Bridging:TheAppUserResearchPlan

SocialImpactandEducationalGoals
Decreasethedependenceonfacelesscommunicationwhichcausesalackofrealconnectionandinteractionwithfamilymembers
Increasemeaningfulcommunicationandinteractionamongdistantfamilymembers
Userswillfeelconnectedtootherindividualsinameaningfulway,feelingasifcomputersarenottheactivity,butthemediumthroughwhichthey
canconnecttoothers.

MostCriticalRiskstoGoals
Userswillnotproducemeaningfulreflections,causingtheinteractionsthattakeplaceinourapptobesuperficial.

GuidingResearchQuestions:
Dousersproducemeaningfulreflectionsabouttheirexperienceswithminimalprompting?
Whatkindofmedia(pictures,videos,etc)andwhatkindsofcontent(currentpictures,pastaccomplishments,etc)arepeoplemostlikelytoshare?

Thedatawecollectwillinformdesigndecisionsaboutwhetherspecificpromptsshouldbegiventofacilitatereflectionaswellasthetypeof
preloadedcontentuserswouldbemostinterestedinseeingintheapp.

ResearchPlan
Inordertoanswerourresearchquestionswewillfirstconductindividualinterviews.Duringtheseinterviews,participantswillbeaskedtoshowand
reflectonmeaningfulexperiencesinadditiontoansweringgeneralquestions.Thereflectionsproducedintheseinterviewswillthenberatedby
additionalparticipantsinordertoassesshowmeaningfultheyare.

Participants:Wewillinterviewatotalof10individuals5ofage55orolder,and5ofage2440.Theseparticipantswillownasmartphoneand/or
tablet.Allparticipantswillberandomlyselectedfromouravailablepoolofindividualswhomeettherequirementsofthestudy.Inadditiontothese
participants,10additionalparticipantswillbegivenwrittenreflectionstorate.

DataCollection:

IndividualInterviews:
Allparticipantswillbeaskedtoreflectonmediafromtheirmobiledevice.Interviewswillbefilmedsothatfurtheranalysisintowordchoice,pauses,
timetakentochooseitems,etc.canbeanalyzed.

Materials:
Videocamera
Consentform
Surveyform
Pen
Paperandwritingutensil(forparticipantiftheywishtowriteanythingtomaketheirchoices)
Participantssmartphoneand/ortablet

Protocol:
Theresearcherwillbrieflyexplainthepurposeofthestudyandwhattheparticipantwillbeaskedtodo.Theywillthengoovertheconsentformwith
theparticipantandanswerquestionsaboutthestudy.Oncetheformissigned,theresearcherwillprovidetheuserwithacopyoftheform.

Thankyousomuchforbeingwillingtoparticipateinourresearchstudy.

Weveaskedyoutobringyourtabletormobiledevicetoday.Pleasetakeouryourdeviceandmakesureitisturnedon.

Listdeviceused:

Pleaselookthroughyourphotosandvideos,choosethreeitemsfromyourdevicethatyoufeelwouldbemostmeaningfultoshare
withyourfamilymembers.Theseitemswillbeknownasartifactsfortherestofthestudy.Onceyouhavechosenyourthreeartifacts,
wewillaskyoutoreflectonthethreeitemsforusasifyouweresharingthemwithfamilymembers.

Doyouhaveanyquestionsbeforewebegin?

Answeranyquestions.Refrainfromdescribinganyspecificexamplesofartifacts(content,form,etc.)thatcouldbeshared.

Notequestionsasked:

Pleaseletmeknowwhenyouhavechosenyourthreeartifacts.

Timetakentofinditems:

Statementsmadewhilesearching:

Onceparticipantindicatesthattheyarefinished,continuewiththestudy.

FirstArtifact
Pleasepullupthefirstartifactyouhavechosen.

Pleasebrieflydescribetheitemyouhavechosen.
Recorddescription:

Typeofevent:(circle) Individual Group

Location:

WhoFeatured: (circle) Self Family Friend None

HowRecent:(circle)
PastMonth PastYear 15yrs 610yrs >10yrs

Pleasereflectonthefirstartifactyouhavechosenasoneofyourmostmeaningfulasyouwouldifyouweredescribingitsimportance
toafamilymember.

