The Lead Question
How do Japanese people interact with foreign objects compared to British people?
I am using a small wooden object as my case study material, one of which will be taken to two English individuals, and to two Japanese individuals. The participants can then give their views on what they’d do with that object in certain spaces such as work environments, homes or public areas. A similar questionnaire will be formulated for internet forums to get broader results from cultures actually living in Japan and Britain. Once all these results are in and my primary research is complete, I will then analyze the results and come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of my case study. Also, I will evaluate any problems that arise and create solutions for improving my methodology.
My reason for looking into this is my fascination for the Japanese culture and its traditions. I want to find out more about their way of life and how they interact with day to day objects. Comparing with my culture makes an interesting experiment for the reader and to me. To find any differences, subtle or broad is really intriguing and I cannot wait to study my findings. Also that I hope to live in Japan, this will be an invaluable experience for myself and hopefully widen the readers eyes to the possible varieties there are in interaction design.
I want to base this in the London area as after many thought processes, I decided against the idea of actually getting interviews with someone based in Japan. Even though using media devices to interact with them individuals and the purity of having someone from the very place I wish to document, the language barrier was too much of a risk and time consuming for a project so important for my degree.
The Research Strategy
Firstly, I will use prototyping to find the best design of a wooden object. I will use the same object with all my primary resources so that the results are made fair. Then I will send out emails or call potential applicants and ask them to participate in a questionnaire and interview at their convenience. Possible areas I could look into are the Japanese embassy for some unique results and either my relatives or British communities for research subjects. These will all be organized at the end of July, after my research so I can be prepared for historical and cultural questions I may want to ask.
Research will be a case of studying Japanese and British history, modern and pass cultures, beliefs, connections and what is interaction design. My strategy for this will be to bullet point the structure of the dissertation, then narrow them down into sub chapters and then again into paragraphs. With bullet points for each paragraph, I can research into those areas and have a strong, believable case. I’m positive there will be additions added to these and possible replacements of something I find more important to state. I will search back hundred years on the history of the two countries but it may be necessary to relate further back in case I come across possible important facts that I need to refer to.
Once research on British and Japanese history, culture and interaction design are completed, I will begin my case studies and conclude my findings. Find possible consistencies and differences that may give surprising results. I hope to find interesting facts on the past and present that can influence my questionnaires and knowledge throughout the next few months.
Possible Research
• Simplicity: A Distinctive Quality of Japanese Spirituality by John T. Brinkman
• The Essence of Shinto: Japan’s Spiritual Heart by Motohisa Yamakage
• The Art of Japanese Paper by Dominique Buisson
Prediction
• Response from all four primary resources with arranged dates and times for an interview.
• There will be significant differences in how the primary resources approach the objects, which will insinuate a clear difference in culture between Britain and Japan.
• Same will apply to online questionnaires that there will be significant differences in results and possible patterns with each culture.
Results
I hope to find out, using this wooden object, if there is any difference in behaviour and creativity between the participants of Japan and Britain. Also not to only give myself a clear understanding of British and Japanese history, culture and behaviour but also give the reader an intriguing and creditable insight into what is another aspect of interaction design.
Chapters
Introduction
History
• Japanese Past
• British Past
• Modern Japanese
• Modern Britain
Culture
• Past Japanese Culture
• Past British Culture
• Modern Japanese Culture
• Modern British Culture
Interaction
• What is Interaction design
• Why Interaction design
• History of Interaction design
• Observations
• Interviews
Case Studies
• First Japanese Case Study
• First British Case Study
Case Studies
• Second Japanese Case Study
• Second British Case Study
Conclusion
Progress map
June
• Write introduction
• Japanese history (500 words)
• British history (500 words)
• Questionnaire for forum and interview use
July
• Japanese culture (500 words)
• British culture (500 words)
• Complete questionnaire’s
• Arrange interviews
August
• Proceed with interviews
• Interaction research (1000 words)
September
• Expand research into full paragraphs
• Add and fine tune additional content
• First two case studies (1750 words)
October
• Second two case studies (1750 words)
• Conclusion
November
• Fine tune
• Print
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