Summary
How do we draw and navigate the boundaries around the ethics of story collecting and telling? As UX researchers, we collect stories through interviews—stories that connect us with others and communicate the core humanistic values of integrity, empathy, and respect. At the crux of the matter, is that these stories are not our own—they belong to our interlocutors. As we collect data, we are not passive listeners either—we also leave our imprint on these stories through interpretation and subjective insights.
Key Insights
-
•
Storytelling in research is entangled with power dynamics affecting who is heard and who controls the narrative.
-
•
Researchers and participants occupy different power positions, influencing the stories collected and told.
-
•
Positionality is fluid, multifaceted, relational, and significantly shapes research interactions.
-
•
Reflexivity helps researchers examine their biases, assumptions, and role within the storytelling process.
-
•
The colonial origins of anthropology inform ongoing ethical challenges in ethnographic research.
-
•
Co-creation in research—especially in interviews—can balance power through mutual exchange of stories.
-
•
Invitational and open-ended language during interviews empower participants and enrich storytelling.
-
•
Ethical norms like anonymity can sometimes inadvertently silence participants wanting recognition.
-
•
Trying to force similarity to build rapport can lead to missed connections or misinterpretations.
-
•
Discomfort and openness to derailment in research can yield unexpected insights and growth.
Notable Quotes
"Stories are how we think; they are how we make meaning of life."
"The truth about stories is that is all that we are – Thomas King."
"Through the act of telling, a person brings their story into the story – Minha."
"Researchers and participants are telling different stories because we occupy different locations of power."
"Positionality is fluid, multifaceted, intersecting, and relational."
"We have an agenda shaping our discussion guides, so stop pretending objectivity."
"Being in a state outside of your comfort zone, while not pleasant, is the foundation for growth."
"Invitational language lets participants be in charge of parts of the interaction."
"We can’t help but collect and shape stories that inherently belong to our participants."
"Co-creation is not the end-all-be-all, but it helps negotiate power between researcher and participant."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Concept validation lets us objectively decide which features to build based on perceived usefulness and intent to use."
Standardizing Product Merits for Leaders, Designers, and Everyone
June 15, 2018
"If I don’t have a map, I can’t see patterns or apply context-specific gameplay."
Simon WardleyMaps and Topographical Intelligence (Videoconference)
January 31, 2019
"There’s a gap between intentions and impact; humility is needed to close it."
Sandra CamachoCreating More Bias-Proof Designs
January 22, 2025
"By observing, appealing to interests, and promoting accountability, we can build empathy and respect to combat toxicity."
Darian DavisLessons from a Toxic Work Relationship
January 8, 2024
"We mitigated data privacy risks by subscribing to the corporate plan for ChatGPT, which offers enhanced security."
Fisayo Osilaja[Demo] The AI edge: From researcher to strategist
June 4, 2024
"Temporary, quick, and sometimes rough artifacts have a lifespan just long enough for the conversation they enable."
Uday GajendarThe Wicked Craft of Enterprise UX
May 13, 2015
"There is no design team responsible for the overarching experience across the entire company."
Davis Neable Guy SegalHow to Drive a Design Project When you Don’t Have a Design Team
June 10, 2021
"People were very adverse to changes because a small 0.5% conversion increase meant millions in revenue."
Eniola OluwoleLessons From the DesignOps Journey of the World's Largest Travel Site
October 24, 2019
"Design leaders want predictable roadmaps and healthy teams, measurable against timelines and goals."
Aurobinda Pradhan Shashank DeshpandeIntroduction to Collaborative DesignOps using Cubyts
September 9, 2022