Primer on ethnographic research techniques

Getting People to Talk: An Ethnography & Interviewing Primer from Gabe & Kristy on Vimeo.

This video looks as though it was a student project, maybe the beginning of an IIT initiative to set up a video library on innovation technique. Even if the library didn't materialise the video's a useful introduction for those setting about their first observations, contextual interviews, or project ethnography. Interviews with professional researchers make the point that observational study can be used to reframe thinking about a product or service from end-users' perspectives. And for those who don't need convincing it contains a nice section at the end (so persevere or jump there) where Jeremy Alexis watches footage of himself interviewing and picks up a few (somewhat staged) problems with his technique. A good reminder.