Getting Ready for Spain: Designing with Respect and Precision
As we gear up for our trip to Spain this December to start our data collection, our team has been busy working behind the scenes to ensure our research goes smoothly and respects the cultural context. Exploring how people of different cultures experience love in everyday life is exciting, but it also comes with a responsibility to approach the work thoughtfully and with cultural sensitivity.
One of our biggest focuses this month has been designing the study questions in a way that feels natural and respectful to the people we’ll be working with. This means fine-tuning our interview and focus group questions to fit Spain’s cultural norms and values. Love looks different across cultures, so we’ve been consulting experts to make sure we’re asking questions in ways that resonate with local perspectives—not just imposing our own ideas.
Another key part of our prep has been learning about Spanish culture—the language, the customs, and the small, everyday ways people show love. From consulting local advisors to brushing up on cultural norms, we’re doing the groundwork to make sure we’re stepping in as learners, not intruders. Our goal is to make the experience seamless and comfortable for participants, creating a space where they can share openly.
We have also been testing translation and transcription tools to ensure we capture responses as accurately as possible. Love is all about the details, and we want to preserve every nuance when participants share their stories. The pilot interviews and focus groups we’ve already conducted have been a huge help in refining our approach and showing us where adjustments are needed.
We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made and can’t wait to put everything into action. Stay tuned for updates as we take our project to Spain and begin uncovering the many ways love shapes our lives across cultures!
