Anthropology is the study of humanity. And also the lens through which Anthroconsult operates. Anthropologists study the way people experience the world around them and how they behave in it. In other words, we study culture. As people, we constantly learn all kinds of behaviors, manners and ways of speaking. In doing so, we form our vision of life, wishes, concerns, beliefs and feelings. And all this contributes to the way we perceive the world around us and to the meaning of relationships with other people. Our views are constantly changing depending on the environment we live in and the people around us. Culture is an unconscious process between people and environmental factors. We are not always aware of why we do what we do and where our behavior comes from. Anthropologists have the unique Ethnography toolbox with which they develop a deeper understanding of humans and their behavior in social environments. Anthroconsult believes that initiatives only have an impact when we delve into the perception of an initative's target group. By means of ethnography, Anthroconsult translates the world of experience of your target group to your initiative. Through this, solutions will arise that match the wishes, concerns and beliefs of your target group. In this way, strong stories that connect people can be built.

Anthro stands for Anthropology. Translated from Greek, anthropology means 'the study of people'. Consult stands for 'consulting' or 'advising'. The name therefore stands for the service we offer: consulting through the study of people. We immerse ourselves in the perception of a group of people. Thereafter, we translate the wishes, concerns, questions and behavior of your target group into advice for your initiative.

Anthroconsult believes in the power of the 'the perspective of the other'. We can always assume that we know less than we think. That we don't fully understand another yet. We can only develop that understanding, if we delve into someone else's perspective. To learn how someone experiences the world and why they experience it that way. Through this, we will discover that a human being is quite complex and diverse. Therefore, it is difficult to draw a judgment or conclusion about another person or a group of people. What we can do, is to discover the diversity of human nature and develop a deeper understanding for each other. That is the vision through which Anthroconsult operates. Anthropologists know that culture is always subject to change. It is not fixed. And that is good news. It means we can actively change when old behaviors are no longer functional. Many manners we have developed today, are not sustainable for the well-being of humans, animals and nature. And humankind is still the number 1 cause of the social crises, including the climate crisis, that we encounter in the world. That is why Anthroconsult believes that change starts with understanding people and their behavior. With a deeper understanding, we will discover new paths and gain the courage to walk them.

The umbrella term for the methods used by Anthroconsult is Ethnography. Ethnography is based on holism. This means: research in which you try to achieve a detailed and comprehensive description of the perception of a target group or target groups. To describe the way people experience the world around them, we focus on: What people know (methods: such as interviews, surveys, small talk) What people do (methods: participant observation, participant appraisal) What people make and use: the material culture (methods: document research, participant observation) Researcher's reflection (methods: diary and feedback from the target group) Based on your question, we will draft a research proposal. In this proposal, we will customize the methods mentioned above for your research question. The research can be conducted both offline and online. In the latter case you call this a Netnography, in which we gather information through forums and websites.

Learn about how we work through reading the Anthro stories on our website. After all, stories say more. In our research for you we follow the steps below: Steps in Anthroconsult's research: Intake: we will talk to you to clarify the question you have. Maybe you don't know exactly what your question is yet, in that case we will discover it together. During the intake we also discuss the possibilities of the research. Such as: is participant observation possible at your location or is an interview research more desirable? Can the research also be (partly) online? Which key informants do you already know? Research proposal. Based on your question, we formulate a proposal for the research. We will decide which ethnographic methods are suitable for the research question. We will then discuss this the proposal with you including the price. Execution of research when you give us the green light, we conduct the research independently. We will also schedule moments of feedback during the research period. Result In most cases, the result is a concise and playful report that you can use to create a stronger story for your initiative and to connect with your target group. This report will give you insight into the diversity of your target group and the things you need to keep in mind when approaching your group. The report gives you direct advice from the target group with whom you want to achieve something. If a workshop or knowledge meeting is more appropriate for your question, this can also be the result of the research.