read a lot of body language and took a lot, I guess more just took hints and so when we went back and kind of analyzed how we felt and talked to each other about it, that was kind of a novel thing, for sure. [00:03:48.14] <F>: hm, cool. Was it the same thing as like last week where there was a literal reading from the journal, or was it just that the journal kind of primed the conversation?[M]: I think the journal kind of primed--there's um, some, I mean because especially how we write in the journal is I think we do it at the end of the day and a lot of times--and I remember this even when I was in high school and you'd write in the journal and sometimes you'd be really surprised at the kind of insight you would have into your--you're just kind of writing and then you you would write something, and it might be about something like this or kind of silly, you know, and then you'd write something and you'd say that's kind of a profound insight into my own behavior or the consequences of my behavior or something. And it was, it was kind of like that where it was, I was writing and then I was like, oh, well [F] I I felt like this, it did these things for me and I and I kinda listed things and ah, that's not, I mean, I would never have thought about that because also I just I would have forgotten about it or distracted myself or something--
[00:05:05.11] <F>: <laughs> yeah. So, like last time, I want to know every detail <laughs>. So, um, maybe you can tell me about how--was there distance between the kind of conflict you guys had and when you wrote in the journal?57
Completed Work
Interview 3