#3 Reflections — Iceberg model

Why/Why/Why

One of the tools we were introduced to in our Social Lab class to facilitate the initial phases of research, was the iceberg model. It is a visual method of uncovering patterns and mindsets through the observation of events. A way to synthesize research that requires a deeper dive into the ‘why’ of things.

“Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them”
— Albert Einstein

The first step of this process is to identify the theme or issue we want to investigate. The next step is to list and collate incidents or events related to that issue, as removed from assumptions and personal biases as possible. This is the only visible or tangible part of the iceberg.

An example of one of the observed events — residents waiting for the art therapist’s prompt at every step of their drawing process.

Following this, we found a thread of similarities between events and crystallize them as a specific pattern of behavior. This can be thought of as deriving themes from observations–a broader narrative that identifies reasons for said events.

Pattern — residents rely heavily on continuous encouragement and seek validation to keep themselves motivated during the course of an activity.

The fourth step of the process requires us to take the line of questioning one step further and uncover infrastructure, or designed systems, that enable the behavioral patterns. Why does a pattern occur? What structures enable people to behave the way they do?

Infrastructure — The therapist’s effort in making sure the residents’ work is taken seriously and setting a theme/prompt for every session — we’ve labelled this infrastructure as a ‘box of unbroken crayons’.

The final step in this process of synthesis is an investigation of the mental models, or mindsets that sets the base upon which the infrastructure, patterns and visible events are built. These mindsets are required to be written in the first person, to achieve an empathetic understanding of the people involved in the system. It also helps us discover the unconscious bias of the people involved.

Mindset/Mental Models — in this example,“I will attend any group that Erin conducts” is a mindset shaped by a resident’s built relationship with her/his therapist (Erin) over time.

We created the iceberg model as a team, as well as with other teams that provided fresh eyes to the research and after a few iterations, we feel satisfied with the richness of insights that this tool has enabled us to unlock.