Developing an Inquiry Question: A ‘Think Aloud’ Strategy

The IB Digital Society internal assessment involves a personal research project exploring the effects and consequences of digital systems on individuals and communities. At the heart of this project lies the essential inquiry question.

There are various approaches to consider when tackling this task. One possible approach is to begin the inquiry by exploring a context or concept outlined in the guide. Alternatively, students can delve into news articles that illuminate issues related to the utilization of digital systems within specific contexts. Another viable option is for students to leverage their personal experiences with digital solutions, which frequently encompass a mix of advantages and challenges.

Here is an example of a think-aloud approach, where I, in my role as the teacher, verbally express my thought process to demonstrate how I could formulate an inquiry question:

CONTENT: I might look through Section 3 of the guide and select a digital system. For this example, I am interested in augmented reality (AR).

CONTEXT: I then need to select an application for this context. I may look though Section 4 to help find contexts of where AR is being used. I need to do some research – perhaps look for news articles. I try a google search for: Augmented Reality Applications which leads to many uses in clothing retail stores. I follow a few links and learn about ‘virtual try-ons’.

https://www.drip.com/blog/virtual-try-on-examples

I skim through the article https://arpost.co/2023/06/20/retailers-augmented-reality-in-store-shopping/ and find the conclusion:

In conclusion, augmented reality technology has the potential to transform the retail sector completely. We can anticipate a substantial change in the way we buy as shops continue to experiment with new AR applications. This change will make shopping more immersive, interactive, and personalized.

Hmmm….this may be interesting. I now think about who the stakeholders might be:

STAKEHOLDERS: These are the people or groups that are involved or interact with the technology. In this example they may be:

• Bricks and mortar retailers
• Online retailers
• Customers
• AR Developers

I now want to see what the benefits and the issues are:

BENEFITS: I look through this article: https://www.queppelin.com/virtual-try-on-a-detailed-guide/ and find some benefits are:

• Helps customers make faster and better decisions.
• Customers do not need to leave the comfort of their home or fight through the traffic to reach a physical store only to find that the product they are looking for is out of stock or that their size is unavailable.
• For retailers: Helping users make an informed purchase and reduces the chances of returning the product, as they get what they wanted.
• For retailers: Innovative solution may boost sales.

ISSUES: Now I want to find out about some issues. From same article I find:

• Retailers: poorly developed try-on experience could even discourage a consumer and stop them from making the purchase

Then I search again and find more challenges:

• https://www.netguru.com/blog/key-challenges-of-implementing-virtual-try-on-apps
• Slow/poor performance: the user shouldn’t wait longer than a second or two.
• Regarding performance, it’s hard to estimate how the app will work on different devices.
• Data privacy, an increasingly prominent issue. These days, app users have much more data awareness. On top of that, sharing photos or videos may make people think twice, especially using an example such as tight clothing.
• https://thetechfashionista.com/virtual-clothing-try-on/
• Customers can’t touch the items: According to a survey, 82% of internet customers prefer to see and touch things before purchasing. Using virtual fitting rooms allows consumers to preview how an item will appear on their body, but they can’t experience the material.

OK – am I still interested in this topic? I now need to come up with some possible questions based on my research.

DRAFTING THE IQ

Some areas that I might try to create questions from are:

• Data privacy and virtual try-ons
• Performance vs benefits for virtual try-ons

I attempt to draft IQ:

A What measures are in place to protect customer data and images used in virtual try-on sessions?

B How can virtual try-on technology improve the shopping experience for customers, and what are the advantages of using it for retailers?

However, I don’t think that either of these questions are there yet.

I use the following test using ideas and discussions with DigSoc educators:

1. Is it set in a specific context?
2. Does it relate to a digital system?
3. Who are the stakeholders?
4. Will it allow for a variety of viewpoints and perspectives?
5. Does it allow for secondary research in a similar context that can be related to the specific context?
6. Does it allow for primary research in the specific context?
7. Is the question open-ended?
8. Is it answerable within my research constraints? Can I realistically find information or answers to the question given your available resources and time?

Activity

Look at the following questions and apply the IQ test questions

1. Which IQs work? Why?
2. Which IQ could work with some editing? If so, how would you change it?
3. Which ones are not going to work?

Sample Questions:

1. Is an AR app for virtual try-ons worth the investment for retail stores selling glasses?
2. Do virtual try-ons encourage customers to make faster decisions?
3. To what extent do the benefits of virtual try-ons outweigh the challenges for online cosmetic retail stores?
4. How can virtual try-on technology enhance the overall shopping experience for customers?
5. What factors influence customers’ willingness to adopt virtual try-on solutions?
6. How accurate and realistic are virtual try-on simulations, particularly in terms of colour, fit, and texture?
7. What measures are in place to protect customer data and images used in virtual try-on sessions?
8. Do retailers ensure customer privacy and gain trust in handling personal data?
9. What data can be collected through virtual try-on sessions to offer personalized product recommendations?
10. Can retailers strike a balance between customization and respecting customer privacy?