Better by Design : Applying qualitative research processes to government initiatives

APPLYING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH PROCESSES TO GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Meena Kothandaraman@meena_ko

the city needed to hear more stories about

people, andtheir lifestyles

these stories would bring human meaning to

existing quantitative housing data

transparency and structure

we employed our rigorousfive-phased research approach

ALIGN PLAN GATHER ANALYZE APPLY


• What are some common behaviors and drivers when it comes to housing choices?

• What are common motivations, pain points, and goals for living in the city of Boston?

• What does “affordable” look like to those considered middle income?

• What are some housing necessities beyond the scale of the home unit? What defines necessity?

• What is the configuration of a middle income home and what kinds of homes fit this configuration?


focus was on aligning around what needed to

be answered

city unfamiliar with human-

centered qualitative research



focus was the designed

interaction for a three hour study

in-person connection and

in-context requirement




focus on anchored

activities that gave a platform for articulation

stories were complex and

abstract



focus on emotional and

physical needs of people

city more familiar with number-based data



focus on showing potential for qualitative

research through pilot

socialization didn’t happen

instantly

a structured process helped organize the abstract nature of

qualitative research

advocate for human-centered inclusion in civic

programs

the City of Boston served as a model with its human-

centered approach to housing design

Thank [email protected]

@meena_ko#keepithuman