Developing eResearch:Developing eResearch:Challenges and Possibilities for the Challenges and Possibilities for the
Social SciencesSocial Sciences
APANZ ConferenceAPANZ Conference
Queenstown August 4-8Queenstown August 4-8thth 2008 2008
David ThornsSchool of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Canterbury
E research a new paradigm?E research a new paradigm?
““e science is a dream about the future”- e science is a dream about the future”- collaborative environment of exchange to collaborative environment of exchange to enhance our ability to create new forms of enhance our ability to create new forms of knowledgeknowledge
Requires new “infrastructure to combine Requires new “infrastructure to combine people and technologiespeople and technologies
Challenges traditional practicesChallenges traditional practices ““dream and reality of experiencedream and reality of experience
Creating the National Social Creating the National Social Science Network (BRCSS) 2004-9Science Network (BRCSS) 2004-9
ObjectivesObjectives– Create new research teams and connections and forms Create new research teams and connections and forms
of collaborationof collaboration– Add value to the Research PlatformAdd value to the Research Platform– Strengthen collaborationStrengthen collaboration– Build Maori, Pasifica and New Settler research networks Build Maori, Pasifica and New Settler research networks – Create new research linkages break down silosCreate new research linkages break down silos– Encourage interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary social Encourage interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary social
sciencescience– Strengthen post graduate connectivityStrengthen post graduate connectivity
In the beginning…collaborating looselyIn the beginning…collaborating loosely
Family Centre for Social Policy
Network of Funded Research Programmes
BRCSS
Other Funders
Post Docs
National Networking - From Vision to National Networking - From Vision to Outcomes – creating connectivityOutcomes – creating connectivity
Socio technological network participants communicating
via technology
Problem Limited funds
for connecting widely geographically distributed population
Solution Deploy Grid and other innovative Computer Mediated Communication systems-
ACCESS GRID and AVC’s
Technological network communication infrastructue
Outcome creation of new networks
NetworkNetworkinging Links Links: the ‘techies’ version: the ‘techies’ version
CityLink Auckland VectorNorth Shore
10Gb
10Gb
Forest ResearchRotorua
Innovation Waikato
10Gb
10Gb
TCL POP Napier 10Gb
Hawkes Bay ResearchCentre
Havelock North10Gb
10Gb
Inspire.NetPalmerston North
10Gb
Massey UniversityPalmerston North
10GbCityLink
Wellington 10Gb GNS Lower Hutt
10Gb
10Gb
TCL POPNelson
10Gb
10GbCanterbury University
10Gb 10Gb
10Gb AgResearchInvermay
= Nortel DWDM Connection
= Fibre Connection
10Gb
10Gb
Hort ResearchMount Albert
CityLinkWellington
= Fibre Patch Lead
REANNZ Physical Network DiagramVersion 1_1
30th December 2005
Lincoln University
Otago University
10Gb
VectorNorth Shore
Networking Networking LinksLinks: “big pipes” : “big pipes”
Networking links: “pipes and ports”Networking links: “pipes and ports”http://www.karen.net.nz/home/http://www.karen.net.nz/home/
Networking links: working researchNetworking links: working research
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Family Centre
Number of Access Grid Seminars 2007
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Jan-
07
Feb-0
7
Mar
-07
Apr-0
7
May
-07
Jun-
07
Jul-0
7
Aug-0
7
Sep-0
7
Oct-07
Nov-07
Dec-07
Month
Nu
mb
er o
f S
essi
on
s
Access Grid Bookings: Session Purpose January - June 2008
13%
16%
36%
1%
21%13%
Meeting
AG Testing
Seminar
Presentation
Course / Teaching
Not Defined
Number of Access Grid Bookings for the period January - June 2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
January February March April May June
Month
Nu
mb
er
of
Bo
ok
ing
s
Advantages of AGsAdvantages of AGs
Allow participants to simultaneously share Allow participants to simultaneously share resources such as presentations, video resources such as presentations, video clips, slide shows, shared whiteboardclips, slide shows, shared whiteboard
Allow group to group meetings/discussionsAllow group to group meetings/discussions Through multicasting allow many to many Through multicasting allow many to many
communication – number of sites can be communication – number of sites can be considerable – constrained by physical considerable – constrained by physical room location and ability to cope with room location and ability to cope with multiple streamsmultiple streams
Reflecting and Researching on the use Reflecting and Researching on the use of the Access Gridof the Access Grid
Researching to understand how the new medium Researching to understand how the new medium works.works.
