Beginnings of the JHiSquare Protocol
Data Collection, Debriefing, and Data Management
Developing a script to guide our data collection session was the starting point of our collaborative efforts on the iSquare team, and therefore, many decisions were made at this stage. First, Professor Hartel and the iSquare team provided us with a script that we used to guide and inspire our own approach to addressing the scholars participating in our study. We felt that many features of this pre-existing script were essential to include in ours, such as the background information on the iSquare protocol, our methodological focus on arts-informed research, as well as the ethical guidelines central to participant-driven studies. Some new features we included in our JHiSquare script were a series of thought-provoking questions about information, as well as a verbal request for participants to refrain from using their cell phones or any aids during the session. Both of these decisions were made in an attempt to create a more immersive and contemplative atmosphere for our participants.
Here are some of the questions about information that we included in our script:
· How is information conveyed and presented?
· Where does information exist?
· Can information be a catalyst?
· When do you need information?
(Credits to Mahika for these incredibly inspiring questions!)
In addition to formulating a script for our study, perhaps the most significant consideration we pondered as a team was regarding the materials that we would feature in our session. Since the JHiSquare protocol was the first to feature colourful drawing instruments among conventional black pens, we initially felt inspired to include a variety of colourful media in our study. Some of the materials we considered were pencil crayons, crayons, oil pastels, and markers. However, after further discussion, we feared that drawings executed with certain materials, such as oil pastels and crayons, would smudge upon the collection and storage of data. Thus, we decided to abandon the inclusion of crayons, and oil pastels to avoid compromising the integrity of our data. In order to ensure more control and consistency among media, we decided to only feature black pens, coloured pens, and coloured markers as materials in our study.
Lastly, upon the recommendation of the iSquare team, we decided to use paper tablecloths to cover the table surfaces that the participants worked upon. By doing this, we hoped to create an inspiring, carefree, and creative environment that provided participants the opportunity to liberally experiment with the diverse materials provided.
Developing a script to guide our data collection session was the starting point of our collaborative efforts on the iSquare team, and therefore, many decisions were made at this stage. First, Professor Hartel and the iSquare team provided us with a script that we used to guide and inspire our own approach to addressing the scholars participating in our study. We felt that many features of this pre-existing script were essential to include in ours, such as the background information on the iSquare protocol, our methodological focus on arts-informed research, as well as the ethical guidelines central to participant-driven studies. Some new features we included in our JHiSquare script were a series of thought-provoking questions about information, as well as a verbal request for participants to refrain from using their cell phones or any aids during the session. Both of these decisions were made in an attempt to create a more immersive and contemplative atmosphere for our participants.
Here are some of the questions about information that we included in our script:
· How is information conveyed and presented?
· Where does information exist?
· Can information be a catalyst?
· When do you need information?
(Credits to Mahika for these incredibly inspiring questions!)
In addition to formulating a script for our study, perhaps the most significant consideration we pondered as a team was regarding the materials that we would feature in our session. Since the JHiSquare protocol was the first to feature colourful drawing instruments among conventional black pens, we initially felt inspired to include a variety of colourful media in our study. Some of the materials we considered were pencil crayons, crayons, oil pastels, and markers. However, after further discussion, we feared that drawings executed with certain materials, such as oil pastels and crayons, would smudge upon the collection and storage of data. Thus, we decided to abandon the inclusion of crayons, and oil pastels to avoid compromising the integrity of our data. In order to ensure more control and consistency among media, we decided to only feature black pens, coloured pens, and coloured markers as materials in our study.
Lastly, upon the recommendation of the iSquare team, we decided to use paper tablecloths to cover the table surfaces that the participants worked upon. By doing this, we hoped to create an inspiring, carefree, and creative environment that provided participants the opportunity to liberally experiment with the diverse materials provided.
