| 1. |
- Laaksoharju, Mikael, 1977-
(författare)
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Designing for Autonomy
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis, two problems are addressed.The first problem is how designers of computerized artifacts come to understand what they should design. In order to improve their chances for solving the right problem, it is suggested to adopt a deductive theorizing protocol, based on falsification, as it is expressed in philosophy as well as in psychological research on problem solving and decision making.It requires a shift in the role that designers take in communication with users; rather than considering users as objects of study, the designers' understanding is being scrutinized, by users.To accomplish this, an explication of the designers' understanding is necessary to formulate: a Theory of Use, which should account for the assumptions that the designers make about the users and the use situation. It should also be focused on what the designers understand to be the qualities of a good solution. These assumptions and qualities should be formulated as statements that are falsifiable by the users. Through this, the designers can, in a systematic way, get feedback on how well they have understood what they are designing for. Furthermore, the Theory of Use becomes the requirements against which subsequent design hypotheses are evaluated.The second problem is how to determine if a computerized artifact is appropriate for a given purpose. To guide such an evaluation, it is suggested to focus on the autonomy of the artifact's users. This is based on the philosophical and psychological conclusion that autonomy is necessary for human well-being, which is not explicitly taken into account in current design practice.The proposed Theory of Use protocol also gives designers the autonomy they need for developing their understanding and expertise. It is intended to improve and guide communication with users, targeting the most important facet of design: the designers' understanding of what they are designing for. Moreover, the protocol puts users in control over what is developed for them, and lets them have the final say on how their lives are designed.
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| 2. |
- Laaksoharju, Mikael
(författare)
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Let us be philosophers! : Computerized support for ethical decision making
- 2010
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis presents a computerized tool for ethical decision making. For someone who is unfamiliar with the psychological theory that the tool is based on, it will perhaps first appear as a pointless piece of software. It does not give any guidance to what an ethically correct decision is, it does not suggest relevant ethical principles or guidelines and it does not even make reference to known cases of good moral conduct. In fact, it does not make any moral claims at all. The only two things that the tool does are that it stimulates reflective, analytical and holistic reasoning and blocks automatic, biased and constrained impulses. This approach is chosen to improve the decision maker's ability to consider the relevant circumstances in a situation. By focusing on relevant interests of stakeholders, the scope of consideration in a moral situation can be expanded and the impact of decisions can be evaluated with respect to these. To justify this non-normative approach, the functionality of normative ethics is analyzed. The conclusion stresses the importance of self-conscious deliberation. Further arguments for advocating a systematic, holistic and self-critical handling of moral problems are collected from both philosophy and psychology. The structure and functionality of the tool is founded in psychological theory and especially the problem of cognitive biases in moral decision making is addressed. The tool has been evaluated in two studies, which both indicate that it actually delivers what it was designed to do. Statistically significant results show that the tool helped users to expand the scope of consideration in a moral problem situation compared to using an equivalent paper-and-pen-based method.
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| 3. |
- Selg, Håkan, 1949-
(författare)
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Researching the Use of the Internet : A Beginner's Guide
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Information and communication technologies (ICT) have experienced a technological convergence. Laptops, tablets and smartphones integrate previously distinct artefacts and communication protocols within information systems, personal computers and telephony. Yet the previous division is still reflected in different research traditions as regards the uses of ICTs.Internet studies is a multidisciplinary field of science. However, diversity with regard to concepts, terminology, assumptions about the users etc., is a characteristic feature. Basic assumptions and perspectives are lacking or not explicitly stated, leading to claims that it is ‘under-theorised’. These conditions contribute to an amorphous picture of Internet studies as field of research.Using a hermeneutic perspective based on the interpretation of written records and with understanding as the aim of knowledge, the author proposes a methodological framework to structure and describe Internet studies with focus on theories and guiding assumptions. The approach builds on Lakatos’ concept of research programmes, characterised by a core of basic assumptions that remain stable over time with supporting theories that may be modified or replaced depending on changes in research focus. An analytical tool, ‘a map’, to provide an overview by which Internet studies may be classified, is also proposed.The applicability of the methodological framework and the map are tested against empirical studies on Internet use carried out by the author between 2002 and 2011.The author discusses an analytically guided methodology that draws on (1) the kind of user action referred to in the research question and (2) the knowledge aim of study, as an alternative to research methodologies guided by epistemological perspectives.While understanding that the findings are partially subjective, the author argues that the proposed methods per se are generalisable within multidisciplinary fields of research and that their application would greatly improve the academic standing of Internet studies.
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| 4. |
- Öhman Persson, Jenny, 1960-
(författare)
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The Obvious & The Essential : Interpreting Software Development & Organizational Change
- 2004
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Examining how our basic values affect development processes is the overall theme of this thesis. In practice, the question is investigated in relation to software development and organizational change and in research, in relation to science and its relationship to common sense, specifically within the area of Human Computer Interaction. The thesis discusses how it might be possible to discover what is essential for development processes and why the essential may be interpreted as something other than the simply obvious. This thesis examines ways of studying and understanding our social environment and development processes, particularly those concerning people, organizations and software. The empirical examples deal with a software development project and a project that scrutinized the strategy for a governmental authority’s business and information technology. Attitudes are discussed in terms of how they view the user, the customer, the software developers, the software, organizational and implementation processes, organizational management, aesthetic values, functionality and use, research, methods, paradigmatic approaches, ethical issues, psychological reactions, sociological prerequisites, categorizations of people and stress-related health consequences. One particular prerequisite for developing superior computer-supported office work has repeatedly presented itself: an open, questioning attitude towards the software development process, towards organizational change and towards the people working in the organizations. A similar attitude towards research and its design can be crucial to the development of new knowledge. This circumstance can be interpreted as an indication of how important it is that we be aware of and question our preconceived notions, in order to develop an autonomous behavior where we take responsibility for our actions. By doing so, we can avoid misinterpretations and not get trapped into making categorizations that are simply obvious. This is essential and must be emphasized in our search for the path to »healthy work«.
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