ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the micro-dynamics of a participatory design (PD) Facebook group for breast screening. We argue that using online PD methods enables participants to be fully involved throughout the research process and can lead to meaningful outcomes and impact for the research. However, it is important to ensure that all stakeholders are able to be equally involved in the research. As such, understanding how a user’s stake or interest is managed can help to uncover how professionals and lay people can participate together in such groups. A case study approach is adopted, with an example presented from a PD Facebook group established to develop a web resource around breast screening. 70 threads from the Facebook group were analysed in a naturalistic way using discursive psychology. The analysis shows how participants aimed to manage the dilemma of being seen as interested due to their professional identities, and did so in a number of ways including referring to joint membership of the design group. However, there were still challenges in ensuring that lay members’ contributions were not diminished by more professional members. The analysis suggests that in an online PD group, moderators may be needed to ensure that potential conflicts of interest are managed appropriately and all members’ views are heard.

摘要

本文分析了用于乳房筛查的参与式设计 (PD) Facebook 群组的微观动力学。我们认为，使用在线 PD 方法可以让参与者充分参与整个研究过程，并可以为研究带来有意义的结果和影响。然而，重要的是要确保所有利益相关者能够平等地参与研究。因此，了解如何管理用户的权益或利益有助于揭示专业人士和非专业人士如何共同参与此类团体。采用案例研究方法，并提供了一个来自 PD Facebook 群组的示例，该群组旨在开发有关乳房筛查的网络资源。使用话语心理学以自然主义的方式分析了来自 Facebook 组的 70 个线程。该分析显示参与者如何解决由于其专业身份而被视为感兴趣的困境，并通过多种方式实现这一目标，包括提及设计小组的联合成员资格。然而，在确保非专业成员的贡献不因更专业的成员而减少方面仍然存在挑战。分析表明，在在线 PD 小组中，可能需要主持人来确保适当管理潜在的利益冲突并听取所有成员的意见。