In software visualization, but also in information visualization in general, there is a great need for evaluation of visualization metaphors. To reduce the amount of empirical studies a omputational approach has been applied successfully, e.g., to graph visualization. It is based on measurable aesthetic heuristics that are used to estimate the human perception and the processing of visualizations. This paper lays a foundation for adopting this approach to any field of information visualization by providing a method, the repertory grid technique, to identify aesthetics that are measurable, metaphor-specific, and relevant to the user in a structured and repeatable way. We identified 25 unique aesthetics and revealed that the visual appearance of the investigated visualizations is mainly influenced by the package structure whereby methods are underrepresented. These findings were used to improve existing visualizations.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka möjligheterna att använda intervjutekniken Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) som utvärderingsteknik för att utvärdera User Experience (UX) på distans. Detta gjordes genom att de föreställningar som en handledarstödd utvärdering resulterade i jämfördes med det resultat som uppnåddes genom en webbaserad variant av samma utvärdering. Studiens resultat visade på en svårighet för respondenterna i den webbaserade utvärderingen att formulera föreställningar som går att använda för analys av en produkts UX. Diskussionen pekar på en tänkbar lösning i form av förstudier som utförs med en mindre grupp av respondenter för att på detta sätt hjälpa utvärderarna att skapa sig en referensram att använda vid tolkningen av de föreställningar som sedan kan samlas in under en webbaserad utvärdering. Studien syftade även till att jämföra vilka aspekter kopplade till UX som utvärderingarna genererade, samtliga av dessa kopplades till subjektiva eller produktrelaterade aspekter.

Within user modeling there are various methods for representing targeted users. Persona for example is a user archetype which is given a face and name, and is carefully described in terms of goals, needs, and tasks (Blomquist & Arvola, 2002). Personas are widely used, but have been criticized for often not being based on empirical data (McGinn & Kotamraju, 2008). In this thesis I explore the use of the Repertory grid technique (RGT) in a user modeling context, an approach deriving from George Kelly’s (1955) Personal construct theory, which elicits both idiographic (i.e. the subjective dimensions of one individual) and nomothetic (i.e. a populations behaviours and traits) empirical data from individuals by analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. Furthermore, the possibilities and difficulties that the RGT offers in the context of user modeling are investigated. An online survey is crowdsourced (n = 28) containing five vignettes which are based on structured interviews and are used to elicit the participant’s personal constructs. The results are presented in the form of bertin plots and a biplot along with the Importance (the order of a constructs elicitation), and Dominance (the relative elicitation percentage of a construct) measures. The results suggest that the technique employed could be used in a number of user modelling processes. The weaknesses of RGT when done remotely in a user modelling context are also discussed.

The aim of this thesis is to compare two different interface approaches for pervasive gameswith a focus on immersion. We designed and created two small pervasive games and implemented bothon two different platforms; smartphone and wearable device. We created four pervasive gameprototypes which we tested with a group of fourteen testers. We subsequently conducted interviewsusing the Repertory Grid Technique. The findings suggest that our testers appreciated wearable devicesmore than smartphones in the context of immersion, while they identified characteristics theyassociated with each platform; Smartphones were considered familiar, inconspicuous, casual but notvery exciting. Wearables were considered a new experience and fun but also strange and attention-drawing.

