Diverse & Inclusive Research Matter
EQUITY & INCLUSION ARE THE SECRET SAUCE
I utilize research methods in my life and improve my ability to communicate clearly and concisely every day. From my 20+ years of experience doing this, I have learned that equitable and inclusive research allow me to more comprehensively identify the most relevant and actionable problem to address.
Remotes were originally designed for people who couldn’t get up to change the channel.
Captions were originally designed for people whose ears have different abilities.
Cruise control was designed by someone who didn’t have full vision.
While none of solutions were designed for me, I benefit from them on a weekly basis.
CHECKING MY BIAS
I strive my best to continually improve my understanding of my own implicit and explicit bias, as I understand that effects all the research I do. Additionally, these biases effect my research and the more I understand that and implement changes when necessary, the better my research will be.
To understand and check my bias, I intentionally seek out copious diverse voices to learn from. Checking my biases is hard, uncomfortable work but it’s necessary.
The Creative Reaction Lab’s Equity-Centered Community Design Field Guide guide provided me with key strategies to think like an equity researcher and designer. It shares that, “Equity-Centered Community Design is a unique creative problem solving process based on equity, humility-building, integrating history and healing practices, addressing power dynamics, and co-creating with the community.”
CONSTANTLY LEARNING
I’m constantly reading about things directly and indirectly related to user experience research, as I love to learn.
After reading The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman, I constantly see research and design opportunities everywhere in my life. Just like research, instead of diving into researching everything, I first prioritize what I want to research based on my and my community’s needs, wants, and interests.
Upon reading Mismatch by Kat Holmes, I was better able to communicate about how the oppressive systems designed into our society can, with serious work, be re-designed to benefit many organizations, individuals, and communities.
BEYOND THE BINARY
Binary thinking is super helpful with coding, but not as helpful when understanding humans. Many research approaches focus on binaries such as…
beautiful vs ugly
black vs white
happy vs sad
pros vs cons
good vs bad
right vs wrong
While these approaches are helpful in some cases, it limits how we understand each other. To discover the most relevant and actionable “why” aka problem to solve, my approach to research and learning about user’s needs embraces that as humans, we are complex beings that are agile in our growth and evolution.
UNDERSTANDING EQUITY
It is more helpful to strive for equity rather than equality, because our society does not provide an even playing field. According to The Daily Citizen, “Equality is the essential ideal that everyone should have the same and equal opportunity…Equity, however, doesn’t mean everyone gets an equal and fair place to do their best at the starting line. Equity, as it is being used today, means adjusting the race itself so that everyone is guaranteed to end up at the same place at the end of the race, regardless of effort.”
Equity and diversity lead to more impactful science and research. Understanding this helps me collaborate with others more effectively, and create safer spaces for individuals to honestly communicate with me. Learning about the benefits of equity and diversity as well as understand my own privilege in today’s society is something I strive to continue to learn about my entire life.
RESEARCH IN MY DAILY LIFE
I am constantly researching to figure out how to become a better rock climber. To best achieve my goals I have research climbing technique via reading books, observe and collaborate with other climbers in-person, and take in-person and online classes. I implement this research via practicing specific technique exercises and trying new technique methods with a variety of climbing routes. I make sure to cast a wide net with my research, as learning things related to my body such as learning to breathe better and learning to better manage my stress also help me climb better.
There is no such thing as the “perfect” climber, just as a there is no such thing as a “perfect” product or system. To continue to improve, as my limits, resources and goals evolve, I must keep my research approach agile. When I fall, which I undoubtably will sometimes do, I understand the technique for falling (failing) in a safe way, so I can get up and try again.
LISTENING & UNDERSTANDING
Humans share different things about themselves for many reasons, including how safe and comfortable they feel in certain spaces and around individuals. As part of my research, I utilize active listening, compassion, and assuming the best of people to help develop trust in relationships so vulnerability and honesty are welcome. This allows me to better analyze and understand the most relevant and actionable problem(s) that need to be solved.
