By and large research method opted for the user study is positivist and quantitive in nature with fixed categories and predefined statistical methods. Conclusions drawn with this method have not been foolproof especially when it comes to understanding the culture and behaviors of the community. In a community, each individual has their own meanings and symbols. There are also archetype symbols and which are common to all individuals of the community. These symbols or categories are elementary objects to understand user group or the community. Phenomenological approach is more suitable to find out these symbols or categories. This process involves lengthy and strategical process of participating and observing in the field, documenting and then reviewing the data.

Participant observation is a strategy used to collect an outsider's view of the community which involves observing physical spaces, appearance, physical/verbal behaviors, content of the conversation and people who stand out. It also includes observing the researcher's own impact, feelings and thoughts. As a part of on-field research, I spent 15 days making observations in four different vegetable markets in Ujjain.

Long interview is a powerful tool to understand individual's world view. It is an adequate combination of leading, non-leading and directive questions to gather information about individual's biographical data, daily routines, family background, village background and community details.