Developing eResearch:Developing eResearch:Challenges and Possibilities for the Challenges and Possibilities for the

Social SciencesSocial Sciences

APANZ ConferenceAPANZ Conference

Queenstown August 4-8Queenstown August 4-8thth 2008 2008

David ThornsSchool of Sociology and Anthropology

University of Canterbury

E research a new paradigm?E research a new paradigm?

““e science is a dream about the future”- e science is a dream about the future”- collaborative environment of exchange to collaborative environment of exchange to enhance our ability to create new forms of enhance our ability to create new forms of knowledgeknowledge

Requires new “infrastructure to combine Requires new “infrastructure to combine people and technologiespeople and technologies

Challenges traditional practicesChallenges traditional practices ““dream and reality of experiencedream and reality of experience

Creating the National Social Creating the National Social Science Network (BRCSS) 2004-9Science Network (BRCSS) 2004-9

ObjectivesObjectives– Create new research teams and connections and forms Create new research teams and connections and forms

of collaborationof collaboration– Add value to the Research PlatformAdd value to the Research Platform– Strengthen collaborationStrengthen collaboration– Build Maori, Pasifica and New Settler research networks Build Maori, Pasifica and New Settler research networks – Create new research linkages break down silosCreate new research linkages break down silos– Encourage interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary social Encourage interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary social

sciencescience– Strengthen post graduate connectivityStrengthen post graduate connectivity

In the beginning…collaborating looselyIn the beginning…collaborating loosely

Family Centre for Social Policy

Network of Funded Research Programmes

BRCSS

Other Funders

Post Docs

National Networking - From Vision to National Networking - From Vision to Outcomes – creating connectivityOutcomes – creating connectivity

Socio technological network participants communicating

via technology

Problem Limited funds

for connecting widely geographically distributed population

Solution Deploy Grid and other innovative Computer Mediated Communication systems-

ACCESS GRID and AVC’s

Technological network communication infrastructue

Outcome creation of new networks

NetworkNetworkinging Links Links: the ‘techies’ version: the ‘techies’ version

CityLink Auckland VectorNorth Shore

10Gb

10Gb

Forest ResearchRotorua

Innovation Waikato

10Gb

10Gb

TCL POP Napier 10Gb

Hawkes Bay ResearchCentre

Havelock North10Gb

10Gb

Inspire.NetPalmerston North

10Gb

Massey UniversityPalmerston North

10GbCityLink

Wellington 10Gb GNS Lower Hutt

10Gb

10Gb

TCL POPNelson

10Gb

10GbCanterbury University

10Gb 10Gb

10Gb AgResearchInvermay

= Nortel DWDM Connection

= Fibre Connection

10Gb

10Gb

Hort ResearchMount Albert

CityLinkWellington

= Fibre Patch Lead

REANNZ Physical Network DiagramVersion 1_1

30th December 2005

Lincoln University

Otago University

10Gb

VectorNorth Shore

Networking Networking LinksLinks: “big pipes” : “big pipes”

Networking links: “pipes and ports”Networking links: “pipes and ports”http://www.karen.net.nz/home/http://www.karen.net.nz/home/

Networking links: working researchNetworking links: working research

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Family Centre

Number of Access Grid Seminars 2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Jan-

07

Feb-0

7

Mar

-07

Apr-0

7

May

-07

Jun-

07

Jul-0

7

Aug-0

7

Sep-0

7

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Month

Nu

mb

er o

f S

essi

on

s

Access Grid Bookings: Session Purpose January - June 2008

13%

16%

36%

1%

21%13%

Meeting

AG Testing

Seminar

Presentation

Course / Teaching

Not Defined

Number of Access Grid Bookings for the period January - June 2008

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

January February March April May June

Month

Nu

mb

er

of

Bo

ok

ing

s

Advantages of AGsAdvantages of AGs

Allow participants to simultaneously share Allow participants to simultaneously share resources such as presentations, video resources such as presentations, video clips, slide shows, shared whiteboardclips, slide shows, shared whiteboard

Allow group to group meetings/discussionsAllow group to group meetings/discussions Through multicasting allow many to many Through multicasting allow many to many

communication – number of sites can be communication – number of sites can be considerable – constrained by physical considerable – constrained by physical room location and ability to cope with room location and ability to cope with multiple streamsmultiple streams

Reflecting and Researching on the use Reflecting and Researching on the use of the Access Gridof the Access Grid

Researching to understand how the new medium Researching to understand how the new medium works.works.

