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
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The world is undergoing significant disruption, affecting how people engage with each other and organizations.
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There is a growing sense of distrust and emotional isolation among participants, leading to a need for deeper understanding.
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Researchers must shift their focus from operational survival to understanding participants' experiences and social systems.
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Relational power is crucial for researchers to influence change; it's about building trust and connections rather than just showcasing expertise.
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Participants must be seen as co-authors of their narratives rather than subjects of research, emphasizing collaborative understanding.
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Engaging deeply with participants can point to critical insights that inform organizational change.
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The proliferation of misinformation requires researchers to navigate a fragmented narrative landscape with care and nuance.
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Understanding is a relationship-driven process, challenging traditional notions of knowledge dissemination.
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Pluralism should be embraced as a reality of modern research, acknowledging multiple truths and perspectives.
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Research is inherently political, requiring an understanding of power dynamics within social systems.
Notable Quotes
"We need to shift our thinking, and this is not just a matter of principle."
"We are spending much more time at home and across almost all demographics and cultural identities, less time face-to-face socializing."
"The impacts on people's identity, psychology, and mental health are significant."
"We can’t assume there’s a single truth that we can speak to a single story."
"Speaking for others is always an act of power."
"Understanding is one of the central things this talk is about because it's hard to achieve."
"We need relational power to shift the thinking inside organizations."
"The role of research is changing from seeing users to thinking about them as co-authors."
"We have to embrace relational power and its necessity in a distributed knowledge environment."
"Our value as a research community is in bridging understanding."
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