Integrating case study and survey research methods: an example in information systems

The case for combining research methods generally, and more specifically that for combining qualitative and quantitative methods, is strong. Yet, research designs that extensively integrate both fieldwork (e.g. case studies) and survey research are rare. Moreover, some journals tend tacitly to specialise by methodology thereby encouraging purity of method. The multi-method model of research, while not new, has not been appreciated. In this respect it is useful to describe its usage through example. By reference to a recently completed study of IS consultant engagement success factors this paper presents an analysis of the benefits of integrating case study and survey research methods. The emphasis is on the qualitative case study method and how it can complement more quantitative survey research. Benefits are demonstrated through specific examples from the reference study.     

基于灰色定性理论的无陷阱人工势场

针对传统人工势场中存在局部陷阱问题,提出一种基于灰色定性理论的人工势场算法.首先将环境中自由空间分解为一组凸多边形,以凸多边形的顶点和邻接关系作为关键信息,并分别构成灰色定性基本元和灰色定性关系,由灰色定性关系推理从起始点到目标点需经过的凸多边形序列,再用广义白化函数计算凸多边形序列中的势场.理论分析和实验均表明该算法能够确保机器人在有限的时间内安全到达目标点.     

The aesthetic turn in sonification towards a social and cultural medium

The public release of datasets on the internet by government agencies, environmental scientists, political groups and many other organizations has fostered a social practice of data visualization. The audiences have expectations of production values commensurate with their daily experience of professional visual media. At the same time, access to this data has allowed visual designers and artists to apply their skills to what was previously a field dominated by scientists and engineers. The ‘aesthetic turn’ in data visualization has sparked debates between the new wave and older more scientifically grounded schools of thought on the topic. Sonification is not as well known or commonly practiced as visualization. But sound is a naturally affective, aesthetic and cultural medium. The extension of the aesthetic turn to sonification could transform this field from a scientific curiosity and engineering instrument into a popular mass medium. This paper proposes that a design approach can facilitate an aesthetic turn in sonification that integrates aesthetics and functionality by dissolving divisions between scientific and artistic methods. The first section applies the design perspective to the definition of sonification by replacing the linguistic concept of representation with non-verbal concept of functionality. The next section describes applications of the TaDa design method that raised aesthetic issues particular to sonification practice. The final section proposes a pragmatic aesthetics that distinguishes sonification from the auditory sciences and sonic arts. A design perspective may lead to a future where the general public tunes into pop sonifications for listening enjoyment as well as useful information about the world.     

The teaching of qualitative research methods in information systems: an explorative study utilizing learning theory

Empirical evidence suggests that the Information Systems field continues to be dominated by the positivist paradigm and the use of quantitative methods. This is so despite the diversity of research methods available, the emergence of an interpretivist tradition, and some isolated examples of methodological pluralism. While there have been significant contributions in guiding qualitative research methods teaching, little research has been undertaken that considers the training actually provided, and the possible impacts this may have on the quality and quantity of qualitative research articles in our journals. This explorative study aims to provide some insight into what training is provided, the issues confronted, and possible impediments to publishing qualitative research. Data were collected from interviews with a panel of international colleagues who have a range of experience in teaching and applying qualitative methods. Grounded Theory is used to identify emergent and interconnected themes. Experiential and social learning lenses are used to reflect on the results, providing some initial understanding of the complexities of teaching and undertaking qualitative research. Theoretical as well as practical contributions are made regarding the means by which qualitative research may be introduced, developed and extended within the IS academy, and further theorisation of social and experiential learning.     

A FORTRAN program to compute vertical magnetic field of a horizontal rectangular loop on n-layered earth for em depth sounding

A FORTRAN program is described to compute the vertical magnetic field anywhere inside or outside a rectangular loop which carries a sinusoidally varying current and is horizontally placed on the surface of a n-layered earth. The program utilizes the concept of reciprocity and the known solution for a horizontal magnetic dipole source placed over a n-layered half-space. The computing algorithm is executable on a minicomputer like PDP 11/40 and as such is useful to many geoscientists who do not have access to mainframe computer, for computing model data to fit and interpret field observations from electromagnetic depth sounding experiments.     

