The Nursery’s Real Life Stories technique is all about encouraging people to be liberated to write their own story with as little direction from us as possible.
We recently used this approach for one of our public sector clients. They wanted to understand the difficult conversations that people might have had with people close to them about their health and behaviour.
The objective was to identify the information and support that people might need to make these conversations easier and more effective.
The Real Life Stories approach contributed hugely to the success of this project for the following five reasons:
1) Participant-led
When people feel in control of the research process and are allowed to take it in the direction that makes sense to them it can be incredibly powerful. This citizen-centred approach is a core element of our outlook in social research: we want research to feel positive and empowering, especially when it’s tackling something personal and sensitive. Real Life Stories places people in the driving seat and allows them to choose the way forward.
2) Inclusive by design
The Real Life Stories process is an easier, less expensive way of reaching a broad sample of people. It allowed us to spread the net wide and recruit as broad a sample of people as possible. Not only that, but people were free to participate in whatever way worked for them best, whether they preferred to write it down or simply tell their story out loud.
3) Identifying the unknowns
Sometimes it can be hard to structure a sample when the specific parameters are hazy. We knew, for example, in this sample that we wanted to talk to people who had experienced a particular type of conversation, but we were cautious about dictating who started them or how they started, because we didn’t know what the variables were. The breadth of stories we received meant we could identify these variables almost in reverse once we understood the subject in greater detail, allowing us to make further suggestions for a more nuanced sample as we progressed.
4) A natural ‘filter’
Our approach involved Real Life Stories followed by a series of immersive interviews with a selection of the people who had submitted stories. An initial analysis of the stories allowed us to select the stories and individuals we wanted to follow up, so we could ensure really productive sessions with a smaller selection of people who represented the different types of story we had encountered.
5) Amplifying the unheard
And of course, the biggest benefit of all was the stories themselves. The process clearly enabled people to discuss tough situations and difficult relationships in a succinct, focused yet entirely personal way meaning that we had a fascinating insight into people’s lives that felt authentic, raw, sometimes uplifting and sometimes moving. Participants clearly enjoyed the process of telling us these stories and for some it almost seemed cathartic to lay it out simply. In short they provided direct insight into an aspect of many people’s lives that often goes undiscussed.
We put real voices at the centre of Real Life Stories - unedited, unfiltered, and uniquely human.
By capturing raw, personal perspectives, and combining them with AI-driven analytics and expert interpretation, we help organisations uncover deeper truths and more meaningful data to inform strategy and decision-making.
Visit www.the-nursery.net/real-life-stories for more information.