Does it create new ways of collaborating?Does it create new ways of collaborating?
– Is it the same as or different from face to face Is it the same as or different from face to face forms of communicationforms of communication
– What forms of collaboration does it What forms of collaboration does it encourage/enable?encourage/enable?
Research MethodologyResearch Methodology
Grounded approachGrounded approach Observations leading to development of Observations leading to development of
themesthemes Web survey of participants in sessionsWeb survey of participants in sessions Recording sessions and annotating testing Recording sessions and annotating testing
middleware – Memetic and DRSmiddleware – Memetic and DRS
What was learntWhat was learntCollaborationCollaboration
Defined as meeting with other researchers and colleagues Defined as meeting with other researchers and colleagues in order to exchange ideas and informationin order to exchange ideas and information
AG seen to benefit collaborative projects – with AG seen to benefit collaborative projects – with researchers who were spatially dispersedresearchers who were spatially dispersed
A very good way to meet, discuss, work with colleagues A very good way to meet, discuss, work with colleagues across the nation. ……… you pop into a local room and across the nation. ……… you pop into a local room and connect up to people many miles away”.connect up to people many miles away”.
““An opportunity to participate and see what other An opportunity to participate and see what other research is happening in New Zealand. An opportunity to research is happening in New Zealand. An opportunity to see and communicate with fellow colleagues in other see and communicate with fellow colleagues in other Universities.”Universities.”
The potential for simultaneous connection and The potential for simultaneous connection and collaboration across geographical space and time zones is collaboration across geographical space and time zones is immense. In a country as geographically remote as ours immense. In a country as geographically remote as ours the Access Grid promises to be a conduit for being able to the Access Grid promises to be a conduit for being able to attend and present papers at conferences virtually”attend and present papers at conferences virtually”
What we learntWhat we learntSimulation/Non Simulation of Face to Face InteractionSimulation/Non Simulation of Face to Face Interaction
Support for the statement that it is possible to participate in an Support for the statement that it is possible to participate in an AG session as you would in a face to face – importance of ability to AG session as you would in a face to face – importance of ability to see participants body language and reactions – facial cuessee participants body language and reactions – facial cues
Better than in a meeting because you feel as if the person is Better than in a meeting because you feel as if the person is talking directly to you ... so better visuals and it 'feels' more talking directly to you ... so better visuals and it 'feels' more personal”personal”
““The face-to face environment is highly significant, permitting The face-to face environment is highly significant, permitting multiple readings of presentations and self. It is much more multiple readings of presentations and self. It is much more effective than written or email communications, or telephone, or effective than written or email communications, or telephone, or even video conferencing that is normally limited in participants. It even video conferencing that is normally limited in participants. It does require some adaptation to multiple sites and participants, does require some adaptation to multiple sites and participants, but is very worthwhile.”but is very worthwhile.”
““We feel free to look bored, whereas [in] f2f we would feel obliged We feel free to look bored, whereas [in] f2f we would feel obliged to pay more attention”to pay more attention”
The interaction between physically distant researchers, free The interaction between physically distant researchers, free ranging ideas of participants, self-monitoring, local ideas and ranging ideas of participants, self-monitoring, local ideas and academics discussing local needs in international contexts, finding academics discussing local needs in international contexts, finding out unexpected new knowledge from disciplinary experts, the out unexpected new knowledge from disciplinary experts, the informality of exchangeinformality of exchange
What we learnt-ProtocolsWhat we learnt-Protocols
Issues that arose here were facilitation and chairing of sessionsIssues that arose here were facilitation and chairing of sessions Co-ordinating multiple sites and large groups of peopleCo-ordinating multiple sites and large groups of people Issue of whether nodes should see themselves – who and how do Issue of whether nodes should see themselves – who and how do
they feel “part of the group”they feel “part of the group” Requiring a different interactive style formal rather than Requiring a different interactive style formal rather than
spontaneousspontaneous All sessions need an active facilitator All sessions need an active facilitator [sic] [sic] who tells people at the who tells people at the
beginningbeginning [sic] [sic] how to participate in that environment- hand up for how to participate in that environment- hand up for signal to talk, wait till you are asked to speak to avoid speaking signal to talk, wait till you are asked to speak to avoid speaking over the top, pause and make time for others who have not over the top, pause and make time for others who have not spoken.spoken.
