Short answer
When designing digital tools for faith communities, prioritize features that facilitate shared experiences, promote a sense of presence, and acknowledge the unique demands of spiritual practice.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Academic Publication (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative research combining interviews and autoethnography.
- Sample
- 12 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
During periods of physical separation, digital tools, when thoughtfully designed, can enable faith communities to maintain their practices and sense of togetherness. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Academic Publication. Using Qualitative research combining interviews and autoethnography. with 12 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing digital tools for faith communities, prioritize features that facilitate shared experiences, promote a sense of presence, and acknowledge the unique demands of spiritual practice.
Digital platforms can foster spiritual connection by supporting shared ritual and community presence.
During periods of physical separation, digital tools, when thoughtfully designed, can enable faith communities to maintain their practices and sense of togetherness.
Academic Publication · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Participants valued specific qualities of their faith practice that were present both before and during the pandemic.
- 02Existing digital tools presented limitations for screen-based spiritual interactions.
- 03Community members self-organized to use video-conferencing tools to stay connected to their faith.
- 04New collective experiences were shaped through online practice.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing digital tools for faith communities, prioritize features that facilitate shared experiences, promote a sense of presence, and acknowledge the unique demands of spiritual practice.
How to apply
When designing online platforms for religious or spiritual groups, focus on enabling synchronous activities, facilitating communication that mimics in-person interaction, and allowing for customization that reflects the specific rituals of the community.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design can help users feel 'present' with others, even if they are physically apart.
- 02Think about how to incorporate elements of shared ritual or practice into your digital design.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Combines empirical data (interviews) with subjective experience (autoethnography).
- +Addresses an under-explored area in HCI: digital support for faith communities.
Limitations
The study focused on a specific religious group during a pandemic; results might differ for other groups or in different societal conditions.
Reliability & validity
The use of multiple data sources (interviews and autoethnography) and a qualitative analysis method (Reflexive Thematic Analysis) contributes to the validity of the findings. Reliability is enhanced by the detailed description of the procedure, allowing for potential replication.
Think critically
To what extent can digital technologies truly replicate the embodied and communal aspects of traditional faith practices, and what are the ethical considerations in attempting to do so?
Design Principles
"Digital platforms for spiritual communities should be designed to foster shared presence and support ritualistic engagement."
This research highlights the critical role of digital platforms in supporting spiritual and religious practices. Designers can leverage these insights to create more effective and empathetic online environments for faith-based communities, ensuring that technology enhances, rather than hinders, spiritual engagement and social connection.
What This Means for Your Design
Even when people can't meet in person, good online tools can help them feel connected to their faith and each other by allowing them to do things together, like rituals, and feel like they are present with one another.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for digital tools that support community and ritual in your design project.
- 2.Refer to the findings on participant values and tool limitations to inform your design choices and user testing.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the importance of digital platforms in sustaining faith communities, particularly in fostering shared presence and supporting ritualistic practices during periods of physical separation. Findings suggest that effective design should aim to bridge the gap between mediated and in-person experiences, acknowledging the unique needs of spiritual engagement.
Source
Academic Publication
‘Keeping our Faith Alive’: Investigating Buddhism Practice during COVID-19 to Inform Design for the Online Community Practice of Faith
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about digital platforms can foster spiritual connection by supporting shared ritual and community presence?
- When designing digital tools for faith communities, prioritize features that facilitate shared experiences, promote a sense of presence, and acknowledge the unique demands of spiritual practice. Evidence: Academic Publication (2023).
- Why does "Digital platforms can foster spiritual connection by supporting shared ritual and community presence." matter for design?
- This research highlights the critical role of digital platforms in supporting spiritual and religious practices. Designers can leverage these insights to create more effective and empathetic online environments for faith-based communities, ensuring that technology enhances, rather than hinders, spiritual engagement and social connection.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing digital tools for faith communities, prioritize features that facilitate shared experiences, promote a sense of presence, and acknowledge the unique demands of spiritual practice.
- What were the main findings?
- Participants valued specific qualities of their faith practice that were present both before and during the pandemic.. Existing digital tools presented limitations for screen-based spiritual interactions.. Community members self-organized to use video-conferencing tools to stay connected to their faith.. New collective experiences were shaped through online practice.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research combining interviews and autoethnography. with 12 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Academic Publication.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing online platforms for religious or spiritual groups, focus on enabling synchronous activities, facilitating communication that mimics in-person interaction, and allowing for customization that reflects the specific rituals of the community.
- What are the limitations?
- The findings are specific to a Buddhist community in the UK during a unique global event (COVID-19), which may limit generalizability to other faith traditions or contexts.