Shifting dynamics: The evolving relationship between researchers, participants, and organizational systems
Summary
Trust in traditional expertise is waning, while collaborative, networked models of knowledge creation and impact are emerging. Focus is shifting toward inclusivity and equity, as a reimagined relationship between researchers, participants, and organizations emerges. These changes in turn reflect broader cultural shifts. This session explores the context and drivers of these evolutions, highlighting the most significant changes in research for a generation that researchers need to prepare for.
Key Insights
-
•
Researchers must shift from solely producing knowledge to building relational power to increase influence.
-
•
Participant experiences are increasingly characterized by vulnerability, emotional isolation, and mistrust of authority.
-
•
Social media and digital platforms contribute to fragmentation of truth and polarized information bubbles.
-
•
Research is inherently political and navigating multiple agendas is essential for impact.
-
•
Speaking for others is an act of power that requires humility and awareness of context.
-
•
Understanding participants requires qualitative, relational, and participatory approaches beyond surveys.
-
•
Relational power involves empathy and curiosity toward stakeholders within organizations as well as users.
-
•
Trust networks inside organizations can be mapped and leveraged to activate change collaboratively.
-
•
Pluralism and holding differences without forcing resolution is vital in today’s research landscape.
-
•
Researchers need to trust their relational skills internally, not just their technical expertise, to realize impact.
Notable Quotes
"No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, it was hard not to be met with suspicion and distrust at every turn."
"We are people who are chosen — our craft is to interact with other people, and that’s not what we’re seeing in the world around us."
"Research is no longer impartial; we’re navigating a changing landscape of trust."
"Speaking for others is always an act of power. It doesn’t mean we can’t do it, but we have to recognize that."
"Understanding is not a scientific process, it’s relational, personal, human, and qualitative."
"The role of research is changing from seeing participants as users to seeing them as co-authors of the story."
"Relational power requires empathy and curiosity about a wide range of stakeholders, not just the users."
"Knowledge sits on a shelf. Understanding is an active way to engage and connect people."
"We need to build reliance and connection across individuals to help balance power and build trust."
"Our value as a research community is in bridging understanding and driving change through relational power."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"There were moments like long kind of awkward pauses where the model was processing, and sometimes it actually spoke over participants."
Tara TresselInvestigating qualitative depth of AI-moderated interviews
March 10, 2026
"Could the Civic Design Library offer electronic book checkouts like the Toronto Public Library does?"
Ariel KennanCivic Design in 2022
January 13, 2022
"Decision making here is basically forge trading — people argue and withhold support until they get what they want."
Carl TurnerYou Can Do This: Understand and Solve Organizational Problems to Jumpstart a Dead Project
March 28, 2023
"Sometimes it’s easier to say what DesignOps isn’t than what it is."
Dave Malouf Patrizia Bertini Jon FukudaThe Past, Present, and Future of DesignOps: a 2-part DesignOps Community Call (Part 2)
April 28, 2022
"In Toronto it’s now illegal to transmit a Wi-Fi signal in designated public spaces, with penalties for violations—a policy driven by people wanting to unplug from digital life."
Sarah GallimoreInspire Progress with Artifacts from the Future
November 18, 2022
"Public sector is not known for innovation, but frankly, there is a lot of important innovation happening in the public sector and driven by the public sector."
Milan Guenther Benjamin KumpfThe $212 billion ‘so what?’: unlocking impact in development cooperation
November 20, 2025
"Risk doesn’t usually happen out of the blue; there are driving forces you can watch for."
Bassel Deeb Will OsbornDo More With Less: Equip and Lead Design Orgs Through Adversity
October 2, 2023
"Replacing the entire body with an avatar future-proofs against unanticipated identifiers like tattoos or moles."
Llewyn Paine[Demo] Deploying AI doppelgangers to de-identify user research recordings
June 5, 2024
"If we prioritize practices that reduce pain and increase purpose, our teams will thrive despite adversity."
Michelle MorrisonPractice What You Preach
January 8, 2024
