Transcript Presentation Anthropological Methods

Integration of smart-grid technologies in households
- A multi-sited case-study of
changing social practices in the everyday life
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalborg University
Anthropological Field Methods | December 2014
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Background, Objectives and Research questions
Methodological conciderations
My empirical material
5 papers and 5 different analytical approaches?
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University
1. Background, Objectives and Research questions
Background
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a part of IHSMAG
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aim: to reach the sustainable goals by getting more renewables into the energy system
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challenges: to balance consumption and production in the energy system
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solution: smart grid has the potential to balance fluctuation through intelligent demand management
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demand of new consumption patterns – more flexibility
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households have to be involved and engaged
Aim
To fill out the lack of integration of smart grid technologies in the
end-user design
Objectives and research questions
A socio-geographical qualitative study on social practices, particular focusing on
energy demand-practices, there constitution and the posibility for change
Overall ?: How do Danish households integrate smart grid technologies into their everyday life?
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how SG-technologies change social practices in households’ everyday?
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households flexibility to postpone their energy demand?
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how does system managers construct social change in the everyday life?
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how is meaning constructed in the social?
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how is EV-driving a matter of contextual conditions?
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building
Research Institute | Aalbourg University
2) Methodological conciderations
Presentation of my case ‘Test-an-EV’
• an unique case…. Access to test-pilots and socio-economic information etc
• the first selection of qualitative interviews
A qualitative approach
• social and geographical researcher, contextual knowledge
• situational analysis > mapping as a tool to open the field (Adele Clark)
• awareness of scientific position and normativity (
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building
Research Institute | Aalbourg University
2) Methodological conciderations
Field work and status
• when?
• where?
• how? semi-structured interview technique (Kvale, Thagaard, Spradley) and focus
group interviews (Halkier)
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building
Research Institute | Aalbourg University
My empirical material
Qualitative methods
Sample size
Time
Space
Aim
In-depth individual
interviews with pilots
8 households
Summer
time
Two small towns South of
Jutland, Country side. At
home
In-depth knowledge on social
practices in the everyday life
Follow the ‘sayings about their
doings’
Focus groups
interviews with pilots
3 groups, 8
participants
Winter
time
Copenhagen, more
urbanised surroundings. At
working spaces
Capture construction of
meaning in the social
Follow the ‘sayings about their
doings’
All first-adopters: huge engagement and interest in the EV technology
Individual interviews: Project leader of Test-an-EV and the project manager (direct contact with the test-pilots)
Individual interview: Danish Transport Authority (one of the main sponsors behind Test-an-EV)
Participant observation
Information meetings (EV handovers/delivering)
? to a survey
Added some questions focusing on everyday life and practices to a quantitative survey
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Selection: widest variation on socio-economic parameters
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• 5 papers, 5 different methods and theroretical
approaches? Et oversigtsskema….
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building
Research Institute | Aalbourg University
Analytical approach
PhD Student Freja Friis | Danish Building
Research Institute | Aalbourg University