Making HCI theory work: an analysis of the use of activity theory in HCI research

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a study of the use of activity theory in human–computer interaction (HCI) research. We analyse activity theory in HCI since its first appearance about 25 years ago. Through an analysis and meta-synthesis of 109 selected HCI activity theory papers, we created a taxonomy of 5 different ways of using activity theory: (1) analysing unique features, principles, and problematic aspects of the theory; (2) identifying domain-specific requirements for new theoretical tools; (3) developing new conceptual accounts of issues in the field of HCI; (4) guiding and supporting empirical analyses of HCI phenomena; and (5) providing new design illustrations, claims, and guidelines. We conclude that HCI researchers are not only users of imported theory, but also theory-makers who adapt and develop theory for different purposes.

KEYWORDS:

• HCI theory
• activity theory
• theory use

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 In this paper, we do not account for the developments that led to AT being accepted in the West, nor do we discuss potential epistemological and ontological issues related to this process. A discussion of these issues can be found, for instance, in Wertsch (1981), Kozulin (1984), Cole and Werstch (1986), Cole (1996), and Kaptelinin and Nardi (2006).