SensePath: understanding the sensemaking process through analytic provenance

Article

Nguyen, P., Xu, K., Wheat, A., Wong, B., Attfield, S. and Fields, B. 2016. SensePath: understanding the sensemaking process through analytic provenance. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. 22 (1), pp. 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2015.2467611
TypeArticle
TitleSensePath: understanding the sensemaking process through analytic provenance
AuthorsNguyen, P., Xu, K., Wheat, A., Wong, B., Attfield, S. and Fields, B.
Abstract

Sensemaking is described as the process of comprehension, finding meaning and gaining insight from information, producing new knowledge and informing further action. Understanding the sensemaking process allows building effective visual analytics tools to make sense of large and complex datasets. Currently, it is often a manual and time-consuming undertaking to comprehend this: researchers collect observation data, transcribe screen capture videos and think-aloud recordings, identify recurring patterns, and eventually abstract the sensemaking process into a general model. In this paper, we propose a general approach to facilitate such a qualitative analysis process, and introduce a prototype, SensePath, to demonstrate the application of this approach with a focus on browser-based online sensemaking. The approach is based on a study of a number of qualitative research sessions including observations of users performing sensemaking tasks and post hoc analyses to uncover their sensemaking processes. Based on the study results and a follow-up participatory design session with HCI researchers, we decided to focus on the transcription and coding stages of thematic analysis. SensePath automatically captures user’s sensemaking actions, i.e., analytic provenance, and provides multi-linked views to support their further analysis. A number of other requirements elicited from the design session are also implemented in SensePath, such as easy integration with existing qualitative analysis workflow and non-intrusive for participants. The tool was used by an experienced HCI researcher to analyze two sensemaking sessions. The researcher found the tool intuitive and considerably reduced analysis time, allowing better understanding of the sensemaking process.

Keywordsdata visualisation; human computer interaction; HCI researcher; SensePath; analytic provenance; browser-based online sensemaking; coding stage; general model; observation data; participatory design session; qualitative analysis process; qualitative analysis workflow; qualitative research session; recurring pattern; screen capture video; sensemaking process; sensemaking session; thematic analysis; think-aloud recording; transcription stage; visual analytics tool; Context; Encoding; Human computer interaction; Manuals; Visual analytics; Web pages; Sensemaking; analytic provenance; coding; qualitative research; timeline visualization; transcription
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
JournalIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
ISSN1077-2626
Electronic1941-0506
Publication dates
Online13 Aug 2015
Print31 Jan 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited09 May 2016
Accepted10 Jun 2015
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© 2015 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2015.2467611
Web of Science identifierWOS:000364043400009
LanguageEnglish
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