Advancing the Value of Ethnography

EPIC2023 Friction | Chicago

At EPIC2023 we grappled with and harnessed friction for all its complex and productive powers.

Papers and case studies are free to read, download, and share. Become an EPIC member to watch conference video!

Search our complete library

Download the full EPIC2023 Proceedings

PDF includes papers and case studies (594 pages).

Case Studies

Case Study

Researcher Positionality and Identity Validation: Framing a Demographic Questionnaire

Antonia Holton-Raphael et al.

Case Study

Applied Qualitative Research in Software Companies of LATAM Industrial Sector

Salvador Suniaga

Case Study

Friction into Traction: A Case Study of Friction in Strategic Ethnography

Ken Anderson & Maria Cury

abstract decorative image Case Study

Building Ethical Software Solutions by Challenging Tech’s Obsession with Efficiency

Aziria D. Rodríguez Arce

Case Study

Friction in Equity Work for Product Development: Getting Unstuck

Marina Kobayashi et al.

Case Study

Ethnographic Practice in a 100-Year-Old Corporation in a Highly Regulated Industry

Djuana Stoakley & Aaliyah Shareef

Case Study

Observing Friction Through Experience Prototyping in the Postpartum Period

Raelynn O'Leary et al.

Case Study

Intentional Stakeholder Feedback for a Federal Research Program

Briana Lang et al.

Case Study

Smartphones and the Future of Remembering: Frictions, Problems, and Pathways

Charlie Strong & Saeideh Bakhski

Case Study

Intergenerational Living: Thai Cultural Frictions and Taboos in Changing Times

Adisorn Supawatanakul & Piyathep Tanmahasmut

Case Study

Radically Restructuring Adolescent Sexual Health Counseling Interactions

Amanda Geppert et al.

abstract decorative image Case Study

The Transformative Power of Friction: Inclusive Community Centered Visioning in Manhattan’s Chinatown

Priyanka Jain et al.

Case Study

Navigating Adoption by Global South Users: The Case of Wikimedia Volunteers

Camille Kramer-Courbariaux et al.

Case Study

Signals from Conflict-Affected Audiences in the Digital Communication Landscape

Capri Burrell & Sara Parvanezadeh Esfahani


Papers

Paper

Grounded Models: The Future of Sensemaking in a World of Generative AI

Tom Hoy et al.

Paper

Toward an Ethnography of Friction and Ease in Complex Systems

Benjamin Chesluk & Mike Youngblood

Paper

Friction in Government Forms: Identifying Opportunities for Innovation

Nadine Levin et al.

Paper

The Sound of Friction: How to Do Things with Listening

Michael G. Powell

Paper

Frictions in the Experience of Using Hearing Aids with a PC & Accessibility Design

Emory James Edwards et al.

Paper

The Uncommon Good: Making Room for Radical Transition Imaginaries

Azra Sungu et al.

Paper

Favoring Friction: Examining Hotel Browsing and Buying through the Lens of the Bazaar

Simon Roberts et al.

Paper

In Pursuit of Authenticity: Commodified Community, Curated Experience, and Fandom

Logan McLaughlin

Paper

The Ethnographer in the Machine: Everyday Experiences with AI-enabled Data Analysis

Suzanne Walsh & Jaroslava Pallas-Brink

Paper

Local Frictions, Design Anthropology, and the Energy Transition

Gijs Van Leeuwen & Abhigyan Singh

Paper

Frictions in the Future of Work

Madison Van Oort

Paper

Future-Making in a Technology Company

Irem Tekogul & Carlos Teixeira

Paper

Childbirth Practices in the Global South and Destructive and Constructive Friction

Juliana Saldarriaga et al.

Paper

Fluid Friction: The Case for Friction in Public Safety Design

Joshua Burraway

Paper

Friction by Machine: How to Slow Down Reasoning with Computational Methods

Anders Koed Madsen et al.

abstract decorative image Paper

Entangled: On the Social and Ethical Friction of Fieldwork

Kate Sieck

Paper

Adding Friction to Mandatory Reporting: The Case for Survivor-Centered Research

Sarah Fathallah et al.

Paper

Interconnections along the Ethical Canadian Diamond Supply Chain

Linda Armano


Learning Week (Tutorials, Talks/Seminars)

Talk/Seminar

A Critical Moment for Global Change: Ethnographers Acting on Climate and Sustainability

Melissa Gregg et al.

Talk/Seminar

Deciding How to Decide with Research

Chris Butler

Talk/Seminar

Navigating the Realities of Self-Employment

Shelley Sather et al.

Talk/Seminar

Collective Wisdom on Where We've Been & Ethnographic Practice in the Future

Elizabeth Anderson-Kempe et al.

tunnel Tutorial

How to Work Responsibly with Emerging Technologies

John Payne

Tutorial

From Users to User Ecosystems: Applying Systems Thinking to Ethnography

Mike Youngblood et al.

Tutorial

Ethnofutures Techniques for Strategic Decisions

Jan English-Lueck et al.

Tutorial

The Science of Storytelling

Liz Lewis

Talk/Seminar

Research Portfolio Workshop

Marc LaFleur & Alexandra Mack

Talk/Seminar

Knowledge Management Principles for Researchers

Emily DiLeo

Talk/Seminar

Automate Yourself to Work on What You Love

Lisa Kleinman et al.

decorative Talk/Seminar

Career Pivots: Market Research & Brand Strategy

Cato Hunt et al.

Talk/Seminar

Career Pivots: Service Design

Shelley Evanson et al.

Talk/Seminar

Career Pivots: Strategy & Foresight Consulting

Rebekah Park et al.

Talk/Seminar

Equity-Centered Leadership

Shakima Jackson-Martinez

Areal view of earth with clouds partially covering ocean and land Talk/Seminar

From Insights to Intuition: Transforming the Role of Research

Asif Baki

Talk/Seminar

Foundational AI: Navigating a Shifting Terrain

Rogério De Paula et al.

Tutorial

Thinking & Communicating with Visual Frameworks

Erin Hackett & Mujtaba Hameed

Tutorial

Strategic Foresight Methods for Innovation

Sam Ladner