Timetakenforreflection:

Emotionalresponses:

AdditionalNotes:

Researchershouldrefrainfrommakinganyfacialexpressionsthatmayconveyanyemotiontotheparticipant.

SecondArtifact
Pleasepullupthesecondartifactyouhavechosen.

Pleasebrieflydescribetheitemyouhavechosen.
Recorddescription:

Typeofevent:(circle) Individual Group

Location:

WhoFeatured: (circle) Self Family Friend None

HowRecent:(circle)
PastMonth PastYear 15yrs 610yrs >10yrs

Pleasereflectonthesecondartifactyouhavechosenasoneofyourmostmeaningfulasyouwouldifyouweredescribingits
importancetoafamilymember.

Timetakenforreflection:

Emotionalresponses:

AdditionalNotes:

Researchershouldrefrainfrommakinganyfacialexpressionsthatmayconveyanyemotiontotheparticipant.

ThirdArtifact
Pleasepullupthefirstartifactyouhavechosen.

Pleasebrieflydescribetheitemyouhavechosen.
Recorddescription:

Typeofevent:(circle) Individual Group

Location:

WhoFeatured: (circle) Self Family Friend None

HowRecent:(circle)
PastMonth PastYear 15yrs 610yrs >10yrs

Pleasereflectonthethirdartifactyouhavechosenasoneofyourmostmeaningfulasyouwouldifyouweredescribingitsimportance
toafamilymember.

Timetakenforreflection:

Emotionalresponses:

AdditionalNotes:

Doyoufeellikeyouconversemeaningfullywithyourfamilymembersofadifferentgeneration?
RecordResponse:

Whatmakestheseconversationsmeaningful?
RecordResponse:

Arethereanyartifactsyoudliketosharewithyourfamilymembersthatarentonyourphone?
RecordResponse:

Whatdokindsofthingsdothoseartifactsshoworrelateto?
RecordResponse:

Whatformataretheyin(photo,video,film,etc.)?
RecordResponse:

Wherearetheystored?
RecordResponse:

Thankyousomuchforagreeingtoparticipateinourstudy.Pleasefeelfreetocontactuswithanyquestionsorconcernsthatyoumay
haveinthefuture.Doyouhaveanyquestionsatthistime?

Thankyouagainforyourparticipation.Haveagreatday.

TypingReflections:
Followingthecompletionoftheindividualinterviews,allofthe30reflectionswillbetranscribedfromthevideosoftheinterviews.Eachindividual
reflectionwillbeassignedanumberfrom130andwillbeprintedonindividualsheetsofpaper.Beloweachreflectionthefollowingquestionswillbe
printed:

Howmeaningfulisthisreflection?
1 2 3 4 5
Notatall Very
Meaningful Meaningful

Ifafamilymembersharedthismemorywithyou,howinterestedwouldyoube?
1 2 3 4 5
Notatall Very
Interested Interested

RatingReflections:
Materials:
Consentform
ReflectionswithRatingform
Pen

Protocol:
Theresearcherwillbrieflyexplainthepurposeofthestudyandwhattheparticipantwillbeaskedtodo.Theywillthengoovertheconsentformwith
theparticipantandanswerquestionsaboutthestudy.Oncetheformissigned,theresearcherwillprovidetheuserwithacopyoftheform.

Thankyousomuchforbeingwillingtoparticipateinourresearchstudy.

Youwillread3writtendescriptionsofmemoriesandratethemforhowmeaningfulandinterestingtheyare.

Doyouhaveanyquestionsbeforewebegin?
Answeranyquestions

Handparticipantfirstreflectionandratingform

Thisisthefirstreflection.Pleasereaditallthewaythroughandthenanswerthetwoquestions.

Allowparticipanttoreadthroughthereflectionandanswerthequestions.Whentheyhavefinishedwiththefirstreflection,givethemthesecond.

Thisisthesecondreflection.Pleasereaditallthewaythroughandthenanswerthetwoquestions.

