INFORMATION RESEARCH

Research on Affordances of Quantified Self Technology From the Perspective of the Grounded Theory

  • Feng Shan ,
  • Xiong Huixiang ,
  • Huang Jizhen ,
  • Tong Zhaoli
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  • 1 School of Information Management, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079;
    2 Department of Pulmonary and Critial Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060;
    3 Hubei Communications Technical College, Wuhan 430079

Received date: 2023-04-06

  Revised date: 2023-07-28

  Online published: 2024-02-23

Supported by

This work is supported by the Central China Normal University Fundamental Research Funds (Humanities and Social Sciences) for the interdisciplinary science research titled "Research on Personal Health Management Based on Quantified Self Technology" (Grant No. CCNU-22JC033) and the key program of National Social Science Fund of China titled "Smart Online Health Resource Mining and Intelligent Service Research Driven by Digital Intelligence " (Grant No. 22ATQ004).

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Clarifying the affordances of quantified self technology and mapping them with needs and features can lead to a better understanding of quantified self behaviors, which in turn can improve personal health. [Method/Process] This study interviewed 23 smartwatch users, analyzed the interview data with NVivo, and summarized affordances of quantified self technology based on grounded theory. From the needs–affordances–features perspective, this paper mapped the affordances, needs, and features of quantified self technology. [Result/Conclusion] The affordances of quantified self technology include technical affordances, social affordances, and data affordances. The study finds that the technical affordances of quantified self technology can fulfill users’ autonomous and relatedness needs, while social affordances can meet the multiple needs, and data affordances can support the need of autonomy, coming to know the self, and maintaining continuity of self-identity. Then, this paper puts forward suggestions for improving the services of quantified self technology.

Cite this article

Feng Shan , Xiong Huixiang , Huang Jizhen , Tong Zhaoli . Research on Affordances of Quantified Self Technology From the Perspective of the Grounded Theory[J]. Library and Information Service, 2024 , 68(3) : 59 -70 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2024.03.006

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