Resource Library: Multimedia/Resource Library: Multimedia.iso/hypertxt/msdos/hypdiss/app-c

Text File | 1992-04-02 | 16.3 KB | 299 lines

                                 APPENDIX C:

                     HYPERTEXT SYSTEM CASE STUDY PROTOCOL


             I. Purpose

                   A. The project is a case study of information
                      organizational software tools and methods used
                      in a hypertext authoring system. (Plan
                      outline, base, Yin, 65)
                   B. Case study subject

                        1. The case study subject is the MaxThink
                           hypertext authoring system, of Berkeley
                           CA.
                        2. The investigator will study working
                           production methods used for the "DaTa" CD-
                           ROM-based hypertext product.   It is a
                           hypertext system containing detailed
                           reference information for the accounting
                           and auditing profession.  It is produced
                           under contract to Deloitte & Touche by
                           MaxThink, Inc., and Pondlife Knowledge
                           Systems, Inc.
                        3. Selection of the subject

                             i. The investigator examined
                                specifications of more than a dozen
                                hypertext software candidates,
                                before deciding on the MaxThink
                                system.  He also personally tested 8
                                of the systems, before the final
                                decision.
                             ii. He limited candidate systems to
                                those operating under MS-DOS.

                                  a. He reasoned that this
                                     operating system has the
                                     largest and most mature
                                     installed user base (1991), and
                                     the largest current business
                                     market penetration.
                                  b. It is thus the market with the
                                     earliest possibility for mass-
                                     market hypertext product
                                     distribution, and the first
                                     substantive consumer reaction
                                     and feedback.

                             iii. The MaxThink software had the
                                most sophisticated information
                                organization, hypertext network-
                                building, and control utilities of
                                the hypertext authoring systems
                                examined.
                             iv. To the investigator's knowledge,
                                the DaTa product is additionally the
                                largest and most complex hypertext
                                information product currently
                                published.  It is a serial hypertext
                                publication, updated 4 to 6 times
                                per year.  The December, 1990,
                                edition of the product was 80
                                megabytes in size, containing
                                approximately 200 interconnected
                                networks, 20-25,000 ASCII content
                                files, and an estimated 150,000
                                hypertext links.
                             v. Finally, this study subject was
                                especially appealing to the
                                investigator, because it combined
                                the status of hypertext authoring
                                system software developer and
                                publisher, with the management of a
                                large hypertext publishing
                                operation. This lent credence in
                                both the areas of hypertext software
                                design and in the realities of
                                editorial and information management
                                of a large and changing hypertext
                                information product.

             II. Procedures

                   A. Scheduling of case visit

                        1. The subject site visit will take place
                           during the week of March 11-15, 1991.
                        2. The investigator will visit the MaxThink
                           company site in Berkeley CA, as well as
                           the associate's working office in
                           Kentfield CA.

                    B. Persons to be interviewed

                        1. Neil Larson, Berkeley CA, President of
                           MaxThink, Inc., developer of the
                           hypertext software and authoring system.
                        2. Tony Phillips, Kentfield CA,
                           author/creator of the DaTa hypertext
                           system.
                        3. Kim Wilson, Berkeley CA, independent
                           hypertext author/consultant, experienced
                           user of the MaxThink system, on numerous
                           contracted hypertext information
                           projects.
                        4. Bruce Winters, Deloitte & Touche
                           executive with responsibility for the
                           DaTa product (to be interviewed by
                           telephone).

                   C. Other information sources (Yin, 78)

                        1. Detailed interview notes, to be
                           supplemented by tape recordings of
                           interview sessions.
                        2. Authoring system and runtime hypertext
                           software documentation.
                        3. Internal operating documents and
                           production records.
                        4. Software publisher newsletter, published
                           reviews.
                        5. Direct observation of
                           authoring/production methods, procedures.
                        6. Detailed examination of the DaTa
                           hypertext product.
                        7. Corroboration of information system
                           capabilities and operation by
                           professional colleagues.

