This thesis analyzes data collection tools and methods in domestic environments for smart
product development processes. The aim of the study is to create a method for supporting
data collection studies in user research of smart products at domestic environments. The
study examines the utilization of information and communication technologies in
ethnographic data collection methods at domestic environments with a qualitative
approach. Two case studies are conducted to understand and analyze the effects of
custom designed data collection tools in user research studies conducted at domestic
environments. The results of the study revealed that utilization of data collection
equipment and methods that are customized to the characteristics of aims and objectives
of user research studies, product characteristic and study participants&rsquo / own environment
might lead to the possibility to increase number of study participants and decrease
researchers&rsquo / presence in domestic environments. Additionally, it was found that, sensor
kits and internal device logs are capable of supporting user research studies for the
evaluation of products, however due to technical complexity and unpredictable contextual
factors, triangulation of data collection methods and redundancy of data collection
equipment are necessary.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613560/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 September 2011 |
| Creators | Oztoprak, Aydin |
| Contributors | Erbug, Cigdem |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Ph.D. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for METU campus |
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