The whiteboard method: A qualitative approach to studying media technologies

Understanding technological developments in the media industries and their application and regulation can be a challenge for qualitative social science research because technology tends to require the insights of experts such as computer programmers and engineers. This article describes a method for accessing media technologists’ expert knowledge by using the whiteboard to create think-aloud, collaborative, and co-creative sessions designed to arrive at a shared understanding between researchers and informants. The aim of the whiteboard method is to bring informants into ‘teaching mode’, allowing the researcher to ask uninformed, unprepared questions. Key to the method is documenting each stage of the process by taking pictures as informants outline, connect, correct, or erase items on the whiteboard. The whiteboard method thus creates a rich dataset of pictures, illustrations, and notes from the collaborative process. Useful for learning ‘how things work’, the whiteboard method can be applied to understand complex as well as rapidly changing and diverse technological and industry contexts.