Collecting and Sharing Location-based Content on Mobile Phones in a Zoo Visitor Experience

The augmentation of visitor experiences with location-based technologies has been available for some time. Through in-depth studies of users during these experiences the field is building a rich picture of user behaviour in relation to certain location-based technologies. However, little work has explored the use of mobile camera phones and 2D barcodes on situated signs and their properties as a way of delivering such augmented visitor experiences. In this paper we present a study of people engaged in such a location-based experience at London zoo in which they use mobile camera phones to read 2D barcodes on signs at the animal enclosures in order to access related content. Through the fieldwork we highlight the social and collaborative aspects of the experience and how particular characteristics of the mobile phone and barcode technology shape these behaviours. The paper also highlights some of the non-instrumental aspects of the location-based experience, in particular in relation to the importance of collecting location-based content. We explore the social aspects of collecting as well as certain competitive elements it introduces into people’s behaviour. This creates an interesting tension in that aspects of the application encourage cooperation and sharing among the visitors whereas others encourage competition. In the course of presenting the fieldwork, we explore this tension further.     

Model-based reasoning: a principled approach for software engineering

The software engineering industry suffers from almost unmanageable complexity both in the products it produces and in the processes of production. One of the current shortcomings in the software production process is the weakness of the models used. This paper makes observations on the role of knowledge in engineering and examines the central role of models and simulation. We develop an argument for the application of certain new forms of modelling methods in software engineering in order to impose more discipline and give a principled framework for building models that can support the software life-cycle. The concept of a model is examined in depth and different characteristics and types of model are defined. This introduces the relatively new concept of qualitative models and their use in the field known as model-based reasoning. Unlike previous knowledge-based methods, model-based reasoning has several important advantages. Although very few model-based software projects exist, we illustrate how this approach can be developed by drawing on applications from traditional engineering. It is argued that, because qualitative modelling offers great power for addressing the issue of complexity, such models have considerable potential as high-level abstractions of software products. These could form the core of tools for the management and support of the software development process through the whole product life-cycle.     

The relation between BPM culture,BPM methods,and process performance: Evidence from quantitative field studies

Business process management (BPM) research conceptualizes BPM culture as a type of organizational culture that supports BPM. No quantitative fieldwork has so far examined how such a supporting role manifests itself. We study the relationship between BPM culture, BPM methods, and process performance empirically. Our analysis of multiple survey data sets from a total of 581 practitioners of multiple industries suggests that BPM methods indirectly contribute to process performance by establishing a BPM culture. This finding updates the prevalent assumption that the correct application of methods yields direct performance benefits. We discuss several implications for theory and practice.     

Designing with dialogue charts: a qualitative content analysis of end-user designers' experiences with a software engineering design tool

Abstract. Software engineering tools used by designers are critical to most systems development methodologies, and successful methodologies are critical to improved productivity. However, the way in which designers use and relate to software engineering tools, whether computer assisted or not, has received little attention in the design literature. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into how people perceive the process of using design tools. The study is a qualitative analysis of interview information from participants in a field experiment. Four teams of student designers used various design tools during the development of interactive information systems typical of those that might be developed by sophisticated end-users. The research reported here is an exploratory study aimed at understanding how designers use one of these tools, the dialogue charts. The broad range of purposes included the uses predicted by the reference literature on design. However, the end-user designers also used the tool opportunistically — they found a broader range of tool usage than the literature on design tools predicted. For example, they consistently used the tool as a communications vehicle among different phases of design and development. The results show that the relationships these 'end-user designers' developed with the target tool are expressed in highly emotional language. These attitudes are tightly coupled with the purposes for which the designers use the tool. The methodology uses a field experiment as a treatment and a semistructured interview with a hidden agenda for gathering data. The data analysis techniques draw on the concepts of discovering grounded theory as described by Glaser and Strauss. They further draw on the concepts of qualitative content analysis synthesized by Krippendortf and the qualitative data analysis methods described by Miles and Huberman.     

Adoption and diffusion of knowledge management systems: field studies of factors and variables

The concept of knowledge and knowledge management is not new. Researchers identified the practice of knowledge management as early as 4000 years ago. However, knowledge management systems (KMS), which involve the application of IT systems and other organizational resources to manage knowledge strategically, are a relatively recent phenomenon. While the literature on knowledge management covers various issues, it lacks comprehensive studies of factors and variables of adoption and diffusion of KMS. This paper studies these factors and variables in the context of some Australian organizations. A qualitative field study is undertaken in this research, where six organizations of various sizes, all in various stages of KMS adoption and diffusion, are studied via interviews with key personnel. Content analysis is then performed to extract the factors and variables and a comprehensive model of KMS adoption and diffusion is developed. The results of the interviews identify four major variables affecting KMS diffusion as: organizational culture, top management support, benefits to individuals, and dream of KMS. The paper also highlights the research and managerial implications of the KMS diffusion model.     