Allowparticipanttoreadthroughthereflectionandanswerthequestions.Whentheyhavefinishedwiththefirstreflection,givethemthethird.

Thankyousomuchforagreeingtoparticipateinourstudy.Pleasefeelfreetocontactuswithanyquestionsorconcernsthatyoumay
haveinthefuture.Doyouhaveanyquestionsatthistime?

Thankyouagainforyourparticipation.Haveagreatday.

RESEARCHPARTICIPANTRELEASE

YouareinvitedtoparticipateinaresearchstudyconductedbyBridging:TheAppdesignteam.Thepurposeofthisresearchistoinformthedesignof
anappthatwillbeusedbyfamilies.

Yourparticipationwillinvolveashortinterview.Thisinterviewwillconsistofyoubeingaskedtodescribecontentfromyourtabletormobiledevice.
Thecontentwillbechosenbyyou,theparticipant,andnoothercontentwillbeexamined.Youmaychoosewhatissharedandwhatisnot.The
interviewwillberecordedonvideo.

Risksanddiscomforts

Therearenoknownrisksassociatedwiththisresearch.

Potentialbenefits

Apotentialbenefitofthisresearchisitwillhelpdevelopaframeworkthroughwhichfamiliescanmoremeaningfullycommunicate.

Protectionofconfidentiality

Thecontentsharedduringallinterviewswillremaincompletelyconfidential.Allpersonaldetails,materials,andidentifyingfeatureswillremain
confidential.Shouldthefindingsofourresearchbepublished,wewillchangethenamesofallinvolvedpartieswhendescribinganyparticipants
experiences.

Voluntaryparticipation

Yourparticipationinthisresearchstudyisvoluntary.Youmaychoosenottoparticipateandyoumaywithdrawyourconsenttoparticipateatany
time.Youwillnotbepenalizedinanywayshouldyoudecidenottoparticipateortowithdrawfromthisstudy.

Contactinformation

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsaboutthisstudyorifanyproblemsarise,pleasecontactClaireBradleyatBridging,Inc.Ifyouhaveany
questionsorconcernsaboutyourrightsasaresearchparticipant,pleasecontactPartnersHumanResearchCommittee.

Consent

Ihavereadthisconsentformandhavebeengiventheopportunitytoaskquestions.Igivemyconsenttoparticipateinthisstudy.

Participantssignature_______________________________Date:_________________

Acopyofthisconsentformshouldbegiventoyou.

adaptedfromhttps://www.quincy.edu/resources/facultyresources/Sample%20consent%20form.doc

Results

Interviews:
Weconductedinterviewswitheightindividuals,fourfromeachagegroupandfourofeachgender.

