Different from Participatory Video, Digital Storytelling (DST) includes a variety of expressions, including but not limited to movies, animations, photos, recordings, or electronic files. Participants use them to tell their own stories or express ideas. In this process, participants are required to participate in an intensive workshop in which they give an approximately three minute personal narrative. They also record this narrative with images or photographs.  The final product is a first-person voice narrative short film that is produced and edited by the narrator.


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- The researcher participants will be the ones who are in charge of the research agenda, and they will also be the ones who analyze and reflect the result. 
- Using participatory methods allows researchers to understand and engage with the local realities more and therefore formulate solutions that are more specific and effective. 
- Participatory methods do not require special settings, but the participants should be in an environment where they are comfortable.  
- Compare to other research methods, participatory methods give participants more autonomy and require the participants to be more proactive. 
 
- Challenge: The views of most marginalized people are largely absent in public forums, which further excludes them and amplifies the perspectives of the more powerful groups.

Participatory Methods

Storytelling is the perfect way to make the audience engage and understand our thoughts and ideas. A story is a description, either real or imagined, of a connected series of events. Good stories always captivate audiences. 

Storytelling

- Participatory research methods. (n.d.). participatesdgs.org. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/

- Satterfield, D., & Fabri, M. (2017, July). User participatory methods for inclusive design and research in autism: A case study in teaching UX design. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317174621_User_Participatory_Methods_for_Inclusive_Design_and_Research_in_Autism_A_Case_Study_in_Teaching_UX_Design

- About Participatory Methods. (n.d.). participatorymethods.org. https://www.participatorymethods.org/page/about-participatory-methods#:~:text=Participatory%20methods%20(PMs)%20include%20a,that%20their%20voices%20shape%20outcomes

- Participatory action research. (n.d.). Participatory Methods. https://www.participatorymethods.org/glossary/participatory-action-research

- Participatory video (PV). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/participatory-video-pv/

- Digital storytelling (DST). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/digital-storytelling-dst/

- Theatre for development (TFD). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/theatre-development-tfd/

- Photovoice. (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/photovoice/

- Reality check approach. (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/reality-check-approach/



Participatory Methods References

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is an approach that engages participants and researchers by analyzing and reflecting on a challenge and increasing the awareness of the participants. PAR is often applied to a specific group, challenges inequality, and promotes democracy. PAR could involve both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Participatory Video (PV) is an interactive group method that allows participants to increase their social influence by communicating their own stories through videos. Through recording and playback, participants and researchers build collaborative relationships to understand current situations and reflect on experiences as a way to enhance understanding of reality and develop new solutions. PV is usually used in projects with people living in poverty.


Participatory Video (PV)

Participants in the community will be able to communicate their message and present ideas through photos and create a positive social impact.

Photovoice

Researchers will be living with the participant and engaging in daily activities to gain a deeper understanding of their goals and frustrations.

Reality Check Approach

Theatre for Development (TFD) encourages participants to compose and perform the stories they created. Participants will be able to analyze and reflect on their experience, from their language, and idioms of expressions, which avoids taking away agency from those at ground level and the intended audience of the programs and projects.  


Theatre for Development (TFD)


Challenges of collecting feedback and data from users with disabilities or autism in the user experience design process. Due to the difficulties in cognitive and behavioral activities, users with disabilities or autism are unable to participate in most of the traditional research processes. Moreover, institutional regulations and ethical concerns could also limit them from participating. The lack of opinions and data from vulnerable groups could create further marginalization and cause more issues in their daily lives.

User Participatory Methods for Inclusive Design and Research in Autism: A Case Study in Teaching UX Design

Digital Storytelling in Participatory Methods

1. Plot – What are users trying to achieve/overcome?
2. Character – Who are the users: not just demographically, but what insights do you need to understand what they (and their needs) are truly like?
3. Theme – How can you establish a trustworthy presence to them and still set yourself apart from competitors? How will you reflect the overall obstacles users must overcome?
4. Dialogue/Diction – What will your design say to users and how? Does a formal/informal tone match their expectations? How much text is appropriate?
5. Melody – How will the overall design pattern appear pleasant and predictable to users, moving them emotionally?
6. Décor – How will you present everything so the graphics match the setting the users can sense? Would a classic design or stylized, niche layout meet their expectations?
7. Spectacle – How can you make your design outstanding so users will remember it?

Components of Good Stories

1. Define your target users with personas – to envision users’ likely experiences and gain empathic insights. Personas are based on user research but tell a story about your insights. An example persona might be “Rick”, a 47-year-old manager struggling with his work–family-life balance. He even works on his train commutes. Feeling drained, he wants better control of his life.
2. Create a plot, with conflict – to make the personas heroes and envision how they can overcome specific problems using your design. Make this a mapped-out journey or storyboard with each persona’s aim/s clearly defined. E.g.:
a. Rick discovers your (yet-to-be-designed) time-management app online. He downloads it and completes your questionnaire about work commitments, family, outgoings, etc.
b. He starts using your app, letting it collect data from his phone and fitness tracker about time on various tasks/activities, stress levels, alertness, etc.
c. After a week, your app charts his tasks and activities, including sleep, heart-rate data, etc.
d. Tapping a phone tab, Rick sees time-management suggestions on how to become more productive, well-rested, etc.
e. He has the option to continue or suspend monitoring (e.g., if on holiday/vacation).
3. Give your design the supporting role – show it improving your persona’s/user’s life and how easy it is to use. For example, consider how many steps Rick needs to use your app and if voice-controlled devices at home might influence its suggestions.
4. Work with the setting – When and where users use your design is vital for building empathy. For Rick, it’s the home, train and workplace. But what about (e.g.) busy professionals working from home?
5. Tailor the look/feel – Your design’s appearance is vital regardless of its functional benefits, so design the most appropriate (e.g.) layout, colors, typography. For example, Rick prioritizes an at-a-glance, easy-to-use design, but soothing colors would complement larger fonts, etc.

Reach Users through Stories

Legal storytelling is a movement dedicated to encouraging people of color to share their experiences of racism, particularly in the legal system. In some cases these have an additive value of introducing silenced or ignored perspectives, and in others they have a deconstructive value, in which authentic narratives challenge the racist narratives of stereotypes and myths (also called counterstorytelling)

Legal Storytelling

In User Experience (UX) Design, one can use storytelling throughout the design process to ensure that all work focuses on the users’ needs and the value one wants to give those users.



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