Research Summary

Types of research that I have conducted thus far

Preliminary
  • Design problem validation
Youtube Ted Talk "A simple way to break bad habits"
  • Use as a future reference for secondary ethnographic research, I can go through the comments and see if people were able to use the techniques described with any success or even wanted to approach the techniques given
MIT Journal Transtheoretical Model
  •  This journal describes a process for behavioral change, that there are different phases that a subject goes through as they try and alter their behavior, this model is based around people who are aware that they want to change, not a group of people secretly trying to change their behaviors. The participants in the study laid out in this journal follow the phases suggested by the TTM (transtheoretical model), and in doing so, acknowledge the behaviors they want to change and answer questions that provide the testers with ethnographic research results that supports the theory of the TTM. The ethnographic research that is conducted and recorded in this journal will help me conduct effective and guided ethnographic research for my thesis. 
Princeton Journal  Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic
  • This journal has given me insight into the psychological side of behavioral change, dealing directly with intrinsic (internal) motivation and extrinsic (external) motivation, providing me with technical knowledge that I can use to gain deeper understanding in how to achieve my goal of helping people take advantage of their intrinsic motivation. 

Where this leads me for future research
  • Future ethnographic research
  • Research what kinds of technologies exist that people use to change their behaviors
  • What kind of design tool would be most helpful for people to use for intrinsic motivation?
    • For example, have people who try to be more active been aided in that goal by utilizing a fitbit or apple watch? Would that translate to my topic?
  • Reach out to my possible SME and DME
    • I've prepared the following email drafts to send to my potential SMEs and DME
SME Email draft:

Hi ,

I'm currently a senior in the Digital Design program and I'm entering my thesis project for the upcoming spring semester. For my thesis, I'm hoping to explore design solutions for people who want to take advantage of intrinsic motivation to change their habits and behaviors instead of extrinsic motivation. After reading your background information on the CU Wellness center's website, I was hoping that we might be able to discuss the possibility of working together, I need a subject matter expert that I can refer to during my thesis project to provide expert knowledge on my topic, help guide some of my research processes, and provide outside feedback on the progress that I make during this process. If this is something that you might be able to help me with, I would love to connect with you sometime soon so that we can discuss potentially working together, please let me know if that would be possible and if you would be open to that!

Best Regards, Julia Olson

DME Email draft:

Hi Michael,

How are you? I know that it's been a while since we've spoken but I'm entering thesis in the spring and my topic is heavily research based and I thought of you as a potential DME. I'm exploring possible design solutions for people who want to take advantage of intrinsic motivation (internal motivation) instead of extrinsic motivation (external motivation) to help them break bad habits and actively pursue altering their own behaviors. If you would be open to discussing the possibility of working together, please let me know!

Best Regards, Julia Olson

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