Abstract
This paper discusses the ethical and ethnographic preparation methods employed in the initial discovery phase of a co-design research project, aimed at enhancing the blood culture pathway for potential sepsis patients in UK emergency departments across three NHS trust hospitals. Conducting thorough observations in such complex, busy settings within limited time frames poses significant challenges. Minimising disruptions becomes key, especially in high-pressure work environments. Elaborate preparation of observation methods leads to more productive findings and reduces the need for repeated visits, promoting mutual respect between researchers and stakeholders. This paper offers valuable strategies for service design researchers to prepare effectively for ethnographic observations and equip themselves with the necessary design ethnographic inquiry tools for conducting fieldwork in complex settings.
Keywords
design ethnographic observation, accessing the observational field, visual templates for observation notes, participatory observation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.24
Citation
Ai, W.,and Prendiville, A.(2025) Preparing a comprehensive and accessible design ethnography in complex environments: reflections based on case studies from 3 UK NHS emergency departments, in Mahamuni, R., Onkar, P. (eds.), ServDes 2025: Empowering Diversity, Nurturing Lasting Impact, 6–10 October, Hyderabad, India. https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.24
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Preparing a comprehensive and accessible design ethnography in complex environments: reflections based on case studies from 3 UK NHS emergency departments
This paper discusses the ethical and ethnographic preparation methods employed in the initial discovery phase of a co-design research project, aimed at enhancing the blood culture pathway for potential sepsis patients in UK emergency departments across three NHS trust hospitals. Conducting thorough observations in such complex, busy settings within limited time frames poses significant challenges. Minimising disruptions becomes key, especially in high-pressure work environments. Elaborate preparation of observation methods leads to more productive findings and reduces the need for repeated visits, promoting mutual respect between researchers and stakeholders. This paper offers valuable strategies for service design researchers to prepare effectively for ethnographic observations and equip themselves with the necessary design ethnographic inquiry tools for conducting fieldwork in complex settings.