Research & Write
Ethnographic Research is ANTHROPOLOGY working in real time: ABOUT, SKILLS, RESEARCH METHODS & EXAMPLES
What Is Done - OBSERVE, RECORD, INTERVIEW, DOCUMENT & ANALYZE:
Capturing individuals' personal perspectives within their cultural contexts provides a more precise understanding of the values influencing their interactions with products and services. Whether through extensive observational recordings or interview-based contextual clips, sounds and voices supplement or replace our written field notes and in-depth reports.
What is Ethnography?
Ethnography and ethnographic research: "Ethnography, simply stated, is the study of people in their own environment through the use of methods such as participant observation and face-to-face interviewing. As anthropologist H. Sidky suggests, ethnography documents cultural similarities and differences through empirical fieldwork and can help with scientific generalizations about human behavior and the operation of social and cultural systems (2004:9). Because anthropology as a discipline is holistic (meaning it looks at the past, present and future of a community across time and space), ethnography as a first hand, detailed account of a given community or society attempts to get a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances of the people being studied. Ethnographers, then, look at and record a people’s way of life as seen by both the people and the anthropologist; they take an emic (folk or inside) and etic (analytic or outside) approach to describing communities and cultures." U.S. Department of the Interior
Research Profile
Dave is a dedicated researcher specializing in leveraging ethnographic research through soundscaping for business insights. With a keen interest in diverse cultures, he possesses a high tolerance for ambiguity, volatility, and uncertainty. Dave excels in crafting insightful narratives about complex cultural identity markers, sonic transcriptions, and audio capturing theories. His toolkit, including experiential and Socratic methods, allows him to strike a balance between play, theory, tradition, and current business objectives. Comfortable navigating various business contexts, Dave advocates for leveraging audio technology, advanced rhythm, and optimal user experience (UX) with clear articulation and developmental ease. His spirited and engaging approach propels him to uncover the sonic signatures and creative processes that impact businesses within the cultural landscape.
Enhanced research yields deeper insights
In a data-driven marketplace that operates 24/7, businesses are increasingly recognizing the value of incorporating ethnographic research to gain comprehensive customer insights. Why? To establish better and quicker connections with people and make the "real world" more tangible for business leaders. Ethnographic research breathes life into the consumer's journey, enabling businesses to witness firsthand how individuals interact with and experience their products or services. The outcome…more impactful results.
Research Skills for Business Solutions
Interaction Research:
- Proficient in crafting persona-based research methods and scenario-driven audio and written interactions tailored for business insights.
- Skilled in observation, inquiry, ethnographic research, and recording as a performance to extract valuable consumer perspectives.
- Capable of creating complex audio hierarchies presented in human-friendly structures to enhance user experience.
Designing Research:
- Deep understanding of current and traditional sound and writing design forms, behaviors, and aesthetics applicable to business contexts.
- Profound interest in human & sound relationships to inform product/service development.
- Awareness of human factors, ergonomics, and usability in audio technology and performance for business applications.
- Familiarity with manufacturability, marketing, and audio engineering relevant to business solutions.
Research Experience:
- PhD educated with expertise in leading constructive critiques for business innovation.
- Motivates individuals and teams through practical applications, accepting failure, and recognizing success in a business context.
- Ability to improvise and empathize with diverse business viewpoints and worldviews.
Recording the Research:
- Transposes musical design sketches and diagrams into functioning written, recorded objects, and interaction systems for business applications.
- Fluent in IOS apps and recording DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, Auria, and Cubasis for effective business communication.
- Writes about sound design using analog and digital formats, platforms, microcontrollers, and sensors relevant to business technology.
- Expertise in digital music instrument fabrication, electroacoustic sound creation, and audio capturing with business implications.
Research Thinking:
- Iterative problem-solving through experimentation, documentation, and analysis for practical business solutions.
- Understands, decomposes, and articulates the creative process of complex music and audio systems in a business context.
- Emotionally intelligent and intuitive, drawing inspiration from chess as a formulaic approach for strategic business presentations.
- Cognitive interviewer exploring the human soul with a love for honest exploration, bringing depth to business insights.