Constructive Design Research - context

Within the elective Constructive Design Research I acquired general knowledge about 3 different research methodologies (Lab, Field and Showroom). We then elaborated on one of these methodologies by setting up and conducting an investigation.
I have chosen the Showroom Approach because its goal is designing to provoke, designing for debate, which can be located in a context where the design is related to, but the design is mostly exaggerated to start a discussion.

The subject of the project was to do research on the cutting edge of greed and charity. Our group has taken the issue that many 'free' services are offered by the internet, for which unconsciously will be payed by providing personal data.

We have developed a fictional app 'Coach' that would 'help' people towards their personal goals. However, this coach uses all personal data from the participants that can be found on the internet and Coach is increasingly interfering into the participants' personal life with his advices and also proposes some benefits for the participant in return for personal data from friends for instance.

Achievements

I have developed knowledge about all three methodologies (Lab, Field and Showroom) to 'Constructive Design Research' by literature reviews and classical presentation and discussions, but in depth about the Showroom Approach. I have chosen for the Showroom Approach because this was completely new for me and I liked the freedom and the possibilities which can be used within this approach. With my user-centered work experiences, I’m always very interested in “the how and why” behind behavior, opinions and behind the numbers in research papers.

I developed research skills for this approach, constructing the 'research question' in relation to the research prototypes, developed the content and structure of the user experiences in a way that the outcomes of the discussion could be comparable to a certain extent and would relate to our research question. I also learned how to analyze and present the data verbally and in a research poster. 

In my experience provocation can be a method, not only to create awareness and a discussion but also to hit the point what the user really like or dislike evoking authentic reactions. Above the level of the subject, I gained insight on how to trigger in a way the design not only increases awareness but also motivates people to cross the bridge, changing their behavior.  In this case, most participants told us they would remove (access to) some of their online data because they were confronted with data they don’t like to be public.