Dear all
The biggest problem with the list is the lack of time to answer carefully all the thread entries. Yesterday I became grandfather again and finally sold the flat. so my mind is elsewhere.

( im just following this last thread title since it seems to diverge)

For now just a small entry on the ever returning role of drawing / visualization. It seems to be a point where differences crystallize and it needs more detailed attention.
I think of a way to do this and will see if I can in the following days. I think we need to pull apart the term research into its sub-components (observation, documentation, argumentation communication, evidence etc etc) and examine each of them in relation to drawing or other visualization.

Meanwhile I am thinking about this: Can writing be research or is it a tool for communication and documentation. Silly question but its not so easy to answer. My answer is yes but....

I think the question is wrong. maybe changing the question to: what kind of component in research can writing / visualization be?

Can visual material be evidence? obvious. Its called the ostensive evidence. Can writing be evidence? obvious but less simple. An argument as such serves as evidence. But is it the writing down or thinking that matters? On the other side the visual evidence cannot stand alone without an argument. 

I think writing is an interactive process integrated with thinking and reasoning and hence writing can be research.
I think that drawing is an interactive process with thinking and reasoning and hence drawing can be research.

Formally it is only research when exposed to the community. Writing is always needed. Vizualisation is not always needed but sometimes essential and without it there is nothing. 

I will try to get back to the comments on my last post ASAP.



Birger Sevaldson (PhD, MNIL)
Professor at Institute of Design
Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Norway
www.birger-sevaldson.no
www.systemsorienteddesign.net
www.ocean-designresearch.net
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Fra: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [[log in to unmask]] på vegne av Charles Burnette [[log in to unmask]]
Sendt: 19. mars 2013 02:56
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: The role of theory in research

Hi Tiiu, Derek, Birger and others,

As I read some of this discussion I find little about theory making relative to research.

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