RawData

Participant# Reflection# Description Reflection

Participant1 1 Thisapictureofmysonsingingonstageduringoneof
hisshows.
Itstherepresentationofmysuccessasaparent
seeingchilddoingwhattheylovetodo,doingit
unwaveringly.Heisflourishing,andfullyengaged
alwaysdoinghisbest,wantstogetbetter,wantsto
makeothersbetter.Inthispicturethereareno
politics,nofaking,nohesitation.Also,Iguessichose
itbecausehellbetheonetopassonthefamilyname.
Itsaprecariousthing,andcouldwitheraway.
2 Thisisapictureoflettucegrowinginourgarden. Thisrepresentsabigsuccess.MywifeandIstarted
growingthisallwinteratnegativetemperatures,in
feb/march.Itgrewallwinter.Thispictureisaboutmy
wifeandIfindingacommonpassion,outsideofraising
childrenandwork.Findinganewpassionisimportant.
3 ThisisapictureofthemotelwhereMartinLutherKingJr.
wasshot.
Ihaveapersonalpassioninhistory,civilrights,justice,
andfaith.ThisisthesiteofKingsassassination.
SomeonedecidedtosavethemotelinMemphis.Now
ithasbecomeasafeplaceforblackartiststostay.
Amazingthattheykeptthebuildingupwhensomething
sohorriblehappenedtheremadeitafocusofwhat
reallyhappenedthere.Itcouldhavebeencheapened,
butitwasclassy,welldone,andimportant.Iwantto
passonthesevaluestomyfamily.
Participant2 1 Thisisaphotoofmywifeanddaughterjustlookingatthe
camerasmiling.Theyareoutsideonthedeckaweekor
twoagowhenwefinallyhadsomeniceweather.
Thispictureisimportantbecauseitsofmygirlsand
theybothlookhappyandsmiling.Itmakesmefeel
goodanditssomethingthatIfeellikemyparentsor
mysisterwouldlikeseeing.Itisrepresentativeof
happytimes
2 ThisisapictureofmeandmydaughterinWashington
DCinourhotelroom.Wewerehangingoutputting
stickersonourfaces.
Itsmegettingsomealonetimewithmydaughterand
havingsomefunbeinggoofy.Itismebeingagoofy
dadandbeingwillingtoputstickersonmyface.I
didntwalkoutsidethebuildingwiththosestickerson
myface,butImwillingtowalkaroundourhotelroom
withthemon.Itsjustafunpicture.
3 Itsapictureofmeandmydaughterhangingoutinthe
bathroomgettingreadyforwork.ItwasthedayIshaved
mybeard.InthepictureIjusthaveamustache
IhadmydaughterinthebathroomwithmewhileIwas
shavingsoshewouldntfreakoutandthinkIwas
someoneelseafteritwasgone.Ihadthebeardfora
whileandIfeellikeshegrewupalotwhileIhadit.
Also,mysisterhadanexperiencewhenmydadshaved
offhismustachewhenshewasaboutfive.Shekindof
freakedout.Ikeptthemustacheforawhile.Ijust
thoughtitwasfunny,myparentsdidntreallyseeme
withthemustachesoIhadtoshowthemthepicture
Participant3 1 ThisisapictureIdidntrealizeIhad.Itisofmy3kids,
wife,andgranddaughterinarelativeskitchenduring
Christmas.
Thispictureshowsthepeoplethataremostimportant
tomeintheworldanditsaholidaysoitsaspecial
time.Thatwouldhavebeenmygranddaughterssecond
christmas.Itsanicepicture,everyonelooksreally
happy.
2 Itisapictureofmyson,mydad,andmeattheairportin
WashingtonDCwhenwewenttodothehonorflight(a
programthatfliesveteranstoDCforthedaytoseewar
monuments).
ItwasamilestoneeventandsomethingmydadandI
didtogether.Itwascompletehappenstancethatmy
sonandhisgirlfriendweregoingthroughtheairportat
thesame.Wetookthepictureandgotthree
generationsofinthesamepicture.Itssomethingmy
dadandIwerelookingforwardtoforalongtime,andit
wasspecialtohavemysonshowup.
3 Itsapictureofmygranddaughtersittinginherhighchair
withabibonthatsaysmyfirstbday
Shelookslikealittleangel.Itwasoneofhersignature
milestones.WewereinChicagoattheirplace,itwasa
