I am changing the title of this response to my "critics" because my short
note on the existence of two forms of research was NOT a direct answer to
the question about the PhD in design, although it is highly relevant.

I stand by my distinction.  The fact that others may have said similar
things before is correct and wonderful, but in my experience, few designers
seem to understand the difference.

Nigel misunderstood me. I did not say one form was real research and the
other not. I was trying hard to say both are legitimate forms of research
but for different purposes.

   1. Research-1. The purpose -- the goal -- is to add to the design
   field's body of knowledge.
   2. Research-2. The purpose -- the goal -- is to help design products
   (whether physical, digital, or procedures or services -- that best match
   the needs, resources, and competencies of the intended audience.

=========
People doing type-1 might very well employ type-2 methods in gathering
evidence for their work. The methods used for type-2 research should be
informed and developed through type-1 research. The two are complementary.
The differences are in their goals.
--
This is where the PhD issue comes in. Someone who uses the results of
general knowledge in the field (from research-1), as well as methods from
research-2 to create a product that is well received, should be applauded.
But it does not qualify the person to receive a PhD.

Let me give an example from a different field. I was once on the PhD
committee for a brilliant composer in the music department. The thesis was
the composition and the entire committee thought it was brilliant. We
turned down the request for the PhD.

We said that it was a brilliant composition, but it, by itself, did not
provide the generalizable new knowledge and understanding that was the
hallmark of the PhD.  We also said:

We can imagine other people getting a PhD by analyzing your composition and
describing the breakthroughs that you made, which parts succeeded, which
didn't, and what the principles were. In addition, it would show the
historical precedence that helped create the composition.  They would get a
PhD.


And, we told the candidate, if you want a PhD this is what you must
produce.  A product by itself is never a PhD: it is the lessons that others
can learn from it that is a PhD.
---
We also said we didn't see why he needed a PhD. He would go on to become a
brilliant composer, with a brilliant career. he didn't need the PhD.
====
I say the same thing to designers.  Don't think that creating some
wonderful design means you get a PhD. No.  In fact, PhDs might very well go
to people who cannot create brilliant designs: what they do create is
knowledge, the knowledge that will enable others to create brilliant
designs.

I once heard a designer complain that "I spent years developing this. And
now you want me to spend years more to write that other stuff? That isn't
fair."

My answer is that is precisely what a scientist or engineer does. They may
spend years discovering a new chemical compound, or some new result that
was never before seen or known, or building some clever new device. But
they cannot simply wave those in front of their committees. They must write
a thesis that gives the history of other people's work on the same issue,
the procedures they followed, how they demonstrated the validity of the
result, and what the generalizable principles were that they learned and
presented in a form that other people could use to replicate your results
and then modify and expand upon them.

And yes, after all that work, these people do indeed spend another year or
so writing the thesis.
===

Now I am certain that many of you will disagree with me. Fine -- that's
what this discussion group is for -- discussion.

But in following the rules that I have long upheld for this group, I will
now sit back and let the rest of you have your fun. I will read the items,
but I see no need for any further response from me.

Don


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