Exploring the use of interactive information systems in academic research: borrowing from the ethnographic tradition

This paper describes the methodological developments in two linked research projects con­ cerned with the use of interactive information systems in academic research. The first project, funded by the King's College Research Strategy Fund, was a short-term (one year) exploration of issues concerned with researching this area, with the prime aim of developing a methodological framework. The subsequent project, funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre, developed and refined the frame­ work developed in the exploratory study. The resulting methodology is a hybrid approach which borrows very heavily from the ethnographic tradition. Research techniques common in other areas of research, e.g. concept mapping, and purpose designed techniques have been used to augment the ethnographic approach.