Analogous Research

What is this?
Analogous research (sometimes called “analogous inspiration”) is a way to look for solutions in different contexts that may be applicable to your challenge or inspire an idea that is.

When should I use this?
Use analogous research when you need a fresh perspective on your topic or challenge or when another sector more advanced in a particular area may hold lessons. 

More about this...
​​​​Good ideas exist everywhere, not just in the places we are most familiar with.  For instance, an algorithm originally created to match medical students to residencies became the basis for school assignment systems in major cities across the country. Watch this video from Stanford’s Innovation at Work program for a deep dive into analogous research.