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An introduction to design research methods defining key terms and concepts.
A research methods, methodologies, ontology and epistemology.
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.
‘Theorizing Things: Disciplinary Diversity in Thinking about Objects’ and it is Chapter One of the book ‘Designing Things: A Critical Introduction to the Culture of Objects’ by Prasad Boradkar: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DrAKE8XRlEsC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
When and why did the turntable morph from music machine to musical instrument? Why have mobile phones evolved changeable skins? How did hip-hop videos inspire an edgy new look for the Cadillac? The answers to such questions illustrate this provocative book, which examines the cultural meanings of artifacts and the role of designers in their design and production.
Designing Things provides the reader with a map of the rapidly changing field of design studies, a subject which now draws on a diverse range of theories and methodologies — from art and visual culture, to anthropology and material culture, to media and cultural studies.
With clear explanations of key concepts — such as form language, planned obsolescence, object fetishism, product semantics, brand positioning and user needs — overviews of theoretical foundations and case studies of historical and contemporary objects, Designing Things looks behind-the-scenes and beneath-the-surface at some of our most familiar and iconic objects.
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An introduction to design research methods defining key terms and concepts.
A research methods, methodologies, ontology and epistemology.
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.
‘Theorizing Things: Disciplinary Diversity in Thinking about Objects’ and it is Chapter One of the book ‘Designing Things: A Critical Introduction to the Culture of Objects’ by Prasad Boradkar:
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Questionnaires and Interviews (Ethical Debates)
Types Of Questions
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/questype.php
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1.05 How to write a questionnaire
From: Birmingham City University
http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.05.htm
Students are often very disappointed when the questionnaires or surveys they send out as part of their course have a very low response rate, and this may even affect the validity of their research. It is very important, therefore, that questionnaires be well prepared and well constructed in order to minimize non-response.
General considerations
Keep the questionnaire as short as possible
Most people are busy. Certain companies and organisations may also receive many other similar questionnaires and other requests from students around the country, or even internationally. If your questionnaire is long and complicated, it will greatly lessen the chances of receiving a response.
Just stick to the essential or very useful information needed; discard any questions which relate to supplementary, secondary or unnecessary data. This means preparing well, and making sure that you know exactly what your aims are. Are you trying to identify attitudes, needs, behaviour or what?
Target the questionnaire carefully
You must make sure that your questionnaire is completely relevant to the person you’re asking to complete it. If they’re unable to answer the first few questions, then they’re very likely to give up. So do some research on who would be the most appropriate people to target within the organisation, and always address your request to them directly. It may be a good idea to send a preliminary email to ask if it would be OK to send the questionnaire, and if in fact it would be relevant to the person.
In addition, try to target people and organisations who you think are less likely to be bombarded by similar requests. Some sort of personal contact or relationship would of course be ideal; failing that, a phone call or even an email in advance may increase the chances of a response. Don’t just send your questionnaire to a general address.
Consider the question of anonymity
If your questionnaire contains sensitive or personal questions, you need to convince potential respondents that their answers will be confidential. If not, they will not respond.
Maybe offer something in return
Commercial questionnaires try to tempt people into replying by offering the chance to win holidays or money. You obviously can’t do this, but some sort of incentive is important to motivate people into responding. You could maybe offer to send the respondent a copy of the survey results, or make it clear in the introduction just how worthwhile your project is and that the respondent may benefit from it at some stage. It might just persuade them to answer.
Don’t make people pay for stamps or phone calls!
Use follow-up reminders
Your target respondent may have every intention of replying, but has got lots of other important things to do to, so a polite reminder (or two) may be necessary. This is probably best done by email or phone, and you might have more chance of a response on a Friday than a Monday. Remember, however, the question of anonymity: it may be necessary to use codes to be able to track who has replied or not, but you must make it clear that the link between codes and personal will not be used and will be destroyed.
One other possibility may be to have a shortened version which someone could quickly reply to by email or on the phone. It may be better than nothing.
Types of questions
Keep your language simple
Phrase your questions in simple, unambiguous language, which will be instantly understood. Don’t use any jargon or abbreviations which might be unknown to some of your target sample.
Check over your grammar and spelling very carefully, and if necessary get someone else to do this aswell. Mistakes look very unprofessional and give the impression that you are not very serious about what you’re doing. If you couldn’t be bothered, why should someone else be bothered to reply?
Don’t make it too formal or informal
It’s not an official document; just use “standard”, neutral vocabulary and grammar, being careful, however, not to use colloquial language.
Start with interesting questions
Just as a good introduction to an essay will grab the attention of the reader, so interesting, relevant initial questions will immediately involve the respondent in the questionnaire, and make it more likely that they will continue on through the whole thing. Save the more complicated ones for later. You could begin with one or two non-specialised personal questions, or maybe phrase questions in the third person rather than the first: How does your company feel about equal pay rather than How do you feel about equal pay?
Avoid leading questions
These are questions which presume a specific response. For example, Which train company do you use most often? presumes that the respondent travels by train. If they don’t, they can’t answer.
Limit, or avoid, the use of open-ended questions
Open-ended questions require an original, personal response to a question. For example, What do you consider to be the most important qualities of a Personnel Officer? Answers to such questions obviously take a lot more time than yes/no answers or rating scales. Definitely don’t start with questions like this; if you want to include you or two, put them at the end. And don’t leave too much space for the answer; if the respondent sees half a page of blank paper, they may feel that they have to fill it all, and consequently be discouraged from answering at all. Open-ended questions are also more difficult to analyse and categorize.
Use simple rating scales or lists of choices
If the respondent is faced with a long list of scales or choices, they may be put off. Maybe consider five as a maximum.
Put your questions in logical order
There should be a flow of questions; one question should logically follow the previous one. You could perhaps start with one or two general questions, and then become more specific.
Administering the questionnaire
Trial the questionnaire as much as possible
Pre-testing, maybe with colleagues, is important to help you identify any problems with the format or wording of your questionnaire before you send out the final version. At this stage you can iron out any ambiguities, vagueness or inaccuracies, or add or delete questions.
Clearly introduce the questionnaire
Even if you have carefully selected your sample and maybe made initial contact with some or all of the potential respondents, it is still important to make it clear to the person opening the envelope or reading the email what it is all about. They need as much motivation as possible to spend their precious time filling in your questionnaire. So always include a short introduction which makes clear:
– the purpose of the questionnaire
– why it is important for you (and why it could be useful for the respondent)
– how long it should take to complete
– what will happen to the results
– complete contact details
– final date for reply
If you’re sending it by email, make sure the message header makes clear what it is (you don’t want it deleted before you start!
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The Case Study
Seymour – Roworth Stokes, from the Design Research Society useful:
http://www.iade.pt/drs2006/wonderground/proceedings/fullpapers/DRS2006_0085.pdf
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Using Online Sources and Archives
http://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/library-services/collections-and-archives/
Critical Cultural Meanings 