Does it create new ways of collaborating?Does it create new ways of collaborating?

– Is it the same as or different from face to face Is it the same as or different from face to face forms of communicationforms of communication

– What forms of collaboration does it What forms of collaboration does it encourage/enable?encourage/enable?

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology

Grounded approachGrounded approach Observations leading to development of Observations leading to development of

themesthemes Web survey of participants in sessionsWeb survey of participants in sessions Recording sessions and annotating testing Recording sessions and annotating testing

middleware – Memetic and DRSmiddleware – Memetic and DRS

What was learntWhat was learntCollaborationCollaboration

Defined as meeting with other researchers and colleagues Defined as meeting with other researchers and colleagues in order to exchange ideas and informationin order to exchange ideas and information

AG seen to benefit collaborative projects – with AG seen to benefit collaborative projects – with researchers who were spatially dispersedresearchers who were spatially dispersed

A very good way to meet, discuss, work with colleagues A very good way to meet, discuss, work with colleagues across the nation. ……… you pop into a local room and across the nation. ……… you pop into a local room and connect up to people many miles away”.connect up to people many miles away”.

““An opportunity to participate and see what other An opportunity to participate and see what other research is happening in New Zealand. An opportunity to research is happening in New Zealand. An opportunity to see and communicate with fellow colleagues in other see and communicate with fellow colleagues in other Universities.”Universities.”

The potential for simultaneous connection and The potential for simultaneous connection and collaboration across geographical space and time zones is collaboration across geographical space and time zones is immense. In a country as geographically remote as ours immense. In a country as geographically remote as ours the Access Grid promises to be a conduit for being able to the Access Grid promises to be a conduit for being able to attend and present papers at conferences virtually”attend and present papers at conferences virtually”

What we learntWhat we learntSimulation/Non Simulation of Face to Face InteractionSimulation/Non Simulation of Face to Face Interaction

Support for the statement that it is possible to participate in an Support for the statement that it is possible to participate in an AG session as you would in a face to face – importance of ability to AG session as you would in a face to face – importance of ability to see participants body language and reactions – facial cuessee participants body language and reactions – facial cues

Better than in a meeting because you feel as if the person is Better than in a meeting because you feel as if the person is talking directly to you ... so better visuals and it 'feels' more talking directly to you ... so better visuals and it 'feels' more personal”personal”

““The face-to face environment is highly significant, permitting The face-to face environment is highly significant, permitting multiple readings of presentations and self. It is much more multiple readings of presentations and self. It is much more effective than written or email communications, or telephone, or effective than written or email communications, or telephone, or even video conferencing that is normally limited in participants. It even video conferencing that is normally limited in participants. It does require some adaptation to multiple sites and participants, does require some adaptation to multiple sites and participants, but is very worthwhile.”but is very worthwhile.”

““We feel free to look bored, whereas [in] f2f we would feel obliged We feel free to look bored, whereas [in] f2f we would feel obliged to pay more attention”to pay more attention”

The interaction between physically distant researchers, free The interaction between physically distant researchers, free ranging ideas of participants, self-monitoring, local ideas and ranging ideas of participants, self-monitoring, local ideas and academics discussing local needs in international contexts, finding academics discussing local needs in international contexts, finding out unexpected new knowledge from disciplinary experts, the out unexpected new knowledge from disciplinary experts, the informality of exchangeinformality of exchange

What we learnt-ProtocolsWhat we learnt-Protocols

Issues that arose here were facilitation and chairing of sessionsIssues that arose here were facilitation and chairing of sessions Co-ordinating multiple sites and large groups of peopleCo-ordinating multiple sites and large groups of people Issue of whether nodes should see themselves – who and how do Issue of whether nodes should see themselves – who and how do

they feel “part of the group”they feel “part of the group” Requiring a different interactive style formal rather than Requiring a different interactive style formal rather than

spontaneousspontaneous All sessions need an active facilitator All sessions need an active facilitator [sic] [sic] who tells people at the who tells people at the

beginningbeginning [sic] [sic] how to participate in that environment- hand up for how to participate in that environment- hand up for signal to talk, wait till you are asked to speak to avoid speaking signal to talk, wait till you are asked to speak to avoid speaking over the top, pause and make time for others who have not over the top, pause and make time for others who have not spoken.spoken.