The instability of a radiative shock wave in a magnetic field

The deceleration of matter in a radioactive shock wave has been mathematically simulated. This problem is relevant to the variable radiancy of T Tauri stars. We assume that an ordered magnetic field at the surface of a star is not too great, i.e., B ≤ 100 G. In this case, the initial deceleration and plasma heating (at the entrance to the cooling zone) occur in a fast magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shock wave. To calculate the intensity of radiation losses, we use real and power radiative functions. The stability/instability of a radiative shock wave is considered as a function of the incoming flow’s parameters: velocity, strength of the magnetic field, and its inclination to the surface of the star. In a series of calculations with the real radiative function, a simple criterion for stability at an accretion velocity of 1.3 × 10⁷ cm/s has been found. The results of modeling with the real and power radiative functions are compared.     

State of the academic field of IS in India

The field of information systems (IS) remains ill-defined, facing problems of recognition and identity crisis. Several papers and debates have been dedicated on this topic for over three decades. The focus of these debates have largely centered on the state of the IS field in Americas and Europe and with a limited study conducted in the Asia–Pacific context. This study attempts to assess the field in the Indian context and highlight the challenges and issues faced by IS faculties in India. Based on literature survey of the seminal papers in the field, we identified the salient topics of interest to IS researchers: identity of the IS field; diversity of the field; research approaches, methods and rigor; reference disciplines; journals and conferences; and IS course and curriculum. A two-phase study was carried out to explore the interest generated by the IS field in India. In the first phase, secondary data review of leading business schools in India was carried out to understand their focus on IS as an academic discipline. In the second phase, we conducted interviews of IS researchers from the premium business schools in India. In our study, we analyze the research focus of IS faculties in B-schools in India, analyze the composition of the faculty pool and the nature of research work undertaken by them. Our study points at the restricted focus of IS researchers in India around a few narrow areas, with a significant breadth of topics not being explored for research. We found the identity struggle of the field to be prominent, which was further compounded by the limited number of active, IS researchers. The growing importance of qualitative techniques in IS research, the challenges of developing a sound base in multiple reference disciplines and the need for making IS course interesting for business school students were some of the other significant observations. Our study also highlighted the paradox of the success of the IT industry in India leading to reduced enrollment of IS courses in B-Schools. We conclude by providing recommendations to B-school deans and directors.     

Ordinal regression by a gravitational model in the field of educational data mining

Educational data mining (EDM) is a research area where the goal is to develop data mining methods to examine data critically from educational environments. Traditionally, EDM has addressed the following problems: clustering, classification, regression, anomaly detection and association rule mining. In this paper, the ordinal regression (OR) paradigm, is introduced in the field of EDM. The goal of OR problems is the classification of items in an ordinal scale. For instance, the prediction of students' performance in categories (where the different grades could be ordered according to A ? B ? C ? D) is a classical example of an OR problem. The EDM community has not yet explored this paradigm (despite the importance of these problems in the field of EDM). Furthermore, an amenable and interpretable OR model based on the concept of gravitation is proposed. The model is an extension of a recently proposed gravitational model that tackles imbalanced nominal classification problems. The model is carefully adapted to the ordinal scenario and validated with four EDM datasets. The results obtained were compared with state‐of‐the‐art OR algorithms and nominal classification ones. The proposed models can be used to better understand the learning–teaching process in higher education environments.     

Cooperative method development

The development of methods tools and process improvements is best to be based on the understanding of the development practice to be supported. Qualitative research has been proposed as a method for understanding the social and cooperative aspects of software development. However, qualitative research is not easily combined with the improvement orientation of an engineering discipline. During the last 6 years, we have applied an approach we call ‘cooperative method development’, which combines qualitative social science fieldwork, with problem-oriented method, technique and process improvement. The action research based approach focusing on shop floor software development practices allows an understanding of how contextual contingencies influence the deployment and applicability of methods, processes and techniques. This article summarizes the experiences and discusses the further development of this approach based on several research projects in cooperation with industrial partners.

