Boundary Negotiating Artifacts to Envision the Desired Research Data Infrastructure Toward Reproducibility in Data-Intensive Science
Journal
Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
ISSN
0925-9724
1573-7551
Date Issued
2025-07
Author(s)
Abstract
This methodological paper presents an innovative perspective to understanding how researchers negotiate and reach consensus on data-sharing and reproducibility practices within collaborative settings. We combine Lee’s (Computer Supported Cooperative Work 16:307–339, 2007) study of boundary-negotiating artifacts (BNAs) with the structure of design-thinking workshops, specifically the UK Design Council's Double Diamond model, to investigate the patterns between artifact types and the stages of the collaborative process. Our case study focuses on 17 researchers from data-intensive sub-disciplines. We found that in Stage I, self-explanation and borrowed artifacts facilitate individual sensemaking; Stage II is the only stage where all five BNA types are present, reflecting the need for a balanced distribution; Stage III marks a shift towards compilation artifacts dominating solution generation; and Stage IV showcases the power of inclusion artifacts in driving convergence. Two additional case studies involving 30 academic librarians and 13 criminologists respectively, further validated the adaptability and utility of our methodological approach across diverse contexts. From these findings, we derived practical guidance for future facilitators, emphasizing the strategic use of artifact types across workshop stages—from surfacing tacit knowledge early on, balancing perspectives in intermediate stages, systematically generating solutions through structured templates, to solidifying consensus in the final stages. Our approach provides a structured yet flexible framework, enabling facilitators and researchers across diverse disciplines to select and utilize artifacts tailored to their specific contexts, whether in workshops, field studies, or cultural probes.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article