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Abstract
In Spring 2016 the University of York launched a research project to better understand academic staff. Ambitiously titled ‘Understanding Academics’ the project centred around the use of specific ethnographic methodologies and in particular two UX techniques: cognitive mapping followed by semi-structured interviews. The use of UX methodologies put the academics at the centre of the interviews, focussing on what they wanted to talk about rather than working through a pre-determined set of questions. Following the interviews, a five-stage methodology for managing and analysing the research data was developed. Ultimately, the research has led to a number of key outcomes: a set of ‘quick wins’; a set of longer-term practical recommendations; an evidence-based synthesis which seeks to define and explain academic life and understand the key motivations, frustrations and aspirations for academics; and finally an analysis of the key themes from the interview data.
Notes
1 Lanclos, D. M. (Citation2016). Ethnographic approaches to the practices of scholarly communication: tackling the mess of academia. Insights, 29(3), p 239.
2 Wolff-Eisenberg, C., Rod, A. B., & Schonfeld, R. C. (15 June Citation2016). UK Survey of Academics 2015: Ithaka S + R | Jisc | RLUK. Retrieved from Ithaka S + R website http://www.sr.ithaka.org/publications/uk-survey-of-academics-2015/
3 Including Adams (Citation1998), Bazar (2006), Boyd, P. and Smith, C. (Citation2016), Darabi, Macaskill, and Reidy (Citation2017)), Gregory, M. S.-J. and Lodge, J. M. (Citation2015), Hoffman, A. J. (Citation2016). For a full list please see the bibliography.
4 Priestler, A. (Citation2015, May). UXLibs: a new breed of conference. CILIP Update, p. 31.
5 For an explanation of cognitive maps and how to use them see Asher, A., Miller, S. (Citation2011). So You Want to Do Anthropology in Your Library? or A Practical Guide to Ethnographic Research in Academic Libraries. The Erial Project. Retrived from http://www.erialproject.org/publications/toolkit/
6 All departments were included with the exception of the Hull York Medical School (HYMS)
7 Beer, D. (2017). Writing in the Library: some brief reflections on an evocative writing space. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@davidgbeer/writing-in-the-library-9222ef73753f