Interactive Research Artifacts as Creative Tools for Knowledge Creation

Abstract

In my doctoral programme, I aim to lay the foundations for understanding the novel impacts of interactive technologies on knowledge creation in the digital age. Specifically, I propose an ethnographic approach to understand current scholars’ conceptualizations of “interactive research artifacts.” Through this process, I will propose a definition and set of criteria for these artifacts that en- compasses the dynamic ways these technologies transform knowledge creation practices. I will consider these artifact creation practices to be creative in nature, and as such, will draw on Design Studies and work on digital creativity to bridge computation, knowledge creation, and communications literature. I will begin with a pilot conference where scholars of all disciplines will be invited to share and discuss interactive research artifacts they have created. From there, I will use ethnographically-informed case studies to explore scholars’ lived experi- ences with these artifacts. Based off these findings, I will propose a conceptu- alization of interactive research artifacts and initial design considerations. These will be examined and remoulded in co-design workshops, where, with more scholars, we will co-create design guidelines for the future creation of interac- tive research artifacts. To design for a future where interactive research artifacts become commonly used scholarly tools, an in-depth understanding of the ways these artifacts are used as knowledge creation tools is critical.