Paper Reading #1: There's Methodology in the Madness: Toward Critical HCI Ethnography

Comments
Zachary Henkel
Paola Garza


Reference Information
Title: There's Methodology in the Madness: Toward Critical HCI Ethnography
Authors: Amanda Williams, Lilly Irani
Presentation Venue: CHI 2010, Atlanta, Georgia


Summary
This paper addresses the challenges associated with ethnography and mobility, and calls for a reevaluation of the generally-used conventions of qualitative research to shift from using specifically defined methods to applying generalized methodologies. Two new trends are pointed out regarding HCI topics: the complication in rhetoric of the user and the expansion of field sites that widen the scope of HCI. The paper presents specific examples of ethnographic field work to point out challenges occurring with these new trend, including shifting field site boundaries and the need to improvise new design methods to accommodate specific traits of the field site.

The paper also discusses the role of ethnographers in bridging the gap between designers and users, and relates this ethnography to ethnography in anthropology, which involves participant-observation to convey and understand experiences in cultural actions.


Discussion
It makes sense that as cultures expand and merge, much thanks to technology, the methods of ethnographic research in the field must be altered to accommodate these changes. And as this alteration occurs, HCI must take this into account, as well.