Drivers for end-users' collaboration in participatory innovation development and living lab processes

Design for users often uses user-centered methods and methodologies. However, this requires an active participation of these users. In this article we explore the motivation and drivers for users to collaborate in innovation processes within a Living Lab environment and approach. We do this by means of data gathered during the course of four years of Living Lab-activity by iMinds-iLab.o on three levels: macro-level (general panel activity), meso-level (activity and motivation within a Living Lab), and micro-level (activity and motivation in a Living Lab-project)

Selection and Mode Effects in Risk Preference Elicitation Experiments

We combine data from a risk preference elicitation experiment conducted on a representative sample via the Internet with laboratory data on student subjects for the same experiment in order to investigate effects of implementation mode and of subject pool selection. We find that the frequency of errors in the lab experiment is drastically below that of the representative sample in the Internet experiment, and average risk aversion is lower as well. Considering the student-like subsample of the Internet subjects and comparing a traditional lab design with an Internet-like design in the lab gives us two ways to decompose these differences into differences due to subject pool selection and differences due to implementation mode. Both lead to the conclusion that the differerences are due to selection and not to implementation mode. An analysis of the various steps leading to participation or non-participation in the Internet survey leads to the conclusion that these processes are selective in selecting subjects who make fewer errors, but do not lead to biased conclusions on risk preferences. These findings point at the usefulness of the Internet survey as an alternative to a student pool in the laboratory if the ambition is to use the experiments to draw inference on a broad population.Risk aversion;Internet surveys;Laboratory experiments

Selection and Mode Effects in Risk Preference Elicitation Experiments

We combine data from a risk preference elicitation experiment conducted on a representative sample via the Internet with laboratory data on students for the same experiment to investigate effects of implementation mode and of subject pool selection. We find that the frequency of errors in the lab experiment is drastically below that of the representative sample in the Internet experiment, and average risk aversion is also lower. Considering the student-like subsample of the Internet subjects and comparing a traditional lab design with an Internet-like design in the lab gives two ways to decompose these differences into differences due to subject pool selection and differences due to implementation mode. Both lead to the conclusion that the differences are due to selection and not implementation mode. An analysis of the various steps leading to participation or non-participation in the Internet survey leads shows that these processes are selective in selecting subjects who make fewer errors, but do not lead to biased conclusions on risk preferences. These findings point at the usefulness of the Internet survey as an alternative to a student pool in the laboratory if the ambition is to use the experiments to draw inference on a broad population.risk aversion, internet surveys, laboratory experiments

Civil Society Legitimacy and Accountability: Issues and Challenges

University education rarely focuses its attention and imagination on teaching students how to turn a vision into reality; how to design, develop, and lead social change organizations. The author co-created the Social Entrepreneurship Collaboratory (SE Lab) at Stanford University and then Harvard University as a model educational program designed to achieve this goal. The SE Lab is a Silicon Valley influenced incubator where student teams create and develop innovative pilot projects for US and international social sector initiatives. The lab combines academic theory, frameworks, and traditional research with intensive field work, action research, peer support and learning, and participation of domain experts and social entrepreneurship practitioners. It also provides students an opportunity to collaborate on teams to develop business plans for their initiatives and to compete for awards and recognition in the marketplace of ideas. Students in the SE Lab have created innovative organizations serving many different social causes, including fighting AIDS in Africa, promoting literacy in Mexico, combating the conditions for terrorism using micro-finance in the Palestinian territories, and confronting gender inequality using social venture capital to empower women in Afghanistan

Selection and mode effects in risk preference elicitation experiments

We combine data from a risk preference elicitation experiment conducted on a representative sample via the Internet with laboratory data on students for the same experiment to investigate effects of implementation mode and of subject pool selection. We find that the frequency of errors in the lab experiment ist drastically below that of the representative sample in the Internet experiment, and average risk aversion is also lower. Considering the student-like subsample of the Internet subjects and comparing a tradtitional lab design with an Internet-like design in the lab gives two ways to decompose these differences into differences due to subject pool selection and differences due to implementation mode. Both lead to the conclusion that the differences are due to selection and not implementation mode. An analysis of the various steps leading to participation or non-participation in the Internet survey shows that these processes are selective in selecting subjects who make fewer errors, but do not lead to biased conclusions on risk preferences. These findings point a the usefulness of the Internet survey as an alternative to a student pool in the laboratory if the ambition is to use the experiments to draw inference on a broad population

Accessibility for different abilities: A report

Active participation is the foundation of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) where the Inclusive Design Research Lab (IDRLab) is located. The IDRC’s goal is to establish a relationship between users and designers driven by a symbiotic reciprocity. Ultimately, “A successful Participatory Inclusive Design Lab is one in which users not only believe, but also witness, that their contributions matter” (Treviranus, 2012). This goal requires a degree of social connection and an environment in which people care significantly about each other and what they are working to create. Supporting this concept is the social model of inclusion, based on respect for human rights that underscores the responsibility of IDRLab to create all possible conditions of full accessibility. This report describes how barriers to inclusion were removed to enable people with disabilities to participate in the IDRLab