Socio Technical SpacesSocio Technical Spaces
Talking to a wall rather than people Talking to a wall rather than people large number of screens for some confusing large number of screens for some confusing Dependency on technicians positive and negative featuresDependency on technicians positive and negative features Too dependent on expertise of technical person present. They can Too dependent on expertise of technical person present. They can
spend their time re-arranging the pictures from each site all over spend their time re-arranging the pictures from each site all over the screen, while the participants have to try and make out what the screen, while the participants have to try and make out what site in particular has gone where now!site in particular has gone where now!
Degree of comfort with the technology influenced view of AG as medium Degree of comfort with the technology influenced view of AG as medium of communicationof communication
When the technology is working well you forget that you are not in When the technology is working well you forget that you are not in the immediate presence of othersthe immediate presence of others
What other technologies that had tried/were familiar with importantWhat other technologies that had tried/were familiar with important Once you’re used to the set up asking a question is no more or Once you’re used to the set up asking a question is no more or
less difficult than in a face-to-face meeting providing the less difficult than in a face-to-face meeting providing the technology is working on the day.technology is working on the day.
E E SocialSocial Science Development Science Development Part of broader E research agenda – focused on Part of broader E research agenda – focused on
building the infrastructure for the next generation of building the infrastructure for the next generation of scientific advancescientific advance
US Cyber infrastructure development NSG priorityUS Cyber infrastructure development NSG priority ESFRI – European Strategy Forum on Research ESFRI – European Strategy Forum on Research
InfrastructuresInfrastructures UK ESRC E Science 2000 and E Social Science 2004UK ESRC E Science 2000 and E Social Science 2004 UK NCESS established 2004 – funding review and UK NCESS established 2004 – funding review and
extended now to 2014extended now to 2014 Based on model of funding a Centre/Core activity Based on model of funding a Centre/Core activity
and then creating a series of linked projectsand then creating a series of linked projects NZ KAREN and the possibilities created – Road map NZ KAREN and the possibilities created – Road map
for future development – includes Social Science – for future development – includes Social Science – BRCSS key component as is NZSSDSBRCSS key component as is NZSSDS
Access to more data, greater opportunities to share Access to more data, greater opportunities to share data and forms of collaboration across distancedata and forms of collaboration across distance
Coordinationand
collaboration
Access and securityData
Management
High performance
computing
Networking
VRE’s
Emerging Agenda of E Social Science
BRCSS and E Social Science
Coordination and
communication infrastructure
BRCSSAG and AVC
BRCSS Networks
Extending
collaboration
BestGridNZSSDS and
NZSSN
BRCSS VRE’s
Building a sustainable infrastructure for Global and National development
Sustainable Infrastructure for Sustainable Infrastructure for Social ScienceSocial Science
Remote collaborative technologies offer a way of Remote collaborative technologies offer a way of creating a sustainable research practice linking creating a sustainable research practice linking across national and international boundaries.across national and international boundaries.
Developing further these technologies and Developing further these technologies and providing the necessary infrastructure critical to providing the necessary infrastructure critical to maintaining the momentum that has now been maintaining the momentum that has now been createdcreated
Web sitesWeb sites http://avcc.karen.net.nz/wiki/About_AVCChttp://avcc.karen.net.nz/wiki/About_AVCC
http://www.brcss.net/http://www.brcss.net/http://www.ssrc.canterbury.ac.nz/about/e_social_science.shtmlhttp://www.ssrc.canterbury.ac.nz/about/e_social_science.shtml