Short answer
Designers must consider the psychological and professional 'in-between' states of users, particularly those whose roles bridge different organizational cultures or value systems, to create more effective and supportive systems.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2017)
- Method
- Qualitative research
- Sample
- 12 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Professionals operating in dual institutional contexts, such as healthcare chaplains serving both a religious body and a secular healthcare system, experience a 'liminality' that shapes their identity and approach to service delivery. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter). Using Qualitative research with 12 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must consider the psychological and professional 'in-between' states of users, particularly those whose roles bridge different organizational cultures or value systems, to create more effective and supportive systems.
Dual-Role Professionals Experience Identity Liminality, Impacting Service Delivery
Professionals operating in dual institutional contexts, such as healthcare chaplains serving both a religious body and a secular healthcare system, experience a 'liminality' that shapes their identity and approach to service delivery.
Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Chaplains perceive a disconnection from the priorities and values of the Church.
- 02The term 'marginalization' is used to describe this feeling, often interchangeably with 'liminality'.
- 03Liminality offers a distinct conceptual framework for understanding the chaplain's work and identity.
- 04The concept of 'liminal intelligence' is proposed as important for ministerial practice.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must consider the psychological and professional 'in-between' states of users, particularly those whose roles bridge different organizational cultures or value systems, to create more effective and supportive systems.
How to apply
When designing a new digital platform for inter-organizational collaboration, consider how users who belong to multiple distinct professional communities might experience conflicting loyalties or communication styles.
Project actions
- 01If your project involves users with multiple roles or affiliations, explore how these different identities might create challenges or unique perspectives.
- 02Consider how to design interfaces or systems that can accommodate or even leverage these dual identities.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a nuanced understanding of professional identity in complex organizational settings.
- +Introduces the concept of 'liminal intelligence' as a valuable framework.
Limitations
This study is specific to religious chaplains in a healthcare setting; findings may not directly apply to other professions or industries without careful consideration of analogous contexts.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is enhanced by using a theoretical framework ('communities of practice') and corroborating findings with existing literature on marginalization. Reliability is dependent on the consistency of interview responses and the interpretation of the researcher.
Think critically
How might the concept of 'liminality' be applied to the design of educational tools for students who are simultaneously studying and working part-time?
Design Principles
"Acknowledge and design for the liminality of users operating across multiple institutional contexts."
Understanding the psychological and professional 'liminality' experienced by individuals in dual-role positions is crucial for designing supportive work environments and effective service delivery models. This insight highlights the importance of considering the complex identities and allegiances of users when developing systems or services that intersect multiple organizational cultures.
What This Means for Your Design
People who have to do two different jobs for two different organizations can feel like they don't fully belong to either, and this 'in-between' feeling is actually a key part of how they do their job.
How to use in your project
- 1.In your project, when discussing user research, you can refer to this study to justify exploring the psychological and contextual factors of your target users, especially if they have complex roles.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research into healthcare chaplaincy has highlighted the concept of 'liminality', where professionals experience an 'in-between' state due to their dual institutional allegiances (Kyriakides-Yeldham, 2017). This suggests that when designing for users with complex roles or those operating across different organizational cultures, it is crucial to consider the psychological and professional impacts of these 'liminal' experiences on their behaviour and needs.
Source
Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter)
Identity and Ministry in Healthcare Chaplaincy: The liminality of the Church of England priest who continues to sing the Lord’s song in the strange land of the National Health Service
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about dual-role professionals experience identity liminality, impacting service delivery?
- Designers must consider the psychological and professional 'in-between' states of users, particularly those whose roles bridge different organizational cultures or value systems, to create more effective and supportive systems. Evidence: Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2017).
- Why does "Dual-Role Professionals Experience Identity Liminality, Impacting Service Delivery" matter for design?
- Understanding the psychological and professional 'liminality' experienced by individuals in dual-role positions is crucial for designing supportive work environments and effective service delivery models. This insight highlights the importance of considering the complex identities and allegiances of users when developing systems or services that intersect multiple organizational cultures.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must consider the psychological and professional 'in-between' states of users, particularly those whose roles bridge different organizational cultures or value systems, to create more effective and supportive systems.
- What were the main findings?
- Chaplains perceive a disconnection from the priorities and values of the Church.. The term 'marginalization' is used to describe this feeling, often interchangeably with 'liminality'.. Liminality offers a distinct conceptual framework for understanding the chaplain's work and identity.. The concept of 'liminal intelligence' is proposed as important for ministerial practice.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research with 12 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new digital platform for inter-organizational collaboration, consider how users who belong to multiple distinct professional communities might experience conflicting loyalties or communication styles.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses specifically on Church of England priests in the NHS, limiting generalizability to other professions or religious affiliations. The interpretation of 'liminality' is specific to this context.