Lost - or liberated? - without theory

What is your conceptual framework, your theory or method? Why is your work valid? This workshop addresses these questions and related problems facing all researchers within HCI, and their solutions.

Jan Gulliksen and Inger Boivie, Uppsala University, Sweden
Liam Bannon, University of Limerick, Ireland
Lidia Oshlyansky, University College London,
Harold Thimbleby, University of Wales Swansea, Wales.

If you have any questions, please contact Jan Gulliksen or Inger Boivie

Summary of the workshop and panel

Participants and position papers

Related material

Liam Bannon's position paper to the CSCW'92 Workshop on Interdisciplinary Theory for CSCW Design
(Bannon, L. (1992) Interdisciplinarity or Interdisciplinary Theory in CSCW. CSCW'92 Workshop on Interdisciplinary Theory for CSCW Design, Toronto, Canada Oct 1992.)
Available from here.
CSCW faces similar problems and the [COTCOS network] addresses some of these.

Many PhD students, whose work is most sensitive to these questions, start out with a fairly well-defined research problem, often provided by the project funding the research. Finding a suitable theoretical or conceptual framework (and methods consistent with that framework) with which to address the research problem is, however, a very complex and difficult issue. Indeed, the relations between different theories, and between theory and application within HCI has long been a source of frustration, debate and problems.

This workshop will discuss issues related to theory and the application of theory within HCI research. The workshop will make authoritative and positive recommendations to the community. The workshop particularly addresses the difficulties facing PhD students as well as researchers trying to navigate in a multi-disciplinary and multi-theoretical research area.

More details can be found in the workshop proposal.

We welcome both seasoned HCI researchers and younger participants, such as current PhD students in the midst of interdisciplinary crisis. We particularly encourage PhD students and their supervisor/tutor to send in joint applications.
Applicants should write a position paper (maximum of 3 pages) covering some or all of the following:

• Their position regarding the issues listed above (and other related issues)
• Questions they particularly wish to highlight during the workshop
• Scenarios or real case studies with a moral for the workshop
• Concise advice for researchers - how can this generation of researchers be helped?
• Concise advice for referees and reviewers - how can we recognise and support good HCI?
• Long term advice for educators - how can the next generation of researchers be changed?
• A brief biography explaining their background
• References and/or web resources.

Position papers proposing or defending a theory as such are unlikely to be accepted, unless it can be shown how the theory addresses issues relevant to the workshop.

Position paper: Submission 30thJune 2005 - Please note that the deadline has been extended.
Notification of acceptance: 1st July 2005.
This will give two weeks for participants to register at Early bird rate for the main conference.