Before you’re about to do field study, better to have basic sense about the social model in that particular vertical you’re going to study.

Especially in B2B market, profit in the supply chain usually beyond your imagination. DO NOT cross the red line for your own safety. We’re researcher, not military scout.

The goal of research is meant to gathering information and insight, it can’t be done when people who related with your topic don’t like you.

It’s a two way path when deal with social model. You can build complete social model after field, but have to understand basic rule before you entering field.

Try to start it with a semi-structured interview. Invite your target participants to have a talk, ask them about the service first, and don’t forget to ask them to give you a brief intro about their profession background.

To be honest, it did have some element of “role-play” during field studying. People can do their job as usual just when they fell free about your presence. You have to act like them, help them when they needed and become familiar with them. Most important of all, ask only crucial question and ask seamlessly.

After several round of field study, you can build the complete models about your research topic, and social model is just one of it.