Volunteers wanted `'Reseach project about Ereaders`'

[UvA_research]

Dear reader,

for our research project we need four volunteers. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the usage of ereaders.

For this project, we defined three sub-questions; where, how and why do you use your ereader. These three sub-questions would derive us to an overview of the purpose and benefits of using an ereader.

We will take care of your privacy, and keep the information confidential.

The case:
- Per volunteer, make 5 upto 10 pictures of yourself while using your ereader and send them to 5980860@student.uva.nl. Please send them in before the 3th of April 2010.

For this research we are using the photo-elicitation method. Pictures provides us a better impression of the experience and will be used in the in-depth interviews.

After this task, we would send you an in depth interview which exist out of 10 questions. Thank you for your contribution in advance!

This is only a small part of our research. We also investigate local communities. Just to add an small global impression of ereader users and their behaviour. Off course we are aware of the fact that more than four persons will reply. More than four replies are very welcome, this will enhance the validity of our researchproject. This research is not an Master theses, only a project that has to be done in 16 weeks.

We are really interested in this topic, it will be a contribution for our Theses research proposal.

The research is done by supervision of the Amsterdam Business School. In this hyperlink you will find more information.

http://www1.fee.uva.nl/pp/ychandra/

Amsterdam business school
Master: Business studies
Course: International Marketing

[TGS]

Originally Posted by UvA_research

Dear reader,

for our research project we need four volunteers. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the usage of ereaders.

For this project, we defined three sub-questions; where, how and why do you use your ereader. These three sub-questions would derive us to an overview of the purpose and benefits of using an ereader.

We will take care of your privacy, and keep the information confidential.

The case:
- Per volunteer, make 5 upto 10 pictures of yourself while using your ereader and send them to 5980860@student.uva.nl.


After this task, we would send you an in depth interview which exist out of 10 questions. Thank you for your contribution in advance!

Amsterdam business school
Master: Business studies
Course: International Marketing

I think you need to explain why you need photographs!

[UvA_research]

Thanks for your comment, we will add this in the header as well.

[Tamara]

The photograph part seems rather creepy and pointless.

[TGS]

Originally Posted by Tamara

The photograph part seems rather creepy and pointless.

Well, photo-elicitation is a recognised and respectable research methodology in sociology, anthropology and cultural studies type areas. But I think that the researchers need to provide a bit more information - for example, the contact details of the person supervising their research so that, if anyone is interested in taking part, they can check out their bona fides. It also seems a bit methodologically clumsy to ask people to send photographs before being recruited to the study - what if, for example, 20 people send in photographs. The study only needs 4 participants so what happens to the other 16 sets of photographs?

[Conor]

Four people sounds like a very small sample for a research project. How can you draw any statistically valid conclusions from that?
You'll understand why we seem suspicious.

[GhostHawk]

Tell me more please so I can make an informed decision.

Does seem like an extremely small data sample.

40 pictures of 40 people would I think be much more "defining" than 10 pictures each from 4 people.

[UvA_research]

This is only a small part of our research. We also investigate local communities. Just to add an small global impression of ereader users and their behaviour. Off course we are aware of the fact that more than four persons will reply. More than four replies are very welcome, this will enhance our validity of our researchproject. This research is not an Master theses, only a project that has to be done in 16 weeks.

We are really interested in this topic, it will be a contribution for our Theses research proposal.

The research is done by supervision of the Amsterdam Business School. In this hyperlink you will find more information.

http://www1.fee.uva.nl/pp/ychandra/

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by TGS

Well, photo-elicitation is a recognised and respectable research methodology in sociology, anthropology and cultural studies type areas. But I think that the researchers need to provide a bit more information - for example, the contact details of the person supervising their research so that, if anyone is interested in taking part, they can check out their bona fides. It also seems a bit methodologically clumsy to ask people to send photographs before being recruited to the study - what if, for example, 20 people send in photographs. The study only needs 4 participants so what happens to the other 16 sets of photographs?

I understand pictures for certain things to illustrate the point you are seeking to make but I don't see how someone taking 10 pictures of themselves with a reader helps the research study. It would seem that a better method for this particular study would be a series of carefully crafted questions that the participants answer.

[poohbear_nc]

I agree - the pictures requirement is just plain creepy - and would seem to have no real place in legitimate research - only in posting "authentic" photos in ads without having gotten consent.

[TGS]

Originally Posted by Tamara

I understand pictures for certain things to illustrate the point you are seeking to make but I don't see how someone taking 10 pictures of themselves with a reader helps the research study. It would seem that a better method for this particular study would be a series of carefully crafted questions that the participants answer.

I was simply passing on what I know about photo-elicitation methodologies in social sciences - I'm not connected with the study. You can find more information about the methodology at this link if you want.

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by TGS

I was simply passing on what I know about photo-elicitation methodologies in social sciences - I'm not connected with the study. You can find more information about the methodology at this link if you want.

I have a degree in sociology. I'm familiar with the methodology.

[LDBoblo]

I always wondered what I should do with that snap of me on the toilet with my Sony!

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

I always wondered what I should do with that snap of me on the toilet with my Sony!

And I read my Sony a lot in the bath

Perhaps they'll get more than they bargained for?

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

And I read my Sony a lot in the bath

Perhaps they'll get more than they bargained for?

Kama Sutra is apparently one of the most pirated ebooks, and one of the most popular downloaded books on Project Gutenberg. Just sayin'.