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Dear List, As someone who is also trying to take design research into practice, I would like to know if anyone knows of published research studies using quantitative methods to test visual design and/or interface design. Related work in industrial design would also be helpful in lieu of such work in visual design. If anybody knows of such studies in consumer health informatics, that would be even better. I am making this request, because the center I direct is presently pursuing Federal US grants to support the further development of interactive, mobile, and multimedia-based forms of patient and patient-guardian communication in pediatric research medicine at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. We are encountering the age-old problem of the humanities vs the hard sciences, and qualitative research viewed as junk by quantitative thinkers who, not incidentally, hold the purse strings and the right of access to our human subjects--our strong ties with the St Jude doctors notwithstanding. We have decided, therefore, to augment our qualitative user-centered design methods with quant studies developed by a cognitive psychologist I've brought on board. These quant studies will look at the basic science governing the principles, techniques, and theories we're using in the practice-based application. Hopefully, then, with this "proof of principle" work, our very positive user responses will be taken more seriously by the medical and Federal agency "establishments." At the end of the day, we just want to help parents and kids understand what the heck is going on with their cancer and why the doctors are recommending these experimental treatments, so that the parents and the kids can make an informed decision to consent or dissent--and then live without regret after making that tough decision. Any resources you can provide will be most appreciated and subsequently conflated and shared with the whole list. Michael -- Michael Schmidt, Director Center for Multimedia Arts Associate Professor, Graphic Design The University of Memphis/ FedEx Institute of Technology 365 Innovation Drive Memphis, TN 38152 P 901-678-1777 F 901-678-2735