How is information conveyed and presented? |
The Physical Environment
| How Space Affected Data Gathering Initially, we were going to use Wymilwood Lounge at Victoria College’s Goldring Student Centre to conduct our research gathering. However, when we went to look at the space, we discovered that it lacked the furniture items we needed - namely, tables. The SiR also had a presentation in the space directly before we were going to be using it, making set-up very difficult. Due to these factors, we chose to move our research gathering to Burwash Hall. This move benefited us enormously - the space is huge and allowed for us to use the large dining tables. We also had the advantage of the windows which line the hall on both sides, letting in significant amounts of natural light that aided in alleviating the clinical feeling often associated with research gathering. The space is also where we eat communal dinners during the program, which seemed to have contributed to a more relaxed atmosphere. We set-up the space by moving chairs around four large tables. We further divided the tables in half by running a piece of tape across the center. This allowed for us to divide our materials between the two sides and avoid hoarding. |   |
The Social Environment | Immediate Observation |
 Completing the iSquare Protocol as in a closely seat group provides more opportunities for participants to interact with each other. Invisible Factors behind the iSquare Production Drawing, as opposed to writing, contains a social dynamic which is an important part of arts-informed research. When writing, the quality of the response is difficult for peers or researchers to judge at once the glance. But when drawing, especially with the enlarged iSquares and the plethora of colours, there might exist an innate tendency to want to impress the viewer. This is shown through the comments that several students made during the data gathering session, which expressed jealousy for people that could draw (jokingly, of course!), or their own inability to draw. These comments were sometimes self-assured, or assured by peers that they should try to express something creative either way. This dynamic of slight peer pressure, perhaps led to richer and deeper results in the iSquares! Participants were generally seated very close to one another which may have had an impact on the final results. There were some participants who wished to share their work with their peers, or comment on their peer’s drawings, whereas there were some participants who hid their work from others in attempt for privacy, but also to concentrate on their own drawing. Hence, it is difficult to say if an iSquare is original or if it is influenced by the ideas of the participant's neighbouring peers. An example we noticed relating to this factor was when a participant handed us their completed iSquare early, and other 2 participants from the same group followed. No other participants except these handed their work early, so we can perhaps see the influence at play. Thus, social factors as such were an equally important part of the production and the gathering of this data, and should be made aware when analyzing the data produced. | First Impressions of the Beautiful iSquares This week was fun and busy. On Monday we had our “Big Day” which we organized other JHI fellows together and collected their drawings of what is information. We tried to create a welcoming and comfort environment, and prepared for anything that might go wrong. To my surprise, the time seemed to passed so quickly and the entire process was very smooth. Everyone was so concentrated and engaged in their drawings as if they were taking an exam. We feel very appreciated for their effort and support. This is our first attempt using colour pens and larger squares in the study. Initially we were worried if most people would just stick with one colour anyway because it is the easiest way to work on. However, it turned out that the drawings were so beautiful and multi-coloured, and it seems that the coloured pens and large space inspired their creativity! Compared to the old iSquares, I was impressed about how pretty they are in terms of the visual representation, and how rich they are in terms of the content on each iSquare. There are only 39 images in total, but all the responses are very diversified. Some depict information as pictorial metaphors such as a web or an eyeball, and some also have similar ideas as mine that drew information as knowledge. Many of them also drew complex and abstract patterns that fill the entire graphic space. As I looked them over and over again and it is hard for me to pick a favourite one. The introduction of colour in this study brings new inspirations, but at the same time brings more questions. For example, would people associate meanings to a particular colour? Would the textures of different pens communicate different things? These are the questions we have to consider during the data analysis, and I feel quite excited about taking this new challenge as a team, and come up with my own unique way of analyzing them.  |
Data Management
Facts and the Future
The latter half of this week focused on the data management of newly collected iSquares. Stephanie Power, the Data Manager of the iSquare Team, provided the JHI Fellows with an overview of how the iSquare Team developed its strategies to manage the growing quantity and complexity of data and the range of storage options available for preservation.
The iSquares collected from our data gathering activity with the other JHI members were then labelled, scanned and recorded in our following process. This management activity was conducted in the University of Toronto Library, using the scanner and computer programs available to the group. Stephanie Power emphasis the digitization of the collected iSquares to the archival quality; thus, requiring a higher print resolution of the scanned material. The cropping and final export of the iSquares were completed in Adobe Photoshop and then uploaded into the cloud.
The process may be less active and more repetitive than the data gathering stage as we are only labelling and digitizing the iSquares. Nonetheless, the group was introduced to the inner workings of data management for the iSquare team and uncovered valuable insight into the significance of having an organized and accessible data management system. Writing from retrospective, this stage can be viewed as a short and dry part of the iSquare project, but it is the reason why the iSquares are still accessible geographically and periodically. Without these systems in place, the projects would be disconnected between each sampling and further analyses would be impossible. Moreover, as the iSquare project is prepared to keep their data accessible in the future, adds another layer of the functionality of information onto the information we collected. Every step of organizing the data collected needed to be thoroughly evaluated and designed with the future in mind.
The latter half of this week focused on the data management of newly collected iSquares. Stephanie Power, the Data Manager of the iSquare Team, provided the JHI Fellows with an overview of how the iSquare Team developed its strategies to manage the growing quantity and complexity of data and the range of storage options available for preservation.
The iSquares collected from our data gathering activity with the other JHI members were then labelled, scanned and recorded in our following process. This management activity was conducted in the University of Toronto Library, using the scanner and computer programs available to the group. Stephanie Power emphasis the digitization of the collected iSquares to the archival quality; thus, requiring a higher print resolution of the scanned material. The cropping and final export of the iSquares were completed in Adobe Photoshop and then uploaded into the cloud.
The process may be less active and more repetitive than the data gathering stage as we are only labelling and digitizing the iSquares. Nonetheless, the group was introduced to the inner workings of data management for the iSquare team and uncovered valuable insight into the significance of having an organized and accessible data management system. Writing from retrospective, this stage can be viewed as a short and dry part of the iSquare project, but it is the reason why the iSquares are still accessible geographically and periodically. Without these systems in place, the projects would be disconnected between each sampling and further analyses would be impossible. Moreover, as the iSquare project is prepared to keep their data accessible in the future, adds another layer of the functionality of information onto the information we collected. Every step of organizing the data collected needed to be thoroughly evaluated and designed with the future in mind.
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