Network game

This next game yields a more detailed research design than the previous games. You will need a couple of additional items to play it: post-its, a pen, (part of) a table or a wall, and possibly some additional arrow-shaped post-it stickies. 

Preparation

  1. Write in a couple of keywords on one post-it the purpose of the assignment.
  2. Shuffle the cards and divide it all up among the team members.

Phase 1) Diverge

One team member begins. During your turn:

  1. Select a method from your personal deck and explain to the team what information this method could yield that would be useful to arrive at a suitable solution.
  2. Write the method and the information on a post-it and put it on the table (or stick it on the wall). Please note: Keep the actual card in your deck. You might want to use the same method again to retrieve other information!
    If there is already another method on the table which yields the same information, then you will have to try to convince your team why your method would be better. Did you convince your team? Then stick the post-it with your method on top of it. Or perhaps you end up deciding to use both methods together to be more certain of the answer: then stick your post-it next to it. 
  3. Indicate dependencies.
    1. Do you depend on other information to execute the added method and is this already on the table? Then add an arrow from the information you need to the method post-it you just added. Perhaps reposition some post-its if that helps communicate your research design.
    2. If there is a method on the table that needs information that your method will yield, then add an arrow from this information to the other method. Again, reposition some post-its if that helps communicate your research design.

Continue on to the next team member, until nobody wants to add another method. Then move on to the next phase.

Phase 2) Converge

Now you have added all research activities that could possibly be interesting, it is time to cut back to create a feasible plan consisting of only the most important parts. 

One team member begins. During your turn:

  1. Point at one of the posted research activities and indicate why this activity contributes the least (or very little) to the end result of the project.
  2. Did you convince your team? Then remove the activity.​
    Please note: Make sure you are not accidentally removing important information after all. Are you still making use of triangulation? 

Continue with the next team member until nobody wants to remove another method and you agree that the current design is feasible within the time available for the project.