2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DESN5150M Research Methods for Design

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Maria Lonsdale
Email: m.lonsdale@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will review current thinking on design research and will introduce a range of research methods with practical application to design, which may be employed in the student's specialist project, as well as projects developed in the specialist optional modules. Social and ethical issues will be discussed.Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be covered, including: interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, performance tests, usability testing, ethnographic research, etc. Students will acquire skills and techniques for literature reviewing, data collection, data analysis, and application of findings to the development of effective human-centred design solutions. Students will be required to write an essay deconstructing research articles in their fields of interest. They will also be required to write an annotated bibliography around the research they are planning to do for their specialist project in Semester 2. They will read widely on their topic and select the 20 most relevant sources.

Objectives

This module gives students the opportunity to:
- Learn and understand a range of research methods that can be applied to human-centred design.
- Select and use appropriate research methods to support the development of design projects that are both practice- and research-focused.
- Acquire and improve the key competencies necessary to be a critical reader of published research.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have provided evidence of being able to:
1. Search, access and review reliable literature in the area of design effectively and critically.
2. Express clearly the current issues and challenges of the design research community.
3. Understand the characteristics of established research methods and evaluate their effectiveness for their own research.

Skills outcomes
User-centred research and design

Syllabus

Indicative list of lectures:

Week 1: Introduction to module.
Week 2: What is research?
Week 3: Literature review and annotated bibliography
Week 4: Interviews and focus groups
Week 5: Surveys and questionnaires
Week 6: Ethnography
Week 7: Participatory design
Week 8: Usability tests
Week 9: Performance studies
Week 10: Data analysis
Week 11: Research planning and design

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

To gain confidence to develop and articulate their own ideas, students will engage in private study.

Each lecture is supported by material that is available on the Blackboard VLE. This material provides links to appropriate journal papers, books, videos and websites. Digital copies of the lectures will be also available on the VLE so that students can follow up in a systematic and structured manner.

Students will bring and discuss their ideas to the lectures, allowing them to gain confidence in their own critical thinking. Students will also be asked to find and provide design examples to show their understanding of the theoretical content addressed in the lecture.

- Literature search and reading: 60 hours
- Independent research and preparation: 58 hours
- Preparation and evaluation of assessed outcomes: 60 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through:
- Regular attendance at lectures and seminars (absences dealt with through the normal School channels).
- Participation in lectures and seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1,250-1,500 words – Critical discussion of peer-reviewed articles	30.00
Literature Review	4,000-4,500 words – annotated bibliography	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/01/2017

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