Object Interview
a research activity for people to unpack their emotions
What is it for?
Emotions are often extremely difficult to articulate. It’s not always accessible to be able to notice, read, understand, and express your own feelings like gratitude, disappointment or guilt, for instance. This research tool is a combination of a traditional interview format and externalization techniques from psychology. By enabling people to talk about their feelings ‘object-ively’, we’re able to unpack them and offer space for people to more fluently share deeper emotional insights.
Impact
Object Interviews allow participants to open up, share personal stories and talk about their feelings in an arrangement that feels safe.
What does it look like?
A couple of days before the interview, the researcher or facilitator asks participants to bring a personal object to the interview that represents the feeling that needs to be better understood. During the interview, they use the object as a prompt or conversation piece to encourage storytelling. The participant is able to talk about their emotions through the object and may never need to speak in the first person about how they feel. This mode of storytelling is especially conducive to certain participants depending on how much and in what ways they’re open to share. The researcher or facilitator later reflects carefully on those stories and seeks out patterns and surprises.
Participants’ State of Mind
vulnerable, expressive
Level of Complexity (1–5)
4
Time for Participation
15 to 40 min
Use Case
In Matter-Mind Studio’s studio warming party in 2016, guests are asked to bring an object that represents a sense of caring.
Source
Adapted for Matter–Mind Studio from Colleen Doyle’s thesis project, Emotional Waste Management and a grief workshop designed and facilitated by Colleen.
