Research

All of Empatika’s research adopts a people-centred and participatory approach which involves, wherever possible, handing power from the researcher to study participants. We believe that it is vital that people themselves are also the ones who analyse, reflect on and shape the findings of the research process. 

See some of our recent work.

Immersive Research (RCA)

The Reality Check Approach (​​RCA) to immersive research is a qualitative approach involving trained researchers living with people in their own homes including those of service providers and sharing in their everyday lives. This relaxed approach of informally ‘hanging out’ with families and other community members enables easy and open conversations as well as first-hand experience and observation of daily life, providing unique insights into how context shapes the processes, motivations, behaviours and attitudes of people. 

Participatory Focus Group Discussions

Our approach to pFGDs builds on the tools and ideas from RCA and other participatory qualitative methods we have used. We intentionally try to move away from the traditional FGD question-and-answer format to a more participatory form where interactive hands-on exercises, visuals, photos, drawings, written, or drama-based elements are used to seed discussion to gain insights into the lives of study participants.

Human-Centred Design

Human-centred design is a creative approach to problem solving designed to generate locally-appropriate solutions. Workshops are designed to build empathy with the people you are designing for, generate lots of locally-relevant ideas, build prototypes and then begin to test these out and get feedback. The process includes three main phases: inspiration, ideation, and implementation.

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is digital media production that allows people to share their life story. Using mixed media including video, animation, photos, drawings and audio, storytellers themselves present their ideas in short multi-media digital presentations. These stories provide powerful insights from the the first person perspectives.  

Participatory Video

Participatory video involves groups creating their own film. It emphasises the process of developing stories and the opportunity for people to reflect on and analyse their situation. They are facilitated to come together to explore issues, describe experiences and voice concerns often resulting in solution seeking and collective action.

Citizen Led Approach

CLA seeks to take citizen engagement a step beyond inviting participation in village structures and in village deliberative processes. By putting citizens in the driving seat, they decide what are priorities and places the onus on them to measure the outcomes in ways that are meaningful for them.