                   D. Principles of evidence to be applied

                        1. Multiple sources of evidence - The
                           investigator will use multiple sources of
                           evidence, for validation of direct
                           observation and interview data. (Yin, 89)
                        2. Organization of data - The investigator
                           will organized notes and supporting
                           documents using indexing to coded
                           question numbers from the interview
                           schedule.  The investigator will use this
                           coding number system for reference and
                           identification of supporting materials.
                           (Yin, 92)
                        3. Documentary evidence - to be used for
                           corroboration whenever possible.
                        4. Chain of evidence - Much information
                           will come from the interviews.  However,
                           supporting documents and examination of
                           the sequence of hypertext authoring will
                           provide additional verification of
                           intended and actual hypertext product
                           authoring design, methods, and final
                           results.  The chain of evidence may
                           include verbally stated and written goals
                           and procedures, system planning
                           statements or documents, documentation on
                           software abilities and methods,
                           examination of administrative production
                           records, and ending with actual
                           performance of the final hypertext
                           information product.  As needed, the
                           research report will include specific
                           references to these various items of
                           evidence.

                   E. Specific techniques to be used

                        1. Interview schedule to be provided to
                           subjects in advance, to allow time for
                           reflection.
                        2. The investigator will discuss each
                           schedule item with them prior to the
                           answer, to insure they understand
                           terminology and meaning of the item.
                        3. The investigator will take detailed
                           notes during the interview sessions, and
                           will also tape record the sessions.
                        4. The interviewer will ask subjects for
                           reference to documentary, written
                           corroboration, or other information
                           sources, pertaining to selected items, to
                           allow for internal checking and detail
                           follow-up.
                        5. Classification of unincorporated
                           features

                              i. The interview schedule is based
                                upon the "Traditional Information
                                Access Methodology" model, created
                                by the investigator.  The research
                                findings will include
                                generalizations about applications
                                of these traditional information
                                access methods to the hypertext
                                medium.
                             ii. The investigator will make a
                                special point of questioning the
                                principals about information access
                                elements NOT currently contained in
                                the MaxThink authoring system and
                                runtime hypertext software.  He will
                                query specifically about the
                                possibilities for development of
                                such features, either via software
                                modules or usage of external, third-
                                party, software products.
                             iii. The interviewer will classify and
                                record details within the interview
                                notes, using the following
                                categories:

                                  a. "Present" - existing in
                                     current system.
                                  b. "Easily Achieved" - requiring
                                     only editorial decision by
                                     author for addition to the
                                     current implementation.
                                  c. "Modifications Needed" -
                                     requiring changes to current
                                     software. (In addition, the
                                     interviewees will be questioned
                                     about the general approach and
                                     estimated effort for such
                                     modifications.)
                                  d. "Not Achievable" - Not judged
                                     possible within this particular
                                     hypertext software
                                     implementation and/or approach.

                             iv. This classification will aid in
                                the "Generalization" portion of the
                                final research report.

             III. Prepare case study protocol & questions
             IV. Analytical strategy (Yin, 99+)

                   A. Basis - both data collection and analysis
                      will be based upon the investigator's
                      theoretical construct or conceptual model of
                      traditional information retrieval methods.
                   B. Modes of analysis

                        1. The investigator will primarily use the
                           technique of pattern-matching logic (Yin,
                           103) for analysis of the study.  (Yin,
                           100)

                             i. He will compare the collected case
                                study facts to the proposed
                                conceptual model.
                             ii. This mode of analysis should tend
                                to bear out or verify internal
                                validity of the model, compared to
                                objective reality.
                             iii. Alternatively, the data may point
                                out flaws in the conceptual model,
                                suggesting modification, alternative
                                approaches for modification, or
                                simple rejection.
                             iv. This analysis will generally
                                support or contradict the general
                                model construct, giving basis for
                                conclusions on the research
                                hypotheses.

                        2. Data displays used in representation.

                             i. This is not a multi-case study, and
                                will not focus on numeric or
                                statistical data collection.  The
                                interview and supporting data will
                                instead focus on detailed
                                description of information system
                                editorial and access-design
                                methodology.
                             ii. The investigator will use flow
                                charts, and tabular presentations to
                                summarize the findings of the study.
                             iii. The flow charts will describe the
                                authoring process, including the
                                presence of data processing,
                                editorial, information access
                                enhancement, and quality control
                                mechanisms.
                             iv. The tabular charts will portray
                                the characteristics of the subject
                                hypertext system, in presentations of
                                ranking of adherence in the various
                                areas of the conceptual model.
                             v. The tables will also optionally
                                represent the ranking or adherence
                                of a general hypertext information
                                system, based upon analysis of the
                                "Possible" and "Achievable" answer
                                classifications.