Integrating Human-Centered Design and Social Science Research to Improve Service-Delivery and Empower Community Health Workers: Lessons from Project RISE

Abstract

This article aims to communicate insights from a collaboration between human-centered designers and social science researchers. We report the insights from Project RISE (Rituals to Improve Service-delivery and Empower health workers), which employed a complex systems approach to understanding Accredited Social Health Activists’ motivations and performance in Bihar, India. We describe the process of interdisciplinary integration between human-centered design and mixed-method social science research. We describe insights from each phase of Project RISE. In the Discover phase, we engaged in an expansive and inclusive ideation process informing the formulation of research questions and mixed methodology. Design-led synthesis transformed research findings into actionable, context-specific insights. In the Define phase, we integrated mixed methods rigor with the design process to identify opportunities instrumental in shaping the development of design drivers and solution concepts. We engaged in inclusive prototyping and open-source collaboration to prototype productive solutions in the Create phase. We detail the challenges encountered and the strategies to address them in each phase. Integrating human-centered design and social science research can tackle community health workers’ complex challenges and create more productive public health solutions.

Keywords

• Human-centered design
• Global public health
• Mixed methods
• Maternal and child health
• Community health workers
• Accredited social health activist