Autoethnography: Real Human Real Quick

When respondents become storytellers, things get human real quick. When respondents are given the opportunity to tell their narratives as they experience them, our biases as researchers take a backseat. Autoethnography turns the research enterprise on its head: We participate in their research, they take control and tell their own stories. We coach from the sidelines, while respondents are front and center. Autoethnography is a relatively new methodology for consumer research. It differs from journaling in that it allows the market research team to connect more deeply with the consumer through the peeling back of multiple layers of consciousness, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. In this presentation, we discuss how autoethnography differs from other, more conventional methods. This presentation will contain a case study that shows a side by side comparison of autoethnography and journaling. This case study will demonstrate the nuances of autoethnography. The session will be ideal for qualies who are interested in learning new methodologies they can add to their toolkits.