Socio Technical SpacesSocio Technical Spaces

Talking to a wall rather than people Talking to a wall rather than people large number of screens for some confusing large number of screens for some confusing Dependency on technicians positive and negative featuresDependency on technicians positive and negative features Too dependent on expertise of technical person present. They can Too dependent on expertise of technical person present. They can

spend their time re-arranging the pictures from each site all over spend their time re-arranging the pictures from each site all over the screen, while the participants have to try and make out what the screen, while the participants have to try and make out what site in particular has gone where now!site in particular has gone where now!

Degree of comfort with the technology influenced view of AG as medium Degree of comfort with the technology influenced view of AG as medium of communicationof communication

When the technology is working well you forget that you are not in When the technology is working well you forget that you are not in the immediate presence of othersthe immediate presence of others

What other technologies that had tried/were familiar with importantWhat other technologies that had tried/were familiar with important Once you’re used to the set up asking a question is no more or Once you’re used to the set up asking a question is no more or

less difficult than in a face-to-face meeting providing the less difficult than in a face-to-face meeting providing the technology is working on the day.technology is working on the day.

E E SocialSocial Science Development Science Development Part of broader E research agenda – focused on Part of broader E research agenda – focused on

building the infrastructure for the next generation of building the infrastructure for the next generation of scientific advancescientific advance

US Cyber infrastructure development NSG priorityUS Cyber infrastructure development NSG priority ESFRI – European Strategy Forum on Research ESFRI – European Strategy Forum on Research

InfrastructuresInfrastructures UK ESRC E Science 2000 and E Social Science 2004UK ESRC E Science 2000 and E Social Science 2004 UK NCESS established 2004 – funding review and UK NCESS established 2004 – funding review and

extended now to 2014extended now to 2014 Based on model of funding a Centre/Core activity Based on model of funding a Centre/Core activity

and then creating a series of linked projectsand then creating a series of linked projects NZ KAREN and the possibilities created – Road map NZ KAREN and the possibilities created – Road map

for future development – includes Social Science – for future development – includes Social Science – BRCSS key component as is NZSSDSBRCSS key component as is NZSSDS

Access to more data, greater opportunities to share Access to more data, greater opportunities to share data and forms of collaboration across distancedata and forms of collaboration across distance

Coordinationand

collaboration

Access and securityData

Management

High performance

computing

Networking

VRE’s

Emerging Agenda of E Social Science

BRCSS and E Social Science

Coordination and

communication infrastructure

BRCSSAG and AVC

BRCSS Networks

Extending

collaboration

BestGridNZSSDS and

NZSSN

BRCSS VRE’s

Building a sustainable infrastructure for Global and National development

Sustainable Infrastructure for Sustainable Infrastructure for Social ScienceSocial Science

Remote collaborative technologies offer a way of Remote collaborative technologies offer a way of creating a sustainable research practice linking creating a sustainable research practice linking across national and international boundaries.across national and international boundaries.

Developing further these technologies and Developing further these technologies and providing the necessary infrastructure critical to providing the necessary infrastructure critical to maintaining the momentum that has now been maintaining the momentum that has now been createdcreated

Web sitesWeb sites http://avcc.karen.net.nz/wiki/About_AVCChttp://avcc.karen.net.nz/wiki/About_AVCC

http://www.brcss.net/http://www.brcss.net/http://www.ssrc.canterbury.ac.nz/about/e_social_science.shtmlhttp://www.ssrc.canterbury.ac.nz/about/e_social_science.shtml