利用条件生成对抗网络的光场图像重聚焦

目的 传统的基于子视点叠加的重聚焦算法混叠现象严重,基于光场图像重构的重聚焦方法计算量太大,性能提升困难。为此,本文借助深度神经网络设计和实现了一种基于条件生成对抗网络的新颖高效的端到端光场图像重聚焦算法。方法 首先以光场图像为输入计算视差图,并从视差图中计算出所需的弥散圆(circle of confusion,COC)图像,然后根据COC图像对光场中心子视点图像进行散焦渲染,最终生成对焦平面和景深与COC图像相对应的重聚焦图像。结果 所提算法在提出的仿真数据集和真实数据集上与相关算法进行评价比较,证明了所提算法能够生成高质量的重聚焦图像。使用峰值信噪比(peak signal to noise ratio,PSNR)和结构相似性(structural similarity,SSIM)进行定量分析的结果显示,本文算法比传统重聚焦算法平均PSNR提升了1.82 dB,平均SSIM提升了0.02,比同样使用COC图像并借助各向异性滤波的算法平均PSNR提升了7.92 dB,平均SSIM提升了0.08。结论 本文算法能够依据图像重聚焦和景深控制要求,生成输入光场图像的视差图,进而生成对应的COC图像。所提条件生成对抗神经网络模型能够依据得到的不同COC图像对输入的中心子视点进行散焦渲染,得到与之对应的重聚焦图像,与之前的算法相比,本文算法解决了混叠问题,优化了散焦效果,并显著降低了计算成本。     

Crossing the line: a field study of inhabited television

This paper reports on an ethnographic field study of 'Out Of This World' (OOTW, Benford et al. 1999) an experiment in 'inhabited television' combining broadcast technologies with a collaborative virtual environment in a live show. The study focuses on the work of producing OOTW and how personnel managed the manifold contingencies of working with complex technology. The use of a specially developed virtual camera control application is discussed together with the methods the director used for live editing views from cameras into a 'broadcast from virtual reality'. The challenges faced by the multiple professions involved (TV personnel, research scientists, actors) are documented and the viability of inhabited TV as a 'new medium' is assessed. Future technological refinements are briefly discussed along with some general implications for CSCW and 'media studies' of the work reported.     

De-coding Our Scholarship: The State of Research in Computers and Writing from 2003–2008

Since its inception, the field of computers and writing has responded to rapid technological advancements that affect the research, practice, and teaching of writing. A potential consequence of addressing these advancements in teaching and practice, however, may be a reduced focus on foundational, empirical research. To examine the state of research in the field of computers and writing, we assessed the types of research published in four journals (Computers and Composition print, Computers and Composition Online, Kairos, and College Composition and Communication (CCC)) from late 2003/early 2004 to the end of 2008. We explored the state of research by investigating research approaches, design, and modes of inquiry over time. Within this context, we considered author gender, collaboration, and employment of interdisciplinary and mixed methods. We applied criteria from MacNealy (1998) to classify 26% of the computers and writing articles we analyzed as rigorous empirical research. We found a preference for qualitative research designs (56% of articles were qualitative) and, to a lesser degree, mixed methods (29%). While providing a sense of the state of the field as it matures, we conclude by presenting discussion questions on the role of research, research drivers, and ways to increase the quality of research and research reporting. We urge the field to consider the kinds of research we do, teach, and value.     

Visualizing the computational intelligence field [Application Notes]

In this paper, we visualize the structure and the evolution of the computational intelligence (CI) field. Based on our visualizations, we analyze the way in which the CI field is divided into several subfields. The visualizations provide insight into the characteristics of each subfield and into the relations between the subfields. By comparing two visualizations, one based on data from 2002 and one based on data from 2006, we examine how the CI field has evolved over the last years. A quantitative analysis of the data further identifies a number of emerging areas within the CI field. The data that we use consist of the abstracts of the papers presented at the IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI) in 2002 and 2006. Using a fully automatic procedure, so-called concept maps are constructed from the data. These maps visualize the associations between the main concepts in the CI field. Our analysis of the structure and the evolution of the CI field are largely based on the constructed concept maps     

Topology of a computed incompressible three-dimensional separated flow field around a high-angle-of-attack cone-cylinder

The concept of “topology” of a continuous vector field is introduced to numerical studies on the structure of a three-dimensional separated flow field. In this paper, the flow structure is regarded as the topological properties of the streamlines and described as a composition of finite types of basic elements correlated with some typical flow features. The present topological studies are made in four vector fields defined in the flow around a body with regard to some physical aspects. All possible basic elements are formulated as a critical point or line in each vector field by use of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for a local velocity gradient tensor. The former represents the quantitative topological properties and the latter determines the direction of a critical line. The method used to identify these basic elements from numerical flow data is also presented. Computational studies on a separated flow field around a high-angle-of-attack cone-cylinder demonstrate that the present topological approaches have great potential for revealing the essential properties of flow phenomena with three-dimensional separation.