Experimentarium as arena for common learning during change processes

The initiating question guiding this study is how employee participation can be established during an organisational change process in order to ensure the employees' involvement in the design of their future work environment. A case study where an "experimentarium" (learning lab) was set up in a medium size Danish company is presented in this paper. The case study demonstrates that it is feasible to generate employee participation in designing their future working environment in the experimentarium when careful attention is given to the influence of situational factors and a stringent pedagogical method is utilised

Devloping a Course in the History of Biology

Studies in course design have indicated that it is much more efficient to implement an active learning environment for students. Participation through discussions and activities results in a greater intake of knowledge by the students. This course was designed to incorporate multidisciplinary skills in the classroom. The History of Biology integrates a scientific lab section with a history class. Microscopes is a sample unit in the course and incorporates scientific concepts and historical information.The lab section introduces the students to the lesson by having them use critical thinking skills in order to grasp important concepts prior to the lecture. Other project ideas have been included to show an approach to a different historical time period with modern scientific advancements

Scenario-based elearning and stem education: A qualitative study exploring the perspectives of educators

There are a variety of extra curricular activities and programs that aim to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, but there are limited examples of extending STEM curriculum by employing scenario-based eLearning opportunities in a mobile lab learning environment. Following students participation in a first of its kind STEM Mobile Lab program that uses a scenario-based eLearning approach for instruction, twelve educators from four Title I elementary schools were asked about their perceptions of the influence of the Mobile Lab program on the STEM education of their students. The semi-structured interview protocol contained questions intended to explore participants’ perceptions regarding the influence of a scenario-based eLearning Mobile STEM Lab program on the STEM interest and achievement of students. The study found that a scenario-based eLearning Mobile STEM Lab can influence STEM interest and achievement of elementary students. This promising finding leads to a recommendation for educators to use this approach and similar programs to make students more interested in science and improve their grades. Efforts by educators to design and implement scenario-based eLearning opportunities lead to increased learner engagement

Käyttäjien osallisuus ja motivointi avoimeen yhteissuunnitteluun

Tutkimuksen aiheena on käyttäjien osallistaminen kaikille avoimeen yhteissuunnittelutilaisuuteen. Tutkimus selvittää, miten käyttäjiä voidaan osallistaa muotoilun keinoin suunnitteluprosessiin, miten heitä voidaan siihen motivoida ja mitä tulisi ottaa huomioon, kun halutaan järjestää avoin yhteissuunnittelutilaisuus. Tutkimusmenetelmänä on käytetty laadullista tapaustutkimusta, jossa on sovellettu konstruktiivisen muotoilun tutkimuksen menetelmää. Aineisto on kerätty suunnittelemalla ja toteuttamalla kaksi tapausta, joissa käyttäjiä osallistettiin kaikille avoimessa yhteissuunnittelutilaisuudessa. Tapaukset liittyivät IDeALL ja Elävä Lappi -hankkeisiin, joissa on haluttu yhdistää muotoilun menetelmiä Living Lab toimintaan. Käyttäjiä osallistettiin yhteensä viidellä eri tapaa, jotka on kuvailtu ja analysoitu. Tapausten toteuttamisen lisäksi aineiston keruussa on käytetty osallistuvaa havainnointia ja haastatteluja. Muistiinpanot tapauksiin liittyvistä palautepalaverista ja päätösseminaarista toimivat muiden aineistojen tukena. Aineiston analyysiin on käytetty teoriaohjaavaa sisällönanalyysiä, jossa aikaisempien viitekehyksessä esitettyjen teorioiden vaikutus on tunnistettavissa. Tutkimuksesta selvisi, että vaikka käyttäjiä motivoi monet eri asiat, he haluavat jotain vastineeksi osallistumisestaan. Tässä tapaustutkimuksessa osallistumisen palkitsemisen rahallisella arvolla ei kuitenkaan ollut merkitystä. Osallistamisen menetelmissä tärkeäksi osoittautui menetelmien kyky inspiroida käyttäjiä ja konkretisoida ajatuksia. Tämä tapahtuu joko suoran tai välillisen tekemisen kautta. Käytettäessä muotoilun menetelmiä käyttäjien osallistamiseen, tulisi myös tulosten tulkitsijana toimia muotoilun asiantuntija. Lopuksi esitetään ohjeistus huomioonotettavista asioista, kun halutaan järjestää kaikille avoin yhteissuunnittelutilaisuus.The research subject of this thesis is the participation of users into a co-design event open for all. The aim is to find out how to participate users in means of design into the design process, how the users can be motivated and what should be considered when an open co-design event is organized. The research method is a qualitative case study, that also adapts constructive design research methods. The research material was collected by planning and carrying out two cases of open co-design in which users participated. The cases were part of IDeALL and Elävä Lappi projects, where the methods of design are integrated into Living Lab activity. The users could participate in total in five different ways, that are described and analyzed. Besides carrying out the cases, observation and interviewing have been used to collect research material. Also notes from a feedback meeting and conclusion seminar of the cases support the material. For the analysis of the material content analysis is used, where the influence of previous theory presented in the theoretical framework is recognizable. As results of the research, it is concluded that users can be motivated in many ways, but they want to get something as compensation for their participation. In this case study, the price of the reward for participating wasn't relevant. In the methods for participation it is important, that they inspire the participant and concretize their ideas. This can happen through direct or indirect making. When using means of design in user participation it is also important that the interpreter of the results has design expertise. Finally a guideline about things to consider in open co-design is presented