The focus of my scholarly and professional work is on the experience, relationship, and interaction between people and the information they are creating, using, and seeking. This exploration has spanned a variety of disciplines, theories, and methods over the last several years, ranging from Art-based research (ABR) to user engagement. In addition to my academic research work, I also work as a freelance researcher, most recently for Writing Short is Hard. Please see Curriculum Vitae for a more detailed description of my work.
Conducting Creative Research
In support of learning about research-creation, I am participating in a research team from Emily Carr University of Art and Design (ECUAD). We are developing an article regarding a speaker series organized by ECUAD and Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) titled Conducting Creative Research.
Supporting Transparent & Open Research Engagement & Exchange
This initiative, Supporting Transparent & Open Research Engagement & Exchange (STOREE), is a collaboration between various institutions to support the communication of research. As part of my work for the STOREE project, I conducted a literature review of arts-based research in library and information studies. Together with my colleague Heather De Forest we analyzed and synthesized findings in the form of a journal article.
Effects of Domain Knowledge Interest and Difficulty on Searching, Learning, and Engaging with Digital Libraries
For this project, I collected data through screen capture using Morae and Qualtrics to examine the relationship of users’ domain knowledge and perceptions of search difficulty while using a digital library. I planned and modified research techniques, procedures, tests, and equipment, and monitored software management following pilot testing. Additionally, I scheduled, organized, and reported on the status of research activities.
PhoneMe Poetry app
I supported the development of onboarding material for a place-based poetry mobile application called PhoneMe (Principle Investigator Kedrick James with collaborators Amelia Cole and Andrea Hoff). I contributed by researching, designing, and presenting UX principles in a Digital Humanities context.
Writing Well is Hard
As part of my work for Dr. Letitia Henville, I developed and facilitated focus groups and usability testing for a text analysis tool (Writing Well is Hard). Following the focus groups I analyzed and reported findings.