An Emotional Support Card System Based on Service Design and Psychological Narrative Methods Research Onion to My Project

Part 1:

This study employs Saunders’ “Research Onion” framework to systematically construct a research pathway for “Family Emotional Support Cards,” unfolding layer by layer from philosophical stance to specific methodologies. The research first establishes constructivism and pragmatism as its philosophical foundations. Constructivism emphasizes the subjectivity and narrative nature of human experience, aligning with the project’s goal of “reconstructing family meaning through imagery and questioning”; while pragmatism supports a validation process grounded in real-world application scenarios, ensuring the cards function not merely as art installations but as prototype tools for emotional intervention.

Methodologically, this study employs mixed methods, integrating quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews. The quantitative component analyzes young adults’ attitudes toward family relationship challenges and emotional support approaches through questionnaire surveys; The qualitative component includes semi-structured interviews, card usage observations, and user log entries to capture psychological responses and narrative expressions during actual use.

The research strategy combines Action Research with Prototyping. As both designers and observers, researchers iteratively refine the card structure, linguistic style, and guiding logic through multiple testing phases. The timeline follows a phased longitudinal design: Phase One collects needs and problems; Phase Two conducts prototype trials and feedback; Phase Three observes emotional changes after sustained use. Data collection methods include questionnaires, written interviews, observation logs, and user reflection records, organized using visualization and affective analysis tools.

Part 2:

To enhance the reliability and validity of this research, triangulation was employed.

Data triangulation: Comparing data from different sources—survey statistics (quantitative), interview content (qualitative), and card-based behavioral observation (experiential layer)—to verify consistency between user needs and usage intent. For example, the finding “61% of respondents perceive a lack of emotional support channels” from the questionnaire is cross-referenced with interview narratives such as “communication difficulties” and “fear of being misunderstood” to validate the psychological drivers of this need.

Methodological Triangulation: Combining questionnaire data, observational findings, and narrative analysis, results are cross-validated across methodologies to mitigate biases inherent in any single approach.

Theoretical Triangulation: Interpreting data through three theoretical lenses—narrative therapy, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and expressive arts therapy—to validate the emotional transformation mechanism of the cards within psychological frameworks.

Through this series of validation processes, the research not only ensures the logical consistency and academic reliability of the design solution but also transforms the “Emotional Support Cards” from an artistic concept into a prototype system for emotional support recognized by psychology.