Context of Practice - Lecture: What is Research?

'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.' - Incomplete Manifesto for growth - Bruce Mau Design 1998

Steve Johnson - Where Good Ideas Come From

We need to think about research as interconnected.

Werner Gaede -Vom Wort zum bild. Stimulated Approach.

This 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 developed into individual solutions.

Intuitive Approach

This is the development of though process, which is primarily based on internalised perceptions and knowledge, that is to say an internal repertoire. This type of though process may occur spontaneously

The process of research is driven by questions... How? Why? What if? Research starts with a question.

Types of Research 

Primary Research

Developed and collected for a specific end use. Usually generated to help solve a specific problem.

Secondary Research

Published or recorded data that has already been collected for some other 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)

Quantitive Research

Deals with facts and figures. It is empirical, and can be compared.

Qualitative Research 

Its not about facts and figures, its peoples emotions feelings etc... Cant be measured the same way as quantitive.

What is information?

Any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions any medium or form including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative or audio visual form. Information is what we do with the data.