Information Gathering: Unobtrusive Method

Learning Objectives • Recognize the value of unobtrusive methods for information gathering. • Understand the concept of sampling for human information requirements analysis. • Construct useful samples of people, documents, and events for determining human information requirements. • Create an analyst’s playscript to observe decisionmaker activities. • Apply the STROBE technique to observe and interpret the decision-maker’s environment. GeekBano Unobtrusive Methods • Less disruptive • Insufficient when used alone • Multiple methods approach • Used in conjunction with interactive methods GeekBano Major Topics • Sampling • Quantitative document analysis • Qualitative document analysis • Observation • STROBE • Applying STROBE GeekBano Sampling • A process of systematically selecting representative elements of a population • Involves two key decisions: • What to examine • Which people to consider GeekBano Need for Sampling The reasons systems analysts do sampling are: • Containing costs • Speeding up the data gathering • Improving effectiveness • Reducing bias