ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
•
This project has been supported through a University Initiatives Grant
Awarded to the Program for Educational
Transformation Through Technology (PETTT). The research on arthritis bulletin boards reported in this poster
has been
done in collaboration with Cindy Atman, Rick Matsen, Scott Macklin, and
Jennifer Turns. Other PETTT members
who
have been involved in research
on the Arthritis Source are: Phil Bell, Reed Stevens, Julianne
Fondiller, Brett Shelton,
Trevor Leffler, Aaron Louie, Regina Yap, and Tracey Wagner.
I would also like to acknowledge previous training in content analysis
gained while working at the Center for Engineering
Learning and Teaching.
BULLETIN BOARDS AS
AN ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCHING THE NEEDS OF ARTHRITIS PATIENTS
One method currently being pursued by PETTT is an analysis of
written content
on online bulletin boards.
These bulletin boards are an asynchronous forum for
exchanges of information and support among impromptu teachers and
learners.
GOAL
OF STUDY:
To investigate the needs of learners searching for arthritis
information on the web by exploring
(1) what online bulletin board users talk about, and (2) how they
talk about it. This information
will inform the redesign of the Arthritis Source so that it
better meets the needs (task orientations
and existing characteristics) of both potential and existing
users.
Research
Method: Content Analysis
Content
analysis is a method of making inferences by objectively identifying specific
characteristics of written communications. In the case of this study, the language of individual
characteristics of written communications. In the case of this study, the language of individual
bulletin board postings is analyzed according to a set of
criteria. Through this process, systematic
information about online arthritis information seekers is
collected.
Source: Louis A. Gottschalk, “Content Analysis of
Verbal Behavior: New Findings and Clinical Applications.”
Data
Two bulletin boards on www.remarq.com. have been
selected for analysis (misc.health.arthritis, alt.support.arthritis). Conversations on this bulletin
board cover a wide variety of topics ranging from whether arthritis can be contagious to whether
cortisone shots are an effective treatment.
A sample of thirty threads from each bulletin boards
will be analyzed. This data is in the public domain, and all names and email addresses found in the
postings were replaced with subject numbers.
Research
Questions and their Data Codes
Who is using the bulletin board?
CODE:
Subject numbers are coded as Patients, Relations, Doctors, Other
What kinds of conditions are being
discussed?
CODE:
Names of conditions that are referenced in a posting
What is the sophistication of the
posting’s discussion?
CODE:
Reading Ease, Grade Level, Medical terminology
Are doctors referenced in the
posting?
CODE:
Yes or No
Is
diagnosis mentioned in the posting?
CODE: Yes or No
What information sources are
exchanged?
CODE: Names of information print
and web resources
Current and Future Work
- Analyze
and compare samples from two different bulletin boards using criteria
described above.
- Analyze the same data using a coding scheme that investigates
both the process of teaching,
learning and clarification and the social processes that take place within bulletin
boards.
- Present medical professionals with a random sample of the
information exchanged among
bulletin board users to assess the credibility of bulletin boards as an
environment for learning.
THE PROGRAM FOR
EDUCATIONAL
TRANSFORMATION
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY (PETTT)
TRANSFORMATION
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY (PETTT)
PETTT seeks to enhance the effectiveness
of the University
of Washington's faculty and thus of the institution itself, by
creating a campus framework to promote the thoughtful
exploration, development, assessment, and dissemination of
next-generation technologies and strategies for teaching and
learning. Source: www.depts.washington.edu
of Washington's faculty and thus of the institution itself, by
creating a campus framework to promote the thoughtful
exploration, development, assessment, and dissemination of
next-generation technologies and strategies for teaching and
learning. Source: www.depts.washington.edu
EXEMPLAR
PROJECTS
PETTT uses ongoing exemplar projects as testbeds to drive a
continuous process of exploration, development, assessment,
and deployment of next generation technologies and
strategies for teaching and learning. Source: PETTT proposal
PETTT uses ongoing exemplar projects as testbeds to drive a
continuous process of exploration, development, assessment,
and deployment of next generation technologies and
strategies for teaching and learning. Source: PETTT proposal
A CURRENT
EXEMPLAR:
THE ARTHRITIS SOURCE
An educational website created by Dr. Rick Matsen, Chair of
the Dept. of Orthopaedics at the UW medical center. An
interactive resource with information on arthritic conditions,
their treatment, and how patients can make the most of their
lives. URL: www.orthop.washington.edu/Arthriti/
THE ARTHRITIS SOURCE
An educational website created by Dr. Rick Matsen, Chair of
the Dept. of Orthopaedics at the UW medical center. An
interactive resource with information on arthritic conditions,
their treatment, and how patients can make the most of their
lives. URL: www.orthop.washington.edu/Arthriti/
A DIFFERENT
KIND OF LEARNER
Users of the Arthritis Source are not typical of those found
in the educational literature. In contrast to the needs and
characteristics of learners studying traditional topics in
traditional ways, the needs and characteristics of these
users are less clear to the educational designer. For this
reason, it is difficult to design the website to suit these
geographically dispersed and diverse learners.
Users of the Arthritis Source are not typical of those found
in the educational literature. In contrast to the needs and
characteristics of learners studying traditional topics in
traditional ways, the needs and characteristics of these
users are less clear to the educational designer. For this
reason, it is difficult to design the website to suit these
geographically dispersed and diverse learners.
METHODS OF INVESTIGATING USER
NEEDS AND CHARACTERISTICS
NEEDS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The PETTT research team is using a variety of
research methods to better understand the
interaction between learners, their tasks, and
the information provided by the Arthritis Source.
research methods to better understand the
interaction between learners, their tasks, and
the information provided by the Arthritis Source.
Interview with the Site’s Creator
- A
structured interview with Rick Matsen.
- Goal:
Understand the designer’s assumptionsabout users of the Arthritis Source.
Log File Analysis
- An
analysis of the computerized records automatically
created
as users visit the Arthritis Source.
- Goal:
Determine patterns in how users “hit” (interact
with)
the Arthritis Source’s pages.
Kiosk Observations
-
Observations of users at UW Bone and Joint Clinic.
- Goal:
Gain insight by watching actual users
interact
with the Arthritis Source kiosk.
Literature Review
- A
search of medical literature on arthritis patients.
- Goal:
Discover what other researchers learned have
about arthritis patients’ needs and characteristics.
Direct Email Contact
with Users
- An email account for the Arthritis Source.
- Goal:
Get feedback on whatever information users
want to
provide, including problems with the site.
Interview
with Hotline Operator
- An
interview with an Arthritis Foundation patient
information hotline operator.
- Goal:
Learn about common questions that arthritis
patients
ask when looking for “just in time”
information.
Online Survey
- An
online survey of Arthritis Source users.
- Goal:
Gather direct data on users and theirtasks.
Bulletin Board
Content Analysis
- See next column.
Analyzing the Needs and
Characteristics of Learners on the World Wide Web