To help organizations better understand and improve the management of information systems development (ISD) projects, this dissertation aims to understand what ISD project knowledge and beliefs ISD professionals work with and how the knowledge and beliefs are organized in their minds. Drawing on the cognitive perspective using a mental model approach, I define a new construct, ISD Project (ISDP) mental model, which refers to ISD professionals’ knowledge and belief structures that help them understand, conduct, and manage ISD projects. Particularly, two essential elements of ISDP mental models - content and structure – were explored. Regarding the content, forty fundamental concepts were derived from literature reviews and cognitive interviews with 19 ISD experts. Analysis of 95 ISD professionals’ cognitive responses using Multidimensional Scaling revealed four types of evaluative beliefs - customer-, team-, enterprise-, and product-oriented beliefs. This new construct, along with its assessment procedures, provides a useful starting point for academics and organizations to explore the people factor in ISD. To investigate the impact of ISDP mental models, I examined work relationships between project managers and developers where effective work relationships are crucial to project success. Specifically, I explored how the similarity of mental models and an understanding of others’ mental models influence work relationships. Through a multiple case study on 6 project manager-developer pairs in different case conditions (i.e., similarity of mental models x accuracy of understanding), the results provide preliminary support that the project manager-developer pairs who hold accurate understanding have more effective implicit coordination - they are sensitive to one another’s knowledge, beliefs, and preferences and they adjust their task and interpersonal coordination accordingly. Accurate understanding also stimulates the process of knowledge integration in which the dyad builds upon one another’s knowledge to resolve project challenges. This dissertation contributes to the literature on ISD project management by capturing the organization of ISDP knowledge in ISD professionals’ minds and identifying underlying beliefs. Furthermore, it contributes to an understanding of how project managers and developers can coordinate effectively when they have high cross-understanding, despite dissimilarities of knowledge and beliefs. / Thesis (Ph.D, Management) -- Queen's University, 2014-04-17 11:18:07.356

In software visualization, but also in information visualization in general, there is a great need for evaluation of visualization metaphors. To reduce the amount of empirical studies a omputational approach has been applied successfully, e.g., to graph visualization. It is based on measurable aesthetic heuristics that are used to estimate the human perception and the processing of visualizations. This paper lays a foundation for adopting this approach to any field of information visualization by providing a method, the repertory grid technique, to identify aesthetics that are measurable, metaphor-specific, and relevant to the user in a structured and repeatable way. We identified 25 unique aesthetics and revealed that the visual appearance of the investigated visualizations is mainly influenced by the package structure whereby methods are underrepresented. These findings were used to improve existing visualizations.

The increasing number of travelers in urban areas has led to new opportunities for local government and private mobility providers to offer new travel modes besides and in addition to traditional ones. Multimodal travel provides an especially promising opportunity. However, until now the underlying reasons why consumers choose specific alternatives have not been fully understood. Hence, the design of new travel modes is mainly driven by obvious criteria such as environmental friendliness and convenience but might not consider consumers’ real or latent needs. To close this research gap, sixty in-depth interviews with urban travelers were conducted. To identify the perceptual differences of customers among different travel modes, the repertory grid technique as an innovative, structured interview method was applied. Our data show that urban travelers distinguish and select travel alternatives based on 28 perceptual determinants. While some determinants associated with private cars such as privacy, flexibility and autonomy are key indicators of travel mode choice, costs and time efficiency also play a major role. Furthermore, by comparing travel modes to an ideal category, we reveal that some perceptual determinants do not need to be maximized in order to fulfill customer needs optimally. A comparison of consumers’ perceptual assessments of alternative travel modes identifies specific advantages and disadvantages of all alternatives, and provides fruitful implications for government and private mobility providers.

Landau, Univ., Abt. Landau, Diss.--Koblenz, 2002. / Literaturverz. S. XV - XXXVIII.

The aim of this research was to develop a competency model for auditors by identifying those characteristics and behaviours that predict success as an auditor. The Work Profiling System (WPS), the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) were the tools and techniques used to achieve this aim. This research was conducted in two groups: trainee accountants (year 1- 3) and chartered accountants (year 4-5+). The results of the research, which was conducted within one of the Big 5 auditing firms, indicated that the competencies required of a trainee accountant are largely consistent with those of registered chartered accountants, working in the same environment. The most noticeable difference was the change in focus from cognitive or technical skills during the earty years to a focus on managerial competencies in later years. The competencies identified in this research compare well with reported models in literature. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

The aim of this research was to develop a competency model for auditors by identifying those characteristics and behaviours that predict success as an auditor. The Work Profiling System (WPS), the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) were the tools and techniques used to achieve this aim. This research was conducted in two groups: trainee accountants (year 1- 3) and chartered accountants (year 4-5+). The results of the research, which was conducted within one of the Big 5 auditing firms, indicated that the competencies required of a trainee accountant are largely consistent with those of registered chartered accountants, working in the same environment. The most noticeable difference was the change in focus from cognitive or technical skills during the earty years to a focus on managerial competencies in later years. The competencies identified in this research compare well with reported models in literature. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)