Transformative Consumer Research
DIALOGICAL CONFERENCE
TCR dialogical conferences entail structured, deep and engaged conversations in which participants commit to working on a social theme throughout the entire conference.
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Scroll down to learn more about the dialogical conference format or click on the buttons to see 2025 conference information or read past proceedings.
TCR Dialogical Conference Tracks
TCR's dialogical conferences entail structured, deep and engaged conversations in which participants commit to working on a social theme throughout the entire time of the conference. The conferences has three different types of tracks, which are guided by three visions.
Track 1: Build Capacity
Track 1 is a space of innovation and an experiment in building a social network of researchers with greater capacity to tackle pressing social problems around consumption. These tracks are spaces to experiment (e.g., by working across the intersection of social problems; inviting non-academic guests; bringing in cross-disciplinary academics, introducing new tools, theories, and perspectives; including a stakeholder in the research). There are numerous pathways for real societal benefit and we encourage tracks to explore and share their success.
Track 2: Leverage Research
Unlike the format of Track 1, Track 2 involves longer-term projects and involves teams of researchers who have already made a commitment to work on this longer project. More specifically, these tracks further empirical work they started before the conference in key substantive areas. Because these teams of researchers typically have gathered data before the conference, the time together at the conference provides an opportunity for writing or a data analysis workshop.
Track 3: Implement Solutions
Track 3 aims to take the idea of relational engagement to the next level. Whereas Track 2 was introduced to bring data collection into the conference process, Track 3 is designed to focus on measurable societal impact. These tracks have a strong relational engagement element, typically emerging from long-term collaborations that existed prior to the conference.
Relationship Between the Three Tracks
