Photograph by: Krishnokoli Roy Chakraborty
Research Methodology krishnokoli Roy Chakraborty Graphic Design, Semester Three
Contents Design Research Methods
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How Eams did Research for design in India Socio Cultural meaning making Human Perception Problem Statement Approaches to research Methods Kinds of Sampling methods Data Collection User Study
Ethics
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Ethics to be followed while Researching
Writing a Project Proposal
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Research Concerns
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Why Should a designer want to research Research classification on stage Research classification on process
Case Study Similarities and differences in the interaction of the broom in different environments Convenience of using a dust-bin Signages
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Design Reasearch Methods Bauhaus was a design institute which was established in the post world war era in Germany. It was in Bauhaus where the Design Research was first initiated. Before this, mass production was not practiced, hence, artisans would work on small scale production which would suffice people living in villages. However post world war when cities began to mushroom, the demand of people began to increase, therefore this could be only met by mass production. The most essential part of mass production was technology (for faster production) and design (prototype Development). However for a successful design research is very much required. For a good Design Research, we need to correlate Design Thinking and Design Doing. Aesthetics: It is subjective but can be universal. It is a designer’s job to make aesthetics as universal as it can get. Sometimes designers have opted for solutions like symmetry and golden ratio, which is appealing to all human beings for physiological reasons, like placement of eyes.
How Eams did research for design in India? •Knowing Indian Culture. •Meaning •Design Research •Our Values and aesthetics For example: What could be the considerations which are taken and goes into the designing of a Lota?
Socio cultural meaning making To understand the culture of a particular place in association to design we need to take into account these factors: •Ergonomics •Form •Function •Material •Aesthetics •Marketing •Manufacturing Condition/ Price
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Human Perception Is subjective What we need to do is empathetic thinking. To conduct a research on human perception we should try and get into the •Sensitive/ Perspective •Tactic/ explicit •Meanings and values •Reflective Aspects of the individuals.
Problem Statement
•Understanding present and the past. What have you done, What are you doing? •Methods, data collection. How you did it? •Finding What you think about your discoveries? •Qualitative Data brings objective •Methods to facilitate validity Analysis brings new discoveries.
Approaches to Research
Deductive approach: general to specific Inductive approach: Specific and general
Methods can be •Descriptive •Exploratory •Empirical
Kinds of sampling
Random, Stratified, Cluster, Quota, Judgemental, Accidental, Systematic
Rabbadi children, Photo courtesy of
Data Collection
Primary and secondary As designers we can use primary research because it is more to the topic. We can collect information through, Interview, observation, questionnaire, experiment, focus group, discussion, case study Types of interview: Personal, telephonic, structure, unstructured, Focus, non directive, long interview, diad triad party. Types of observation: Structured observation, Unstructured observation Participant observation and non participant observation Controlled observation and u controlled observation Types of Questionnaire: Filled/ sent on e mail.
ASK
User Study
Look Fly on wall Guided Tour Shadowing A day in life Personal Inventory Rapid ethnography Social Network Mapping Behavior Mapping Time Lapse
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LEARN TRY
LOOK
Ask Extreme User Interview Unfocused Group Foreign Correspondence Five Ws Narration Survey and questionnaire Word Concept Association Cultural Probes
Try Empathy Tools Role playing Be the customer Try it yourself Informance Headlines Scenation
LEARN Character profile Activity Analysis Cognitive task analysis Error analysis Historical analysis Cross culture understanding Affinity diagram Secondary Research
Why Research Methods? To apply the same in design On your own and others To use the same in order to use research done by another team. Disagree with the same.
Ethics Critical Evaluation Level Meta Ethics
Ethical theory Ethical principle Ethical rules
Immediate Level
Particular case Ordinary moral constitution
Ethical Issues Value Neutrality In Research
Science is value free, positivists Value free and objective research is impossible and value laden research define social constituents. You cannot avoid taking stands on social issues that you study. Research in which you are also a victim. Research is actually enriched by the standpoint of the researcher. Everything can be deliberated and everything is value. Feminists.