bigcelebration.Werecominguponher2ndbirthday
andweregoingtodothesamething.Thepicture
marksanimportantpointintime.
Participant4 1 ThisisapictureofmyhusbandandIwithour
granddaughterwhenshewasaboutonemonthold
WereinChicagosittingonthecouchandsheis
screaming.Itisoneofthefirsttimewevisitedafter
shewasborn.Welookveryexcitedtobegrandparents
inthepicture,Ifeelitreflectsourjoyinbeing
grandparentsandthateventhoughshescryingwere
justsohappy.ItsnotthebestpictureofherbutIfeel
likeitshowsthatwerehappyandproudandexcited.
2 Thisisapictureofmymother,granddaughter,andIatthe
bookstorethatmymotherowns
Thispictureshows3generationsinthepicture.Itsjust
beingspecialsinceitsafamilybusinessthatmy
granddaughterwasabletobeapartofit.Itshowsthe
longevityofthefamilybusinessthatwereallableto
experienceittogether.
3 Thisisafamilyphotothatwechoseforourchristmas
cardpicturethisyear.Wearestandingbyourfrontdoor.
Thetimesthatwerealltogetherareveryspecialand
whenyoucangeteveryonetogetheritsnicebecause
weallliveindifferentplaces.Itsspecialtobetogether,
becauseitdoesnthappenveryoftenthatwereallin
oneplace.
Participant5 1 Thisisapictureofmydoginasmallbabypool EveryoneinmyfamilyhasseenGingerinherpuppy
pool.Itwouldmakeeachofmyfamilymemberssmile.
2 Thisisapictureofmymomeatingwatermelonsalad EveryoneinmyfamilyhasseenGingerinherpuppy
pool.Itwouldmakeeachofmyfamilymemberssmile.
3 Thisisababyvideoofmynewnephewandmymom
talkingtohim.
Itsoundslikethebabyistryingtoreplytomymom.I
likethevideobecausemymomhascutevoice.Ilike
listeningtomymommorethanthebaby.
Participant6 1 Thisisapictureofmyhusbandandson,bothbearded,
snowshoeingnearalocalpark
Mytwomen,bothhaveruggedoutdoorbeards,both
likebeingoutdoors.Itwasalovelydayitis
importanttosharebecauseIwanttoremembertheday
whentheydidthat.
2 Thisisapictureofmydaughterlyingonthefloor,withmy
nephewsittingnearher,playingwithherhair
ThiswasafunmomentatChristmasthreeyearsago.
Mynephewiscrazy,mydaughtersiscrazy,andhewas
nitpickingwithherhair.Itwasjustafunnymoment,
witheveryonejokingaboutlice.Itshowsthe
personalitiesofdaughterandnephew.
3 Thisisapictureofmysonholdingasmallchickeninone
hand,indoors.
MysonholdingWhyNot,theboldestchickenofthe
newfamilyofchickensthefamilygot.Improudtobe
achickenowner.IlovemysonandIlovemy
chickens.ThingsIconsidermeaningfularedifferent
thanwhatotherpeoplefindmeaningful.Thiswasafun
interactionbetweenmanandfeatheredfriends.Ilove
mychickensandIlovemyson.Notnecessarilyinthat
order.
Participant7 1 thisismyfavoritepicturerightnowofmydaughter.We
weresittinginthebackseatofthecarhavingasnack
together.
Ilovethispicturebecauseitwasjustlikean
impromptuthingthatwedid.Wehadextratime
betweenrunningerrands.Itookheroutofhercarseat
andwewerejustsittinginthebackseatandshewas
justsohappy.Toddlersdontneedmuchtomakethem
happy.Shejustkeptsmilingatmeandsayinghi.I
justwanttorememberherlittlefacelikethisforever.
2 Thisisafunnyvideoofmydaughterthrowingstuffed
animalsintoabasketandsayingslamdunkwheneach
animalgoesin.
Thisvideoisfunnyanditshowshersensehumor.My
familycanseemydaughterbeingfunnyanddeveloping
herownsenseofhumor.
3 Thisisaphotoofmydaughterwearingpigtailsforthefirst
timewhilesheseatingbreakfast.
Thisisaverycutepictureanditsverytypicalofour
everydaylife
Participant8 1 ThisisapictureofamosaicfromtheNationalCathedral
inWashingtonDC.
ThisrepresentsasharedexperienceIhadwithmy
parentsinDC.

