About the Project
STUDENTSHIP SUMMARY
This is a fully-funded PhD studentship at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and Library/Information Science, based partly at City, University of London (Central London) and partly at The National Archives (South-West London). Fees will be paid, plus an annual tax-free stipend of £17,327. Starting date is 1st October 2018.
This PhD will aim to understand the mental models of digital archive content, collections and interfaces that users develop, how they are shaped by the design of existing digital archives and other information environments (for example, search engines, library catalogues, digital libraries), and implications for the design of next-generation digital archives that shape, and are shaped, by users’ mental models.
DETAILED STUDENTSHIP DESCRIPTION
Digital technology is profoundly changing what it means to be an archive. Future digital archives will (by necessity) be very different, providing new opportunities for engaging users. For example, the current shift to predominantly born-digital content is breaking-down distinctions between ‘catalogue’ and ‘archive’, and the move from hierarchically-arranged to inter-linked records (facilitated by Linked Data) has potential to facilitate greater exploration and serendipitous discovery.
To ensure widespread use, next-generation archives must be designed to complement archiving and knowledge-production practices, bridging the conceptual gulf between designers and users. However, archives are inherently complex and demand a more detailed examination of users’ needs. In particular, detailed knowledge is required of users’ understandings of digital archives (their mental models).
Your PhD will aim to understand users’ mental models of digital archive content, collections and interfaces, how they are shaped by the design of existing digital archives and other information environments (e.g. search engines, library catalogues, digital libraries) and the implications for the design of next-generation digital archives that appropriately shape and are shaped by users’ mental models.
Your research will primarily be qualitative in approach, involving detailed observations of digital archive use, and will develop theory and guidelines for digital archive design. It will also feed into a range of user-centred development projects at The National Archives, which are linked to The National Archives’ Digital Strategy.
ELIGABILITY
To be eligable to apply, you must have a Masters degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology or Library/Information Science. Students currently enrolled on a Masters programme who expect to have finished their degree by 1st October 2018 are also eligible to apply, a passion for research and excellent academic writing and oral communication skills. It is desirable if you have previous experience in observing technology use, conducting research in a humanities research setting and/or in writing academic papers.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, or to arrange an informal chat about this studentship, contact Dr. Stephann Makri ([Email Address Removed]).
Funding Notes
This PhD studentship is a Collaborative Doctoral Partnership bbetween City, University of London and The National Archives and is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
UK students are eligible for the annual stipend, plus fees paid. EU students are not eligible for the stipend (only their fees will be paid). Non-EU (overseas) students are not eligible to apply for this studentship.
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