View Dissertation Charles Doherty MA/MSc Electronic Pubishing, City University, London 2007
Personal Account of the Individual Project Dissertation at City University 2006-2007Charles Doherty
19/09/2007
Without a doubt this is the single largest piece of written work I have ever produced. All the varied and plentiful stages I have been through in order to complete the study seem somewhat surreal until one holds the results together in a single volume, only to find yourself surprised that it was even larger and more complex than you remember.
The most valuable experience gained from the dissertation process has been complex project management. Being totally responsible for the research, design, development and construction is a valuable testing ground for personal decision making processes, and not a little nerve racking when the work you produce will become a valuable real world resource for an organization such a Writernet.
This project in particular has been multifaceted as a result of its exploratory context and has allowed me to integrate research, experimental design, human computer interaction and design, with creative development processes, imagination, and people management.
The real challenge for this project was the late shift in the project focus, as a result of internal company changes, which meant that the whole project needed to be completed in a 7 week period in order for there to be time remaining for the SNS to be evaluated. Working closely to a personal deadline was a dynamic process particularly in light of the frustrating unavailability of test subjects from the user group due to the July-August holidays. Innovation and persistence do pay off, however, particularly in overcoming the problems of distance between study and subject locations (London/Yorkshire). Having vetted my spleen over the lack of availability of the subject user group I have to add that they are singularly a most friendly and accommodating community. Even in the thick of writing it was satisfying to know that my work was taking other people forward with me as I played the roll of “Facebook Support Guy” over the telephone on many occasions. What amazes me even more is that most of this work has been undertaken completely alone, like some intellectual right of passage, without a constant guiding hand to steady you when you stumble. The learning experience, as a result of this process, reinforces the confidence to trust your own judgment in a place where intellectualism and applied knowledge meet. What is particularly satisfying is the knowledge that there has been very little comprehensive research done in the area of online SNS applications and their effects on social interaction, which means that this study could make a small but significant contribution to a wider body of knowledge and literature. This is of some value as completing this project has produced a very large volume of text which I felt was a necessary risk in order to follow the logical exploration to its proper meaningful conclusion for myself, the knowledge base of the wider community, and for the project sponsor, Writernet.
Also satisfying was the was the great review Jonathan Meth, the Writernet MD and project director for this study, gave after looking over the work, focusing on the utility of this study for expanding the scope of operational support and development of playwrights.
Daniel Charles Doherty (2007)
