Using qualitative research methods in engineering design research
Year: 2013
Editor: Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author: Daly, Shanna; McGowan, Anna; Papalambros, Panos
Series: ICED
Institution: University of Michigan, United States of America
Page(s): 203-212
ISBN: 978-1-904670-45-2
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
In order to support successful strategies in design education and practice, we must have a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of design processes, teams, contexts, and systems. Facilitating this understanding of engineering design requires research methodologies that can capture the nature of the design process from a diversity of aspects such cognitive, creative, social, organizational, and experiential. Traditionally, research in engineering design has focused on quantitative methodologies whose constructs are familiar to engineers. Our assertion here that qualitative research methodologies that are less familiar to engineers can provide unique scientific insights into the study of engineering design, enabling new findings not obtainable via quantitative methodologies. In this paper we provide an overview of qualitative research methods, outline key opportunities where qualitative methods can be used to enhance engineering design research, and present a case example of a qualitative study on interdisciplinary interactions in complex system design.
Keywords: Qualitative research, interdisciplinary interactions, research methods