How does empathy research work in practice?
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 9:18 am
We decided together to organize three focus groups, two sessions with residents and one session with entrepreneurs. The goal was to step into their world and find out which subjects, such as environment, noise and health, they considered most valuable. The most important subjects would be included in the zoning plan.
The kick-off session yielded more than just insight into the issue and the stakeholders' wishes. Because the core team members had to work together in a different way for a whole day, a shared starting point and a lot of understanding for each other's interests emerged. The first gain had already been achieved.
Step 2: the empathy research
Design thinking is a method in which participation in the most literal sense is central. In traditional environmental management, residents and other stakeholders are informed about the plans – for example during an information evening about a road widening – but they appear to have little influence on the actual realization of the plans.
Also read: Design thinking, just do it! 5 concrete steps
In empathic research we always see the environment as a source and not as a (potential) hindrance. This not only makes the plans better and more supported, it is also a much more pleasant way of working.
Empathic research is about really getting to know the people involved. The trick is to step into their world. You don't just want to test how they think about the issue (and the solution), you want a broader view of their lives. That's why we 'forget' the project for a moment.
You will talk to stakeholders about their philippines mobile number list deepest concerns, ambitions and desires. Empathic research therefore often consists of conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups with direct and indirect stakeholders. We conduct each interview and focus group with two people. Two hear more than one, and you can make a division of roles: who asks the questions and who takes the notes (or the photos)?
Empathic research is about really getting to know the people involved. The trick is to step into their world.
After discussing the questions and the focus group set-up with the authorities, we spoke to entrepreneurs and residents – without this core team. The aim was to find out what the drivers and pain points of entrepreneurs and residents were with regard to daily life ('What do you like and dislike in your own living environment?') and mobility ('What do you like and dislike as a road user?'). The answers yielded the topics that were valuable for the environment.
The focus group sessions were intensive. We quickly discovered that it is difficult to get the substantive topics for the integration vision on the table. At times, emotions flared up. After an earlier widening on the north side of the A58 in 2010, some were sceptical, because they were not sufficiently involved in the decision at the time and had the perception that Rijkswaterstaat was simply doing its own thing. In addition, a sense of distrust and miscommunication prevailed.
The kick-off session yielded more than just insight into the issue and the stakeholders' wishes. Because the core team members had to work together in a different way for a whole day, a shared starting point and a lot of understanding for each other's interests emerged. The first gain had already been achieved.
Step 2: the empathy research
Design thinking is a method in which participation in the most literal sense is central. In traditional environmental management, residents and other stakeholders are informed about the plans – for example during an information evening about a road widening – but they appear to have little influence on the actual realization of the plans.
Also read: Design thinking, just do it! 5 concrete steps
In empathic research we always see the environment as a source and not as a (potential) hindrance. This not only makes the plans better and more supported, it is also a much more pleasant way of working.
Empathic research is about really getting to know the people involved. The trick is to step into their world. You don't just want to test how they think about the issue (and the solution), you want a broader view of their lives. That's why we 'forget' the project for a moment.
You will talk to stakeholders about their philippines mobile number list deepest concerns, ambitions and desires. Empathic research therefore often consists of conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups with direct and indirect stakeholders. We conduct each interview and focus group with two people. Two hear more than one, and you can make a division of roles: who asks the questions and who takes the notes (or the photos)?
Empathic research is about really getting to know the people involved. The trick is to step into their world.
After discussing the questions and the focus group set-up with the authorities, we spoke to entrepreneurs and residents – without this core team. The aim was to find out what the drivers and pain points of entrepreneurs and residents were with regard to daily life ('What do you like and dislike in your own living environment?') and mobility ('What do you like and dislike as a road user?'). The answers yielded the topics that were valuable for the environment.
The focus group sessions were intensive. We quickly discovered that it is difficult to get the substantive topics for the integration vision on the table. At times, emotions flared up. After an earlier widening on the north side of the A58 in 2010, some were sceptical, because they were not sufficiently involved in the decision at the time and had the perception that Rijkswaterstaat was simply doing its own thing. In addition, a sense of distrust and miscommunication prevailed.