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Selection Of Research Topics and Ethics
When raising research questions we need to reflect on Which values are important.
Ethical Consideration On Selecting Subject Of Study Conceptualization or Operationalization Of Terms The terms you use reflect the kind of you give them.
Voluntary Participation And Informed Consent Privacy Anonymity and Confidentiality
Anonymity, is secreting the identity of the person Confidentiality, not sharing closed information during interview
Writing Project Proposal While creating a project proposal we need to consider these: •Intent •Methodology •Costings While making a structure we need to take into consideration The following aspects and Put forth our proposal in a Decent method: Making a structure: •Constructing a story •Introduction •Body
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A page from my Sketchbook
Research Concerns Why should a designer want to Research?
To know something that is not known. •To validate finding •To confirm a belief •To prove a point •To make others know
Research Classification Based On Process Primary research Secondary research
Qualitative survey and Quantitative survey Quantitative: Market, opportunity User satisfaction index Trends over time Consumer ratios Qualitative: A day in life of customer Perceived value of thing Innovator Design audit
Research Classification On Stage Research for design Research for design Research thrugh design
User research Design research Quantitaive research Qualitative research Ethnography Focus Group
PAPI Intercept survey User test Shadowing Concurrent Probing
Perspective
There is no value in observation. Observation is the factual record, insight is the understanding of why somehing is happening.Plan is one of the most essential parts Why so? Determining procedure Appropriate sample size Good questions Flow of work Dependency, collaboration Logistics, cost
Case Study My learning from this course. Since our covering topic was outdoor, objects, I tried to observe the interaction of the objects with the space. Also I tried finding similarity and differences of the interaction of these objects, with different spaces. Our attitude with these objects, how we use them, and how we make them convenient. This is very much based on our cultural understandings and norms. Areas that I covered were: Riverfront and flower market. My study is based on the use of objects in these two places, similarities and differences in use, and its interaction with the environment. How similar objects are used for different causes. How different objects are used for different environments, how and why these objects define those particular areas?
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Similarities and differences in the interaction of the broom in different environments The broom is an object use in early any environment, be it outdoor or indoor. N outdoor environments (in Ahmadabad), it is used by AMC designated cleaners. In both Flower market and River front, th e broom had a long bamboo handle, unlike the ones we use indoors, which has soft bristles and a small handle attached to the end. The structure of the broom helps drain solid as well as liquid waste. However, in the Riverfront, Cleaning is not done multiple times, because of the nature of the area. Not much waste is produced always. Cleaning is carried out twice everyday. This reveals the nature of the place, which we can understand by studying the use of the objects with the environment. In Flower market, waste is produced always, hence clearing is done continuously. This reveals that the flower market is a market place dealing with biodegradable waste. Method: Observation, Shadowing
Convenience of using a Dust-bin We sometimes find lids of dustbins inside the dustbins itself. We might wonder, why this actually happens. The answer for this lie in our socio cultural behavior. In India, we often, think waste and garbage is only to be handled by lower castes, hence we abstain from touching dustbins. However, closed dustbins can be only used by using hands. Which requires, the user to throw the garbage touching the dustbin. Subconsciously, we refrain from doing so, and throw garbage around the dustbin, making it difficult for municipality cleaners. Hence, they put the lid inside the dustbin, which makes it top open. People can now throw their garbage without touching the dustbin. Method: observation, interview
Signages There are innumerable signages in the Riverfront, showing staircases, cycling parks, Danger levels, etc. This is interesting because it caters to a wide range of audience, even those who cannot read. Also the signages show that the riverfront is a place for entertainment, exercise, or just a stroll... The presence of so many signages itself reveal the fact, that there can be some level of danger involved.
This booklet is a part of my course work for design management II.
National Institute of Design