CCC Approach

Concept, Content, Context

The CCC approach is a method of observation and research. On the IB DP Digital Society course, students will be using the CCC model in order to understand and to draw out conclusions based on case studies and articles that are provided and analysed.

The CCC model is commonly used by researchers globally, as a method to carry out unstructured observations and research. The IB DP is adopting this model for students on the Digital Society course. Students will use the 3 Cs as 3 lenses as they observe and carry out research.

Example of a 3 Cs observation template being used by professional researchers, while carrying out a field observation.
(source)

Model of the 3 Cs, by Derek Ray Havelock 2022.

This version of the 3 Cs model is to show the connections as stakeholders. Stakeholders have a stake or interest in content, context and/or in the wider concept.

The 3 Cs does not have a hierarchy. Stakeholders can include individuals, communities, groups, businesses or other organisations.

The stakeholder dots are various sizes to demonstrate that different stakeholders have different levels of power.

The stakeholder dots have different distances from the 3 Cs, to demonstrate the distance of the stakeholder to the actual situations.

Some dots are inside the 3 Cs, to demonstrate that some stakeholders are very much immersed in the situation.

Model of the 3 Cs. Connections

This version of the 3 Cs model is to show the wider connections, directly connecting concepts, contexts and contents.

Each connection is shown in the foreground or background, demonstrating the visibility and authority of the connection. One of the connections is transparent to demonstrate that connections may be weak. The central connection demonstrates that it can link all 3 Cs together and can be either in the foreground or background.

The 3 Cs does not have a hierarchy. Connections can include binding forces such as business operations, economic, social, technological, legal or environmental issues.

Model of the 3 Cs. Constraints of the IB DP Digital Society.

In digital society, we are constrained to 7 areas of study within each of the 3 Cs.

Students will be presented with a variety of articles and case studies. Each situation needs to be observed and researched. Links can be made between the constraints that are available to us.

For example, whilst researching AI and art, a student might make links between EXPRESSION > AI > CULTURAL (Arts)

(source) Michael D Fetters and Ellen Rubinstein. 2019.

The 3 Cs of Content, Context, and Concepts: A Practical Approach ...

Fetters and Rubinstein (2019) provide an example of how the 3C's might be used to answer a collection of research questions.

Acronyms of the 3 Cs, on the IB DP Digital Society course.

The following acronyms are a method of quickly memorizing and retrieving the constraints of the 3 Cs for the IB DP Digital Society.

Concept: PIECESS
- Power
- Identity
- Ethics & Values
- Change
- Systems
- Space
Content: MANCARD
- Media
- Algorithms
- Networks & Internet
- Computers
- AI
- Robotics
- Data
Context: PEECHeS
- Political
- Economic
- Environmental
- Cultural
- Human Knowledge
- Health
- Social

Making connections

The IBO provides an example of how the 3 Cs can be used, and how connections can be developed and researched.

(image source, section 3)

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