Contributions from Visitor Research to CI and ICT4D Theory and Research Methodology

Authors

  • Patricia M Alexander University of South Africa
  • Helene Gelderblom Gelderblom Department of Informatics, University of Pretoria
  • Estelle De Kock School of Computing, University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15353/joci.v11i3.2765

Keywords:

Visitor Research, Science centres, Research methodology, The Contextual Model of Learning

Abstract

Abstract

The case study involved the evaluation of a single science centre exhibit in a number of different science centres in a developing country. This illustrates the lessons that Community Informatics and ICT for Development researchers can learn from “Visitor Research” theory and methods. The three contexts identified in The Contextual Model of Learning are seen to shed light on the research process as well as to its original purpose, free-choice learning. A multi-methodological research approach was used and each science centre was described separately so that the different levels of context could be taken into account.

Author Biography

Patricia M Alexander, University of South Africa

Prof P M (Trish) Alexander, Prof Extraordinarius, School of Computing, University of South Africa Postal address: College of Science Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, P.O Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa, 0003 Physical address: Unisa Science Campus, Cnr Christiaan de Wet and Pioneer Ave, Florida, Johannesburg alexapm@unisa.ac.za

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Published

2015-09-16

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2015): Special Issue: Research Methods in Community Informatics

Section

Research Articles