Comments on: Can’t You Just Ask People?

By: Ethnographic Opportunity Analysis « TheAnthroGuys

Ethnographic Opportunity Analysis « TheAnthroGuys — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:27:53 +0000

[...] -Read: “Can’t You Just Ask People?” (Delcore) [...]

By: StevenM

StevenM — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:32:37 +0000

This was a very interesting article and I think that you can’t simply ask people what they want. I don’t think people are ignorant but rather just don’t think about what they truly want. It may also depend on the culture and the amount of time spent on the product. As the article points out that people just deal with the problem by just working around it such as turning the black shirts inside out to avoid fading. People just seem to accept and adapt to the things that they have. Most people that I know will just accept the product as is and when it breaks then they will do small research on the new products and accept the new product with its fallbacks. However, I know few people that will manipulate the product to fit their needs better and more comfortably (depending on their expertise in the area). Overall, it seems that people don’t want to put the time into thinking or improving the product and/or people have a hard time thinking out of the box. The Henry Ford quote seems to prove that people have a hard time thinking out of the box. People couldn’t even think about a motor vehicle driving them around but were stuck on the idea of horses.

By: Darrell L.

Darrell L. — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:40:49 +0000

I believe that consumers cannot answer the question “what do you want?” because consumers do not “need” anything. The main challenge when coming up with a product to sell is simply convincing the consumer they need it. Functionality and purpose fall by the way side and image and perception take over. It is true that research is required (like the shower head development) to ensure a proper consumer ‘fit’ but mostly it is image. The way the consumer will perceive the product ultimately determines its commercial success, not if it is functional or not. (see: GM vehicles or Microsoft’s Xbox)
Now if only I could come up with a $500 Chinese manufactured product (like the iPod) that every man woman and child will own…

By: Nicole Angene

Nicole Angene — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:17:52 +0000

I found this study to be very interesting. I had never really thought of consumer demand as simple as “Can’t you just ask people?” As a consumer myself I would have thoguht that I could answer the needs/wants of what I am seeking in a product. When touching on the topioc of deteregent and what I seek in that particular product I would have probably responded to what I would like by saying cleanliness and scent. I never would have thought about the fading of the clothes as an importance when speaking to a researcher. On the researching side of this study, I also would find it hard to develop enough questions to ask people that would fulfill every consumers needs/wants. I believe that the observation period (with consent of course, in cases such as the showerhead product) is a very affective way to see what needs and wants need to be met for the consumer to be satisfied, because questions are just not enough for certain products.

By: 2010 in review « TheAnthroGuys

2010 in review « TheAnthroGuys — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:35:06 +0000

[...] Can’t You Just Ask People? September 2009 100 comments 4 [...]

By: M Alex R

M Alex R — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:35:39 +0000

I agree with the article. If someone were to ask me right at this moment what I desired the most, I would not be able to answer their inquiry. If you offered me a new phone, chances are I’d tell you I want whatever I just saw a commercial for. I wouldn’t be able to tell you what I want in the phone because it is difficult for me to conceive and articulate what I have in mind

By: Maria A

Maria A — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:04:02 +0000

Yeah I also agree with your response. There are so many people out there that no longer believe in their intuition and go and ask other people. It is really bad that they no longer believe in themselves. You look to much at what people are getting than what you really need. More of us should begin to trust in ourselves.

By: ChristopherP

ChristopherP — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:36:03 +0000

good point Daniella with your point of how behavior can sometimes tell a lot more about a person than their words (at least i believe that is what you were saying). This doesn’t seem to be just solely for the describing what a person wants/needs scenario, but in general. This can be expressed when my sister is up late studying. She has good study habits and will study all night. Many times, like just the other night, I will go into her room and find her crashed out on her papers (typically between 12-3 a.m). So ill attempt to turn her cpu/lights/etc. Sometimes she will wake up and when I ask her if she is tired, she denies it and continues studying. This cycle can play out up to three times in one night! Another example is myself. Many times when i am upset or bothered by something, I’m not very vocal about expressing it. I tend to keep to myself even though you can tell something is bothering me by observing my actions. I work in the restaurant business and its quite comical to see the facade we, as servers, put on for our tables.

By: Jennifer Hernandez

Jennifer Hernandez — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:50:53 +0000

I agree with the article, most of the time I do not know what I want, even when asked what I want to eat for lunch. I think that a lot of people have experienced something like “Hank”. For one reason or another we do nothing about it. I believe the main reason is because we do not know where to go to expand that idea. Just because we do not know how to articulate about our thoughts does not mean we do not have a good proposal.
Another point is that, again just like “Hank” our world is so advanced that in a few months, the same thing we just thought about will come out as the new hot item to buy. With all the new technology everyone is always trying to out do the last item. It must cost millions of dollars to do the work, which includes the hardware, software, labor, and research as well. Our economy is down, I am sure that not a lot of people are willing to fund an idea from someone that has no prior experience. The example about the shower heads, the research done required participants to actually want to be recorded in the shower. If it were me I probably would have said no, because I would feel awkward to know someone would watch the recording. The shower head was a success so I guess that what I would do or not does not really matter.
It does depend on who you ask. Woman, are usually more indecisive than men, but it does not mean that woman have less ideas than men. If anything I would think that women have more creative ideas, but men do have an edge on how things function and how they are built. But that is what anthropology is all about, learning from each other, and the reasons why we do and know certain things.

By: NimA

NimA — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:48:15 +0000

I would think it would be difficult to do the research needed to obtain a legitimate data model to inscribe a new device that would encompass all who would use it. The trials and statistical analysis must be work intensive especially with all the differences that must be taken into account since humans by definition are different, in that they come in all different shapes and sizes with a tendency to customize to their own needs. I wonder if its just the averages taken from all their data taken and then just leave a little room for adjustment in the implementation of their new products, or is it regional to specific areas or countries. I tip my hat off to the AA’s who figure these things out.