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The Nature of Research
500 Research Methods, Fall 2002
What is Research?
“Systematic inquiry directed toward the creation of knowledge.” (Groat & Wang, p. 7).Scientific, systematic or other approach used to study a problem.An acceptable approach to acquire dependable & useful information about our problem so we can then analyze the information.Must interpret what the information means & what the implications are.
What is Research?
An important question to ask -- is the research meaningful? Regardless of the discipline, research is usually a systematic and objective search for reliable information (Ary, et al, p. 22).
Stages of Scientific Method
Definition of the "problem”Whatever the problem, you must be able to in some way collect and analyze data to draw conclusions. Stating the problem in a way that avoids value judgments is usually a good place to begin.
Stages of Scientific Method
Statement of a hypothesis, question or objective:
A hypothesis simply provides a tentative explanation of the problem. Suggest a hypothesis or objective for one of your projects………
Stages of Scientific Method
Research strategy and development of instruments:
What method are you going to use?How should your research instrument be designed or method be structured for your project?Are you basing your work on an established theory, are you replicating the work of others, or what?
Stages of Scientific Method
Collecting and analyzing data:Determining what results mean.Will review in more detail later.
Stages of Scientific Method
Confirmation or rejection of the hypothesis:
Proving or disproving a hypothesis are both equally valuable and hopefully meaningful findings!
Optionally, could be interpreting and using findings in design.
Are your data useful for design or to draw conclusions about design?
Stages of Scientific Method
Reporting results:Drawing conclusionsSummarizing findingsDefining future avenues of researchIdentifying limitations of your finding
Stages of Scientific Method
A very good example explaining the scientific method is the motorcycle problem described by Ary, et al beginning on p. 10. Review it at some point if possible!Another example – “the wise old owl”kids story about the sky is falling.
Limitations of Scientific Method
How complex your problem is.Number of variables, sample size, and generalizations about conclusions.
Limitations of Scientific Method
Difficulties in data collection.Influence of researcher bias on data collection and interpretation.Role of subjective or qualitative interpretation in much of our work.
Limitations of Scientific Method
How easy is it to replicate your study?Sometimes impossible, others easy with proper controls.
Limitations of Scientific Method
Interaction of researcher and the subjects.
Hawthorne studies as a good example.
Limitations of Scientific Method
Control difficulties. Experimental vs. non experimental situations.
Limitations of Scientific Method
How to measure? Lab experiments vs. instrumentation vs. observation and natural observation of human subjects.
Basic vs. Applied Research
If you plan to obtain data that can be used to formulate, expand, or evaluate theory you will be doing basic research.Discovery of knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Applied research solves practical problems. Actual problems and the conditions in which they are found in practice.
Categories of Research
ExperimentalUsed to determine what may be Uses independent & dependant variables to confirm or reject a hypothesis.Major purpose is to determine what maybe.
Categories of Research
Ex post facto: Researcher does not directly manipulate the independent variables.Similar to experimental except for issue of manipulation.
Categories of Research
Descriptive: Major purpose is to tell what is through description and interpretation.
Categories of Research
Historical:Major purpose is to tell what was. You test the truthfulness of the reports of others.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Approaches
Qualitative researchUsually refers to the meanings, concepts, characteristics, and descriptions of things. For example, how can you describe your feelings about being in this room? One way would be through your five senses; another through your emotional reactions to people, objects, and space
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Approaches
Qualitative research, continuedCan you describe the first building or space or object that you designed from the perspective of the user?Describe it!
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Approaches
Quantitative researchUsually requires measures of things or items numbers & interpretation of numbers. Quantitative evaluation of this room --we might measure the square footage, the volume, the light level, noise & sound characteristics, the square foot per person of capacity.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Approaches
Quantitative research, continuedTry to relate this information to your perception of the space using standardized scales.How could we use this information to develop design guidelines or to design something?
Evaluation
Evaluate really means to ascertain the value or amount associated with your problem.From our perspective, evaluation is just as acceptable as research. What is the major difference?
Evaluation is value judgments based on evidence.Evidence can be design, measurement, analysis, and data reporting.
Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria:Effectiveness of program or product.Efficiency of program or product.Fairness (best applied to social programs) Justice to all audiences.Quality of the program or product. Acceptability of program or product.
Distinctions between Research and Evaluation
The intent and purpose of the investigator.Evaluation usually is more comprehensive in scope and focuses on one program or product.
Examples: job description evaluation of a designer, performance evaluation of a product, or of a special user group.
Distinctions between Research and Evaluation
Origins and motivation for research lies in the need to know; researcher answerable to colleagues.Evaluation is usually by contract and may focus on need to fix versus need to know.
Distinctions between Research and Evaluation
Evaluation most often occurs when a problem becomes apparent, e.g. the bicycle pedals don't turn -- why? “How” to fix it. Researcher would address the concept of how a pedal should function, test alternatives, and draw conclusions about the hypotheses stated about pedal design. Designer might re-design the pedal.
Summary
Research takes many different forms.Quantitative & qualitative approaches should be selected based on the problem.Most architecture & design research is applied.Questions?
