Topic or Focus and working title
How can people adopt and take care of their dogs in Delhi
(A way to guide people to acquire pets and make their pet keeping easy and fun)
A contextual study of the situation
Justification (Why this topic or focus? What is the purpose of your research for you and for a wider audience? Why is it useful?)
Relationship to theory
Man and dog co-existed as friends ever since the pre-historic times. Wolves who are ancestral dogs were befriended by humans for security and company and in return they got love and food from their master.
In gradual years humans and wolves both evolved and the setting for both became more urban. Dogs started living in concrete houses along with humans.
Man became more advanced and stopped caring that much about dogs as pets. Also, with excessive branding even dogs are judged as brands as per their breeds. Also, there are a lot of stray and abandoned dogs on the roads in Delhi. Even after people adopt dogs they sometimes are unaware as to how to take care of them and thus they become a problem more than a friend.
Relevance to the external environment/ Need
Most people are aware of existence of dogs around them either in their houses, houses around them or the streets. They also have a liking or disliking towards them or they are not aware of the importance of a dog in their house.
A dog could offer a great companion, a true friend, help in socializing, bring you status, keeps you busy and also helps in the security of your home as they are considered loyal to their masters and would never betray them.
However, there are certain problems starting from personal issues that people have such as lack of time, space or money to adopt a dog and thus they wouldn’t. Also, there are people with misconceptions about the diseases that dogs can spread. Some would want to adopt/acquire dogs but they may not know which one, where to go, how high is the maintenance of each dog , where to get it treated etc.
If some of the problems that people have towards dogs could be resolved; some more fortunate can find a family and love. Also, after acquiring their dogs they could get answers to common problems that owners have which will make their job easy and the dog happier.
My project is aimed at making people more receptive towards dog as a pet at home and looking at the benefits more than getting stuck with their apprehensions.
Relevance to your practice
Since I am a communication design student, I would like to study the area of dog adoption and care in my research project and then maybe apply it to design to create awareness about adoption or care of dogs as a possible solution or provide solutions to common problems that people face with dogs like finding existing services for dogs such as training.
What questions and methods you will use to answer them?
1. How can people be persuaded to adopt dogs?
a. Why do people adopt dogs?
Method: Literature review./ Interview/ questionnaire
Qualititative tool: Literature Review on articles and books on the relation between people with their dogs and the history behind it; 5-6 case studies of dog-owners.
b. Where do people adopt dogs from?
Method: Literature review./ Interview
Contextual Review on sources to adopt dogs such as dog shelters, dog owners, breeders, pet shops etc. Visiting and interviewing about 5 dog shelters, 5 dog owners, 6-7 pet shops, 2-3 breeders.
c. Who adopts the dogs?
Method: Literature review./ Interview/ case studies/ questionnaire
Observation in pet shops or stalls of the kind of customers they get, case studies of 5-6 dog owners.
d. What are the apprehensions that people have while/after adopting dogs?
Method: Literature review./ Interview/ questionnaires
Questionnaires ( 50) of random selection for people who don’t have a dog at home.
e. How do people know about where to adopt dogs from?
Method: Literature review./ Interview/ questionnaire
Interviews of existing pet- owners- about 10
2. How do dog adoption agencies promote themselves?
a. What are the media?
Study existing advertisements, websites, brochures, books etc. that have been used to inform people about dog adoption and care (Done with observation and literature review.)
b. What are the message?/ strategies?
Study how different places differentiate themselves with the others of their kind in giving similar messages, analysis of media imagery to support the message.
c. What is the look and feel?
Semiotic analysis:
What style, grids, pictures, colours etc. they use. – Observation and studying of design elements in different media.
1 and 2 are the main questions which will be answered through their sub questions listed under them.
Which main areas of literature do you intend to review and which specific key sources have you already identified?
Key sources:
Papers identified
Case study of pet.com who have been pet providers.
Brochures of dog shelters and pet shops.
Books identified
Andrea McHugh 2006 How to have a happy dog Edition 1 Great Britian Octopus Publishing Group ltd.
Details of dog care starting from the day you get them.
Questions answered: Why do people adopt dogs? What are the apprehensions while/ after adopting dogs?
Caroline Davis 2005 Dogs: 500 Questions answered Edition 1 Great Britian Hamlyn (Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.)
A book with FAQs about dogs
Questions answered: Why do people adopt dogs? What are the apprehensions while/ after adopting dogs?
2009 This book will change your dog’s life Edition 1 Sussex Ivy Press
For studying look and feel and media
Katharine Rogers 2005 First Friend: A History of Dogs and Humans
This is a book about relation of dogs and humans from the pre-historic times to a current day choice of pet and master or as a first friend.
Questions answered: Why do people adopt dogs?
The dog owners handbook by Annette Conn
This is a book on tips for dog owners to properly take care of their dogs and understand signs. Well-designed.
Mini encyclopedia of dog- training and behavior by Colin Tennant
Expert advice on dog care and training them to be well-behaved in future.
.
The illustrated directory of dogs by Juliette Cunlife
Any other sources
http://www.dogspot.in/, http://www.indiakennels.com/ , http://www.dogsindia.com/
Questions answered: What is the media, what is the strategy, who adopts the dogs, why do people adopt dogs. What is the look and feel
advertisements etc. of dog related organizations.
Data Analysis
How do you intend to analyse findings?
I will find advantages of having a dog and also the disadvantages and then do SWOT analysis to convert my weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities.
A research paper as a conclusion of all my leanings so that I can arrive at a brief for my final project.
A time-line of the activities to be undertaken. I’ve already been doing some literature review and that would keep continuing along with the following
By 9th November: Formulate questionnaire and interview question
11th November: Send questionnaires to various groups of people and also start interviewing dog shelters.
15th November: Visit more places to interview dog shops.
17th November: Visit 4-5 pet owners and do their case study
22nd November: Compilation and analysis
24th November: Writing the research paper and arriving at a design brief.
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