Evaluation of People, Social, and Organizational Issues - Sociotechnical Ethnographic Evaluation.

Abstract

Sociotechnical approaches are grounded in theory and evidence-based. They are useful for evaluations involving health information technologies. This contribution begins with an overview of sociotechnical theory and ethnography. These theories concern interactions between technology, its use, people who use or are affected by it, and their organizational and societal situations. Then the contribution discusses planning and designing evaluations, including frameworks and models to focus an evaluation, and methodological considerations for conducting it. Next, ethical issues and further challenges and opportunities are taken up. Concluding case examples, referenced throughout, illustrate how good evaluations provide useful results to help design, implement, and use health information technologies effectively.