This is a talk about activity systems analysis and its application for design research. This talk was prepared for students and faculty at Florida State University.

1. Activity Systems Analysis in Design Research Lisa Yamagata-Lynch Associate Professor University of Tennessee at Knoxville LisaYL@utk.edu http://www.lisayamagatalynch.net/ 1

3. Analyze Real-World Data with Activity Systems Design Research Disseminate Research Results Develop and Disseminate Insights on Methodology Empower Participants to Voice their Real-World Situations Big Question to myself: Am I really doing this, and can I do it all at once? 3

4. Why Activity Systems Analysis for Studying Design? Design and development is an in-the-moment activity that is difficult to document, analyze, and communicate with others For example: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/business/energy-environment/26smart.html 4

5. Passive Home Design AnalysisBy LYL and ETR 790 2010 Students 5

6. CHAT and Activity Systems Analysis Cultural Historical Activity Theory goes back to Vygotsky’s work in the 1920s to 1930s Activity systems analysis is one data analysis method within CHAT developed by Engeström in late 1980s Many existing authors refer to activity systems analysis and activity theory synonymously, but I do not see it that way CHAT and activity systems analysis is a great perspective/methodological tool for analyzing complex qualitative data sets 6

7. Vygotsky’s Main Concepts Mediated Action Interpersonal Communication Process Reprinted with permission of Cambridge University Press. Cole, M., & Engeström, Y. (1993). A cultural-historical approach to distributed cognition. In G. Salomon (Ed.), Distributed cognitions: Psychological and educational considerations (pp. 1-46). New York: Cambridge University Press. 7

8. Criticisms of Vygotsky's Work Dualistic language—external and internal problem (Galperin, 1992) Person-solo-centered (Matusov, 1998) Theory stayed relational and not transformational (Stesenko, 2009) 8

9. Post Vygotsky--Kharkovites Deal with internal/external problem Human activity Unit of analysis = both mental and observable behavior Mental activity = sign Occurs in collective context Object-oriented activity and goal-directed actions (Leontiev, 1981) 9

10. Understanding the Object Object Goal, motive, or material product Reason why individuals choose to participate in an activity Holds the activity together 10

11. Activity Systems Model Engeström introduced activity systems analysis as an analytical method in activity theory by broadening the concept of mediated action Tensions may arise Reprinted with permission of Yrjö Engeström. Engeström, Y. (1987). Learning by expanding: An activity-theoretical approach to developmental research. Helsinki: Orienta-KonsultitOy. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://lchc.ucsd.edu/MCA/Paper/Engestrom/expanding/toc.htm 11

12. Passive Home Design AnalysisBy LYL and ETR 790 2010 Students 12

13. Activity Systems Analysis Advantages in Design Research Provides new methods for designers to extract the essence of complex data sets in a graphic model that they can communicate with others (Yamagata-Lynch, 2010) Can capture educational change as it occurs rather than as it is hypothesized to occur (Rasmussen & Ludvigsen, 2009), and as designers we are often interested in what is happening rather than what we hypothesize will happen 13

14. Advantages of Activity Systems Analysis to Qualitative Research Manageable unit of analysis Systemic implications Systemic contradictions and tensions Communicating findings 14

15. Manageable unit of analysis Extracts information from massive and complex qualitative data set while maintaining the integrity of the contextual influences on human activity Can help identify solutions that take into account how the entire situation would be affected including the participants, social context, outcomes, and future activities 15

16. Systemic Implications Identifies relationships among activities 16

17. Systemic Contradictions and Tensions Highlights how systemic contradictions and tensions can drive transformations in human activity Portrays how human activity transforms in relation to the context as well as how it transforms the context 17

18. Communicate Findings Allows investigators to communicate findings from a holistic perspective by anchoring discussions in units of activity 18

19. Future Discussions to Inform Design Research Practical applications Methodological issues Transferability of applications and methodologies 19

20. Questions? 20