Inquiry by Design: Tools for Environment-Behavior Research

John Zeisel

Do’s:

• Be critical and ask questions
• Become a full participant
• Observe in context and notice setting
• Use annotative diagrams, recordings, drawings, photographs
• Be aware props change setting (also change in space)
• Look for displays of self/personalization/identification
• Look for official messages
  

Don’t’s:

• Observe unobtrusively/passively
• Be aware of “selective deposits” (some activities don’t leave physical traces)
• Be unaware of predictable activity signs due to timing of observations
• Rely on illegitimate messages