Assignment 5A

After reading ‘The Tipping Point’ I decided to further investigate crime and particularly identity theft, a problem faced by many (Gladwell, 2000). Identity theft can perhaps be tackled with an increased understanding of the issue. To do this I began by reading relevant literature to improve my understanding of the subject, however I only looked at books and journals. In order to further develop my research it would not only be important to gather information from written resources but it is also essential for me to collect primary data from individuals who may be concerned or have been directly affected by identity theft.

I have looked at books and journals and found them informative and factual, however literature can soon become outdated and sometimes incorrect. Therefore the value and relevance of the material may depend upon when it was written. It was necessary to assess whether the information is opinion based or factual and also if it is biased. In order to further my research I would use the Internet for locating current articles, however it would be crucial for me to carefully select the sources. I would consider the reliability of the information, whether it is well researched and the author and publisher. It is also imperative to check when the website was updated. Magazines and newspaper articles could also be a valuable resource. The authors of these articles will be easily identifiable, therefore making it easer to assess the validity of the source, which can be difficult when using online information. A magazine or newspaper is also more up to date than a book.

A current article discusses how purposefully leaving a home insecure, and so making it an easy target for thieves has reduced burglaries (White, 2010). Valuable equipment inside the home is tagged so once a burglary occurs the thief is traced and charged. In order to find out if similar methods could be applied to reduce identity theft I would use a structured interview to obtain information from a member of the police, as gathering personal and background information is unnecessary in this situation. I would first carry out a pilot interview to ensure the questions I planned to ask would provide me with useful responses and I would obtain written consent from those who I wished to interview. I would use this technique for similar formal interviews, to interview manufacturers of biometric devices and bank managers for example. I would hope to gain information about the use, cost and availability of biometric technology and whether it could be used in banks to reduce identity theft. A simple questionnaire could also be used to quickly gain accurate answers.

I would use semi-structured interviews rather than structured interviews when questioning members of the public and victims of identity theft. To do this I would determine a short set of questions prior to the interview then follow up the answers given with further questioning. I would use open questions, to encourage the interviewee to talk freely even if the information they provide is off on a tangent from the initial question as this is likely to provide me with background information, which may be useful when reviewing the findings. Semi-structured interviews also tend to be more relaxed, which helps to unearth personal, background information. Structured interviews are unlikely to provide this information. As a designer it is beneficial for me to be aware of a persons background, tastes and opinions, as without knowing someone’s ‘story’ it is difficult to design effectively for them. The questioning would help me to determine how concerned people are by identity theft and what affect it could or does have on them. I would also hope to discover what lengths people go to in order to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft. As well as this the interviews would help me to obtain opinions on certain methods of biometric authentication.

Another research method, which can be useful, is observational research. Observing a persons behavior, posture and language for example can be very informative. However, this method can only be applied in situations where observation can be carried out discretely and safely. It is an inappropriate method to use for investigating identity theft. It would be difficult to observe identity theft as it commonly takes place online and observing cash points for example would be an invasion of privacy and very inappropriate. Therefore observational research in this circumstance would be avoided. Similarly research methods such as those discussed in the ‘Rhetoric of the Image’ by Roland Barthes would not be used, as they are only useful when addressing a communication design problem (Barthes, 1986).

A cultural probe is a research method developed by Bill Gaver, which would be used instead of observational research (Katharina, 2007). This technique would involve issuing a cultural probe pack to volunteers, who would be as varied as possible, because anyone can be affected by identity theft (Dix, 2004). The pack would help to obtain the thoughts and feelings of individuals towards crime and identity theft. The pack would contain a diary, pens, stickers, a camera and map of the area the volunteers live in. The diary would be used to record the crimes that the individual is worried could affect them and the places or incidents that make them worried about identity theft or crime. The stickers would be used to mark places on the map where the volunteer feels unsafe or concerned about crime. The pack should be used over a few weeks before being returned. Although time consuming to collect, a cultural probe is favored over observational research if the desired results are for an insight into society’s thoughts and feelings rather than to discover how people behave.

In conclusion, there are numerous research methods available although observational research is not a suitable technique in this situation and methods used to address a communication design problem are also irrelevant. The use of literature would be very valuable but sources should always be carefully considered. Cultural probes would also be useful in helping me to gain an insight in to people’s feelings towards identity theft, however this can be expensive and time consuming. Similarly interviews could be particularly useful in answering specific questions, however the type of interview used would be carefully considered in order to ensure I obtained the necessary information. By using these techniques I would have a greater understanding of identity theft and an improved knowledge of people’s thoughts, feelings and opinions in relation to identity theft. This would hopefully lead to possible ways in which to reduce the problem.

Word Count: 1099

Bibliography

Barthes, R. (1986) The responsibility of forms : critical essays on music, art and representation. Oxford: Blackwell.

Dix, A (2004) Cultural Probes-Methods to study new environments. Available: http://www.hcibook.com/e3/casestudy/cultural-probes/ (30.03.2010)

Gladwell, M (2000) The Tipping Point London: Abacus

Katharina (2007) Interview with Bill Gaver. Available: http://www.designresearchnetwork.org/drn/content/interview-bill-gaver (30.03.2010)

White, M (2010) House Traps: The Open Invitation To A Thief. Available http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/House-Traps-For-Burglars-Used-To-Snare-Criminals-By-Police/Article/201003415582887?lid=ARTICLE_15582887_HouseTrapsForBurglarsUsedToSnareCriminalsByPolice&lpos=searchresults (30.03.2010)