What is Research? - Lecture Notes

Studio practice < reflection > PPP

COP < analysis > Studio Practice

COP < evaluation > PPP

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Knowledge - The learner recalls or recognises info

Analysis - The learner separates info into component parts

Comprehension - The learner changes info into a different form, format or media

Application - The learner solves problems by using appropriate knowledge and generalisations

Evaluation - The learner makes quantitative and qualitative judgements relating to established media

Synthesis - The learner solves problems by combining info through original and creative thinking (compose, establish)

‘Process is more important than outcome. When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.’ - An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

Creativity isn't just about explaining the world, it's looking at the world and saying how do we start to explore that world, it's about asking what if?

‘If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?’ - Albert Einstein

Ideas are at the core of our practice, we are driven by ideas

Stimulated approach - the is a conscious or subconscious search for inspiration from an external repertoire: in the surroundings, media, in discussion, libraries, etc. The main concern here is the development of analogies and associative approaches, which are then further  individual solutions.

Systematic approach - this is based on systematic collection and modification of components, characteristics and means of expressions. Trying things again and moving it around in deferent ways to see what works better or worse.

Intuitive approach - the development of thought process, which is primarily based on internalised  perceptions and knowledge, that is to say an internal repertoire.

What is research? - the process of finding facts, these facts will lead to in knowledge. Research is done by using what is already known, it involves collecting information about a subject from a variety of sources including books, journals and the Internet. Or by carrying out experiments or talking to people and the analysis of this information. It is about asking questions, ‘how?’ ‘Why?’ ‘What if?’

Types of Research

Primary Research - developed and collected for a specific use, usually generated to help solve a problem and involves the collection of data that does not yet exist.

Secondary Research - published or recorded data that have already been collected for some purpose other than the current study, the analysis of research that has been collected at an earlier time (for reasons unrelated to the current project)

Quantitative Research - Deals with facts, figures, and measurements, and produces data which can be readily analysed. Measurable data is gathered from a wide range of sources, and it is the analysis and interpretation of the relationships across the data. (Generates numerical data, the gathering and analysing of measurable data, it is objective and relies on statistical analysis)

Qualitative Research - explores and tries to understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviour and interactions. It generates non-numerical data. A way to study people or systems by interacting with and observing the subject regularly. Research that is involved with quality. It can describe things without the use of numerical data.

What is information?

• Is the result of processing, manipulating and organising data in a way that adds to the knowledge of the person receiving it.
• Data that been processed to create meaning and hopefully knowledge for the person who receives it. Information is the output of information systems.
• Information to be useful it should be sufficient, competent, relevant.
• It can take many forms but as long as it's useful.

A brief mention of methodologies:

Phase 1 Assimilation

• The accumulation and ordering of general information and information specifically related to the problem in hand

Phase 2 General Study

• The investigation of possible solutions or means of solution
• The investigation of the nature of the problem

Phase 3 Development

• The development and refinement of one or more of the tentative solutions isolated during phase 2

Phase 4 Communication

• Communicated your ideas to someone else

Analysis

• What is the problem/brief/question about?
• What do I need to know more about?
• What already exists?
• What are the specification, materials, functions, client preferences that are a fixed part of the brief?

Do not attempt to invent solutions at this stage, just background information and parameters

Research

• How many ideas occur in response to you analysis?
• Ask yourself ‘what happens if…
• Feedback is a significant part of the reach process
• Use lateral thinking and word association to spur originality
• Find the extremes (simplest to over the top/bizarre)
• Use mechanical trial and error and find out where things fit together
• Try out likely materials and find their limitations
• Go for lots of possibilities rather than one precious solution
• Prepare to go back to ‘analysis’

Evaluation

• Which fulfils the brief?
• Which looks best?
• What does the client/audience/viewer prefer?
• How does it fit the current ethos/values/trends?

Solution

• Usually a compromise between what you want to do, what can be afforded, and what is feasible
• Be sure this is accepted by getting feedback on all the possibilities before you reach this stage
• Be prepared to go back again, it is not a linear process so START ANYWHERE!!

‘Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing’