At BLINDSPOT, we believe that high-quality, ethical practice is grounded in research. We bring together researchers, students, patients, and the public to explore pre-defined research areas through preliminary data gathering, focus groups, workshops, and the exchange of expertise and lived experience.

Our research methods include case studies, field observations, action research, and interviews, as well as structured surveys and self-report questionnaires to gather feedback and identify trends. We cultivate a collaborative learning environment, where everyone’s perspective is valued—you don’t need to be a researcher to take part.

Participation is open to all! Take part in citizen science and it’s typically free. Some workshops or research projects may have a small fee to cover administrative costs, particularly when conducted in partnership with other organisations, or events are being run alongside.

Our current project involves preliminary data gathering on individuals' unique experiences of shame and humiliation using Clean Language (Grove, 1980). This initiative is in collaboration with Clean Learning, with Blindspot volunteering its time, and the programme is set to begin soon.

Given the exploratory nature of this phase, our research inquiry will focus on the following research question:

How can AI facilitate the systematic analysis of preliminary qualitative data, supporting the development of a participant-driven index of humiliation and shame through Clean Language modelling, while minimising researcher bias?

We will be asking the following Clean Language questions as part of our preliminary data gathering:

• Humiliation, for you, is like what?

• Shame, for you, is like what?

This phase aims to capture participants' subjective experiences without imposing external interpretations, allowing themes to emerge organically.

By bringing individuals’ personal models of humiliation and shame into conscious awareness, this approach lays the groundwork for future analysis and the potential development of an AI-assisted index. It can also lay the groundwork for change bringing individuals models of both into conscious awareness, creating potential for change.

You can notify your interest for the upcoming project or future projects by joining our mailing list, emailing: treesje.verlinden@blindspot.institute using the subject line: BLINDSPOT RESEARCH GROUP