Holistic experience scan
What
A holistic experience scan identifies the emotions participants have during a given experience. They then reflect on the emotions and on where these emotions come from.
Why
We feel emotions whenever something moves us. Emotions offer insight into a person’s needs, desires, worries and dreams. Identifying the emotions evoked by an experience, and then determining why the experience calls up the emotions it does, gives you insight into what drives a person on a deeper level.
How
- Decide which experience you want to identify the participants’ emotions for.
- Make a simple timeline on which positive and negative emotions felt during this experience can be marked. The X axis is the time; the Y axis is the spectrum of emotions (positive above the X axis, negative under the X axis).
- Formulate instructions and questions for the scan.
- Instruct the participant. Ask them to word their thoughts and feelings as the experience is ongoing.
- Have the participant undergo the experience and observe. If the participant does not speak during the experience, encourage them to do so. What is going on inside their head? What are they thinking and feeling? How intense is it? Is it very positive, only somewhat positive or actually very negative?
- Fill in the timeline during the experience. Record the highs and lows and state which activity, action or event triggered this emotion.
- Afterwards, find a quiet spot to reflect on the experience. What were the highs and lows? Which emotion did the participant feel at this point? Where do they think the emotion came from? What does this say about their needs, desires, worries or dreams?