Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Summary
The democratization of research practices has become almost ubiquitous, and an increasingly expanding part of many research teams. There has been a lot of discussion and sharing about the benefits of democratization programs, and case studies shared on how to make them effectively work. As the reach of this approach grows though, there are a number of emerging voices who are starting to question the way in which democratization programs are being used and rolled out. As well as asking difficult questions about the extent to which they should be deployed in the first place, and how they are able to work, rather than undermine, traditional research sciences.
Key Insights
-
•
Democratization of research is often misunderstood and misleading as a term, likened to propaganda.
-
•
Research is a specialized skill requiring training, education, and experience similar to professions like medicine.
-
•
There are three key research phases: impartial evidence collection, partial insight generation, and advocating case presentation.
-
•
Allowing untrained non-researchers to conduct foundational research risks contamination, bias, and poor business decisions.
-
•
The Dunning-Kruger effect causes non-experts to overestimate their research competence, leading to bad outcomes.
-
•
Usability testing by non-researchers can be acceptable but should be governed and clearly limited in scope.
-
•
There is no established research governance or standardized certification akin to other professions.
-
•
Research should focus on delivering points of view informed by evidence rather than just data or reports.
-
•
Businesses often misuse democratization as a cost-cutting method instead of properly funding research capacity.
-
•
A successful democratization program requires guardrails, governance, coaching, and clear boundaries.
Notable Quotes
"The very word democratization in research is misleading, it’s almost akin to propaganda."
"Research is a systematic investigation in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions."
"Good enough isn’t always good enough — especially in high stakes decisions."
"Who would you rather have conduct heart surgery? A part-time surgeon or a full-time surgeon? That’s specialization."
"The risk of contaminating the evidence at the start of research can ruin the whole case."
"The problem with democratization is that there are no guardrails."
"Your value as a researcher isn’t in your ability to use a method, it’s the point of view you develop from a body of evidence."
"If anybody could do research, why do businesses still hire specialized researchers?"
"Making insights ubiquitous across a business is different from democratizing research itself."
"Democratization without governance leads to a wild west of inquiry, which is dangerous for a business."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"I have to triangulate socially because Yorkshire folks are quite reserved; they won't openly admit issues."
Adam Cutler Karen Pascoe Ian Swinson Susan WorthmanDiscussion
June 8, 2016
"Developing trust means showing you understand what it takes to get something shipped, that you’re reliable, and that people can be vulnerable with you."
Peter MerholzThe Trials and Tribulations of Directors of UX (Videoconference)
July 13, 2023
"Governance is about decision making, not workflow processes."
Lisa WelchmanCleaning Up Our Mess: Digital Governance for Designers
June 14, 2018
"The time for action is now, and it must be collaborative."
Vincent BrathwaiteOpener: Past, Present, and Future—Closing the Racial Divide in Design Teams
October 22, 2020
"The squad model flopped for us after six months but created culture triads that stuck around."
Brenna FallonLearning Over Outcomes
October 24, 2019
"Linear perspective created this myth that we can see reality from a single perspective, which is the source of all misunderstanding."
Tricia WangSpatial Collapse: Designing for Emergent Culture
January 8, 2024
"Marital status mattered because car buying decisions often involve family members, not just the individual."
Edgar Anzaldua MorenoUsing Research to Determine Unique Value Proposition
March 11, 2021
"The toy shouldn’t be the goal of play, but a tool or a process that unlocks the unlimited possibilities set forth before a child."
Designing Systems at Scale
November 7, 2018
"Ethics evolve faster than law; just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical."
Erin WeigelGet Your Whole Team Testing to Design for Impact
July 24, 2024
