Field studies, ethnographic

Verbal protocols Computer logging Think aloud techniques Field evaluations Ethnographic studies Facilitated free play... 

These are in-the-field studies that have been adopted from anthropology research. The researchers are embedded to some level with the users and gamer data on how they interact in real life with the products or systems under study or similar products or systems or to identify the need for such products. In an ethnographic study of independent elders, Forhzzi et al. [2004] identified two groups of elders, well and declining, using characteristics of mobihty, cognitive function, and household maintenance. 

What is perhaps most noticeable about these approaches is that, within the field of PSC, the majority of studies so far adopt a functionalist, culture as causal attitude approach towards theory and measurement. Most studies involve the use of quantitative surveys very few studies in the mainstream medical literature are based on observation or the use of ethnographic studies. Theory still remains poorly defined in most studies (Halligan and Zecevic 2011), whilst other areas (e.g. contemporary work on risk - e.g. Aven et al. 2011 Ben-Ari and Or-Chen 2009) are much more developed. The field of PSC needs to move beyond an exclusive focus on the adoption of a functiorralist approach to culture and safety. Part of this will involve the involvement of other disciplines, as well as the use of other types of methods (e g. ethnography, qrralitative studies), whether in isolation or in a mixed method format. 

---