Ongoing
Advocating for relational research
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As a clinician with a background working with marginalized communities, I’ve always been mindful of the power dynamics that inform our interactions. When working with children and families through state-mandated early-intervention programs in patients’ homes, it was clear that many families had been told that their way of being, of raising their children, was incorrect because it was not aligned to the Western, individualistic way of life. Since then, my goal has been to listen to what my patients (or participants) are telling me and empower them to live their lives on their terms through tailored clinical interventions or digital experiences.
As a researcher, I had always been taught that empathy was key. But empathizing with my patients or research participants still left me feeling like there was a certain power dynamic that was keeping those I was working with from showing up authentically in our space. My whole perspective changed one afternoon, when I took a workshop called Deconstructing Coloniality in Design and Research by Pause and Effect. Their approach to research, which focused on building relationships with participants, rather than empathizing with them, changed my approach completely.
Given my background in the therapy and rehabilitation spaces, I consider qualitative research to be my superpower. By focusing on building a relationship with research participants within the short timeframe that we have, I can focus on understanding the context and dig deeper into the why’s that drive decision making. This approach has led to richer insights, a deeper understanding of psychology, and has translated to more poignant and thoughtful digital experiences.
Want to learn more? Here are some resources that I’ve loved:
Research is Ceremony by Shawn Wilson
Want to chat more about power in corporate research spaces? Please reach out! I’d love to connect.