Communicative Ecology - Associated Research Approaches and Methods

Associated Research Approaches and Methods

The study of communicative ecologies is commonly associated with a research approach known as ethnographic action research. This approach combines ethnographic methods, including participant observation and in-depth interviews, with participatory methods and action research. The ethnographic methods enable researchers to develop a rich understanding of the meanings derived from media and communication technologies. The action research methods allow the study to be located in not only communication theory, but also grassroots communication practice. In this approach, participants can act as co-investigators in cycles of inquiry, action and reflection and researchers are able to give back in a way that will develop the communicative ecology. In this way, ethnographic action research is suited to both research and project development agendas (Tacchi, 2006).

Research approaches used to date include:

• ethnographic action research (Tacchi, Hearn & Ninan, 2004;Tacchi et al., 2003) (Tacchi et al., 2007)
• participatory action research (Reason & Bradbury, 2001)
• participatory design (Greenbaum & King, 1991;Schuler & Namioka, 1993)
• network action research (Foth, 2006)

Methods related to these approaches include:

• observation
• participant observation
• field notes
• in-depth interviews
• focus groups and group interviews
• media-use diaries and other forms self-documentation
• documents and other artefacts
• content analysis
• questionnaires and surveys
• participant feedback
• cultural probes
• scenarios
• personae/archetypes
• sound mapping
• concept mapping exercises
• participatory design activities