Dear Mauricio,
Thanks for your question. This is a matter of definition. To be clear on how I define these terms, I must repeat the same words and phrases Please forgive the repetitive nature of this post.
When I speak of “general introductions to research and comparative research methodology,” I am not discussing “design research methodology.” I am discussing *general* introductions to research and comparative research methodology. These are general. They are broader than one field. The issues apply to many forms of research, and the issues involve comparative research methodology in ways that allow one to contrast and compare methods.
William Trochim’s research methods knowledge base is an example of a general introduction.
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net
So are such books as Andrew Van de Ven’s Engaged Scholarship (2007) and so are many books on grounded theory or symbolic interactionism. You can use the research methods they introduce in many fields, and apply the methods to many purposes.
This is also the case for a broad introduction to hermeneutics and hermeneutical research, such as Anthony Thiselton’s (2009) Hermeneutics: an Introduction. Even though Thiselton is a theologian, this book can be used effectively in any field that draws on or makes use of hermeneutical analysis. In contrast, a book such as Henry Virkler and Karolynne Ayayo’s (2007) Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation is an introduction to hermeneutics for those wishing to develop an understanding of Biblical hermeneutics. The principles are useful to those who want to deepen their general knowledge of hermeneutical analysis, but most of the methods cannot be applied in general ways.
Thiselton offers a general introduction to research and comparative research methodology in hermeneutics. Virkler and Ayayo of offer a focused introduction to research methods comparable to the books on design research methods.
I am always clear about the distinction between “methods” and “methodology.” A method is how to do something. Methodology is the study of method. The books I describe as general are comparative introductions to the study and understanding of research methods. What makes Gjoko Muratovski’s book general is the fact that it introduces the comparative study of method. Where Muratovski differs from Trochim is that Muratovski is a designer who introduces designers and research students in the design fields to research and comparative research methodology in a book written from a design perspective. What makes the book general is that the care that Muratovski brings to the project. People in other fields can use it without being misled about general concepts or specific facts. In that sense, it is a general introductions to research and comparative research methodology.
The books that I describe as “design research methods” books involve design research methods as well as design methods. Some of these research methods are linked to practical design methods. What makes these *research* books is that they show designers how to use research methods to frame issues, questions, and problems that designers then solve. It would be a mistake to think of these as design methods books in the sense of books that simply teach people how to design or solve design problems. These books — Boeijen, Dalhuizen, Zistra, and van der Schoor 2014; Boyer, Cook, and Steinberg 2011; Koskinen, Zimmerman, Binder, Redström, and Wensveen 2011; Kumar 2013; Sanders and Stappers 2012; Simonsen, Svabo, Strandvad, Samson, Hertzum, and Hansen 2014 — show people how to ask research questions, and how to use research effectively in solving design problems. This is why they are “design research methods” books rather than “design methods” books.
Yours ,
Ken
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | Editor-in-Chief | 设计 She Ji. The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation | Published by Elsevier in Cooperation with Tongji University Press | Launching in 2015
Chair Professor of Design Innovation Studies | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University | Shanghai, China ||| University Distinguished Professor | Centre for Design Innovation | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia
Email [log in to unmask] | Academia http://swinburne.academia.edu/KenFriedman | D&I http://tjdi.tongji.edu.cn
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References
Boeijen, Annemiek van, Jaap Dalhuizen, Jelle Zistra, and Roos van der Schoor, eds. 2014. Delft Design Guide. Amsterdam: BIS.
Boyer, Bryan, Justin Cook, and Marco Steinberg. 2011. In Studio: Recipes for Systemic Change. Helsinki: Sitra.
Koskinen, Ilpo, John Zimmerman, Thomas Binder, Johan Redström, and Stephan Wensveen. 2011. Design Research Through Practice: From the Lab, Field, and Showroom. Waltham, Massachusetts: Morgan Kaufmann.
Kumar, Vijay. 2013. 101 Design Methods. A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organisation. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Sanders, Elizabeth B. N., and Pieter Jan Stappers. 2012. Convivial Toolbox. Generative Research for the Front End of Design. Amsterdam: BIS.
Simonsen, Jesper, Connie Svabo, Sara Malou Strandvad, Kristine Samson, Morten Hertzum, and Ole Henrik Hansen. 2014. Situated Design Methods. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
Thistleton, Anthony. 2009. Hermeneutics: an Introduction. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Trochim, William M. K., and James P. Donnelly. 2006. The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 3rd Edition. Cincinnati, Ohio: Atomic Dog Publishing.
Van de Ven, Andrew. 2007. Engaged Scholarship. A Guide for Organizational and Social Research. New York: Oxford University Press.
Virkler, Henry, and Karolynne Gerber Ayayo. (2007) Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation
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Mauricio Mejia wrote:
—snip—
I make a distinction (and please let me know if I am wrong) between design methods and design research methods.
According to this post what you refer as “design research methods” is what I refer as “design methods”. And what you refer as “general introductions to research and comparative research methodology” is what I refer as “design research methodology.”
Whereas design practice may require some “research” activities, these activities serve design purposes. That is why I don’t understand design methods as design research methods. I know that some of the design methods books you recommend use the term design research, and I think this has increased the confusion.
—snip—
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Ken Friedman wrote:
—snip—
In my earlier notes, I stated that there were no good general introductions to research and comparative research methodology written from a design perspective. You are asking a different question here — you are asking about texts that focus on specific design research methods.
There are some wonderful books on design research methods — some linked to practical design methods, using clinical research to frame the issues, questions, and problems that designers then solve.
Here is a short list of six recent books that you will find helpful.
Boeijen, Annemiek van, Jaap Dalhuizen, Jelle Zistra, and Roos van der Schoor, eds. 2014. Delft Design Guide. Amsterdam: BIS.
Boyer, Bryan, Justin Cook, and Marco Steinberg. 2011. In Studio: Recipes for Systemic Change. Helsinki: Sitra.
Koskinen, Ilpo, John Zimmerman, Thomas Binder, Johan Redström, and Stephan Wensveen. 2011. Design Research Through Practice: From the Lab, Field, and Showroom. Waltham, Massachusetts: Morgan Kaufmann.
Kumar, Vijay. 2013. 101 Design Methods. A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organisation. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Sanders, Elizabeth B. N., and Pieter Jan Stappers. 2012. Convivial Toolbox. Generative Research for the Front End of Design. Amsterdam: BIS.
Simonsen, Jesper, Connie Svabo, Sara Malou Strandvad, Kristine Samson, Morten Hertzum, and Ole Henrik Hansen. 2014. Situated Design Methods. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
The books from BIS, Wiley, Morgan Kaufmann, and The MIT Press are available at Amazon and other online bookstores. Boyer, Cook, and Steinberg (2011) is available free online at my Academia page, along with other useful methods materials from Helsinki Design Lab:
https://swinburne.academia.edu/KenFriedman
—snip—
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