2 Thisisapicturefromgardenofthegodsparkincolorado
springs
Thisrepresentstwoofmyfavoritehobbies.Ilike
travelingandhiking/beingoutdoors.

3 ThisisapictureofapictureofagroupofpeopleIworked
withintheAppalachiaServiceProject
Thisgroupofpeopleandthejobtheyredoinghasbeen
aformativeexperienceofmylife,bothpersonallyand
professionally.

Themes
Mostparticipantschosephotostoshareinsteadofvideos.
Whenaskedaboutotherartifactsthatarenotstoredonmobiledevices,mostyoungerparticipantsmentionedphotosorvideosstoredon
otherdeviceswhileolderparticipantsmentionedactualphysicalobjects.
Mostofthecontentsharedwasrecent.
Participantstalkedaboutwantingtostayintouchwiththeirfamilymembersandsharethingsthatwerecurrentlyhappeningintheir
lives.
Participantsusedavarietyofdevicestoaccesstheircontent.

ImplicationsforDesign
Theappshouldbeavailableforavarietyofdevicesandoperatingsystems.

Duethefactthatparticipantssharedrecentcontent,appusersmayneedtobepromptedtoaddcontentfromthepast.Althoughwedidnot
specificallyaskifthiskindofcontentwouldinterestpeople.

Someusersexpressedinterestinsharingphysicalobjects.Weshouldconsiderhowthiscouldbedone.

ReflectionRatings:
Sixthirdpartyindividualsratedthereflectionsgeneratedintheinterviewsforinterestandmeaning.Theseparticipantswereprovidedwithwritten
versionsofthedescriptionsandreflectionsgeneratedbyfourdifferentparticipants.Theseratingswerethenanalyzed.

RawData

Participant Reflection
Number
Meaningful Interest Rater Gender Age Indi/Group Featured
1 1 5 5 1 M O Indi Fam
1 2 5 4 2 M O Indi None
1 3 3 4 3 M O Indi None
3 1 3 3 3 M O Indi Fam
3 2 5 5 2 M O Group Fam/Self
3 3 4 3 1 M O Group Fam
2 1 3 4 2 M Y Group Fam
2 2 5 5 1 M Y Group Fam/Self
2 3 2 3 3 M Y Group Fam/Self
8 1 2 2 4 M Y Group None
8 2 4 2 6 M Y Group Friend
8 3 5 5 5 M Y Indi None
4 1 5 4 1 F O Group Fam/Self
4 2 3 4 3 F O Group Fam/Self
4 3 5 5 2 F O Group Fam/Self
6 1 4 3 5 F O Group Fam
6 2 5 5 4 F O Group Fam
6 3 5 5 6 F O Indi Fam
7 1 5 4 6 F Y Indi Fam
7 2 5 5 5 F Y Indi Fam
7 3 5 5 4 F Y Indi Fam
5 1 3 4 4 F Y Indi Fam
5 2 4 4 5 F Y Indi Fam
5 3 5 3 6 F Y Indi Fam

Averages

OverallMeaningfulAverage4.16 MeaningfulAverageOld4.33
OverallInterestAverage4InterestAverageOld4.16

MeaningfulAverageMales3.83MeaningfulAverageYoung4
InterestAverageMales3.75InterestAverageYoung3.83

MeaningfulAverageFemales4.5MeaningfulAverageGroup3.9
InterestAverageFemales4.24InterestAverageGroup3.75

MeaningfulAverageFamily4.26MeaningfulAverageFriend4
InterestAverageFamily4.16InterestAverageFriend2

MeaningfulAverageNone3.75
InterestAverageNone3.75

Themes

Theoverallaverageratingofhowmeaningfulreflectionswerewas4outofapossible5(fromnotmeaningfulatalltoverymeaningful)(Rangefrom25).

Theoverallaverageratingofhowinterestedraterswouldbeinseeingsimilarcontentfromtheirfamilymemberswas4outofapossible5(fromnotat
allinterestedtoveryinterested)(Rangefrom25).

Averageratingsforthemeaningfulnessandinterestofreflectionswasveryslightlyhigherforreflectionscreatedbyfemaleparticipantsthanmale
participants.

Averageratingsforthemeaningfulnessandinterestofreflectionswasveryslightlyhigherforreflectionscreatedbyolderparticipantsthanyounger
participants.

Contentthatfeaturedlocationsorhistoricaleventswereratedaslessmeaningful.

Themajorityofcontentsharedfeaturedfamily.Thistypeofcontentwasalsoratedasmoremeaningfulthancontentthatfeaturedfriendsornopeople.

Nopicturesweresharedthatonlyfeaturedtheindividualbeinginterviewed.

ImplicationsforDesign

Theseresultssuggestthatuserswouldbeabletoproducemeaningfulandinterestingreflectionswithoutscaffoldingorpromptingquestions.