The Conceptual Pond: A Persuasive Tool for Quantifiable Qualitative Assessment

The Conceptual Pond: A Persuasive Tool for Quantifiable Qualitative Assessment

Christian Grund Sørensen (Aalborg University, Denmark) and Mathias Grund Sørensen (Aalborg University, Denmark)
Copyright: © 2014 |Pages: 21
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4623-0.ch023

Abstract

“The Conceptual Pond” is a persuasive application designed to gather qualitative input through a multi-platform assessment interface. The process of using the application serves as a conceptual aid for personal reflection as well as providing a compilation and evaluation system with the ability to transform this input into quantitative data. In this chapter, a pilot study of this application is presented and discussed. The aim of this chapter is the discussion of central issues in the system, the use of semantic fields, user freedom vs. default options, graphical interface, persuasive technology design, and the epistemological potential of the application. In this discourse, contextualized rhetorical and persuasive technology theories are implemented. Functionality and epistemological impact is exemplified through several use cases, one of these linked to the EUROPlot project. In a more comprehensive scope, this chapter adds to the discussion of the role of IT systems in experiencing the world and reflecting on it, thus breaking new ground for designing persuasive applications supporting human recognition.
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Background

This chapter serves to present a pilot study of The Conceptual pond. Before digging into the concept and the potential it is however important to address a number of background questions related to the origin and nature of the application.

The Conceptual Pond was originally developed to meet challenges in the environment of the EUROPlot-project (www.emdros.org) of searchable and annotated full texts (Gram-Hansen et al., 2011; Gram-Hansen et al., 2012). The overall task in the relevant part of the project is the mediation of knowledge about Danish playwright and vicar Kaj Munk (1898-1944). Such cultural discourse displays specific characteristics as stated by e.g. Hooper-Greenhill (2004). A central challenge to cultural mediation is evaluating impressions and outcomes that are frequently too complex to fit meaningfully in predesigned response patterns. In the Munk Case the central mediation aims at the following goals:

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