Serial Hanging Out: Rapid Ethnographic Needs Assessment in Rural Settings

Jaspal S. Sandhu; P. Altankhuyag; D. Amarsaikhan

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73105-4_68

International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

HCI 2007: Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction Design and Usability pp 614-623

Serial Hanging Out: Rapid Ethnographic Needs Assessment in Rural Settings

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Jaspal S. Sandhu
P. Altankhuyag
D. Amarsaikhan

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Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, volume 4550)

Abstract

This paper presents an ethnographic method for assessing user needs in designing for rural settings. “Serial Hanging Out” consists of short-term participant observation with multiple, independent informants. The method is characterized by: (1) its short-term nature, (2) the use of participant observation supported by specific field techniques, and (3) the emphasis on user needs for design. It is discussed in relation to similar methodological work in associated fields. To ground the discussion, the method is presented in the context of ongoing work to develop improved information systems to support rural health workers in Mongolia.

Keywords

participant observation ethnography design qualitative methods user needs rural Mongolia

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Authors and Affiliations

Jaspal S. Sandhu
- 1
P. Altankhuyag
- 2
D. Amarsaikhan
- 3

1.College of Engineering, University of California, BerkeleyUSA
2.Asian Development Bank, Ministry of HealthMongolia
3.Postgraduate Institute, Health Sciences University of Mongolia

About this paper

Cite this paper as:: Sandhu J.S., Altankhuyag P., Amarsaikhan D. (2007) Serial Hanging Out: Rapid Ethnographic Needs Assessment in Rural Settings. In: Jacko J.A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction Design and Usability. HCI 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4550. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73105-4_68
Publisher Name Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN 978-3-540-73104-7
Online ISBN 978-3-540-73105-4
eBook Packages Computer Science

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Serial Hanging Out: Rapid Ethnographic Needs Assessment in Rural Settings

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