MTH102- 2024 Week 1
Research Methodologies- MTH102
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My Research Journey; From Metals to lipids
Elementary Particle Physics
Photosynthesis and Electron Transfer
Lipids and Cell Membrane Lipid Bilayer
MTH102- 2024 Week 1
Introductions
Instructor: Dr. Reza Siavashi
Email:
Rsiavashi@lasallecollegevancouver.com
Availability: In class and by appointment
Contacting- email for urgent, Mio or email for
other
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Introduction to Research
What is Research?
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Introduction to Research
What is Research?
• An investigation or examination of a topic or
problem
• Observation and interpretation of behavior
• The action of proving or disproving a hypothesis
• Repetition of the cycle of acting, reacting, and
reflecting to result in a cumulation of knowledge or
insight
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Introduction to Research
What is Research?- Questions to Ask
• What?- What are you investigating?
• Why? - What is the motivation for research?
• Who?- Who is the research for?
• What?- What is the intended outcome of the
research?
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Introduction to Research
What is Research?- Questions to Ask
• Who? or What?- Who else is working on this
research? What has already been done?
• Should?- Should this research be done? Does
it make a difference? Does it add to existing
knowledge, or create new knowledge?
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Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
How do we, as design researchers,
decide what to research?
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Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
Author/Copyright holder: LoraCBR. Copyright terms and licence: CC BY 2.0
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Found at: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/wicked-problems-5-steps-to-help-you-tackle-wicked-problems-by-combining-systems-thinkingwith-agile-methodology
Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
Wicked Problems
What are Wicked Problems?
• Problems or topics that cannot be solved or
addressed in a singular, concise way
• Often complex issues with many social, cultural,
and economic implications
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Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
Wicked Problems
What are some wicked problems?
Or, in other words, what are some
topics or problems you think are
worth researching? Are they wicked
problems?
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Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
Choosing a Question
Because Wicked Problems are too big and complex
to address, even in a lifetime, research questions
help to narrow the focus.
Research questions can be large or small in scope.
A research project typically has one primary question
that guides the research, and the research actions
consist of many smaller ones.
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Introduction to Research
Choosing a Topic
Choosing a Question
Choose a wicked problem as a class.
What are some questions that you
would ask in order to start researching
that wicked problem?
Are the questions too big? Too small?
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
In this course we will learn and practice three
different modes of research.
•Qualitative
•Research by Design
•Quantitative
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research can be described as
• A type of research that focuses on understanding
how people feel and respond to problems or
prompts
• Open ended questions- no specific answer is
sought or anticipated
• Participatory and often user-centered
• Exploratory
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Qualitative Research
Some examples of Qualitative Research
• Interviews
• Cultural probes
• Design Charette
• Mapping
• Design Workshops
• Exploratory Research
• Prototyping
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Qualitative Research
Mapping exercises
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Qualitative Research
Prompts and Probes
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Qualitative Research
Participant responses to prompts
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Qualitative Research
MaterialExplorations
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Research by Design
Research by Design is technically included in
Qualitative research. It is, however, its own complex
field of design research.
• A type of research that conducts research through
the act of design.
• Characterized by a cycle of action and reflection on
action.
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Research by Design
Some examples of Research by Design
• Reflection on the consequences of design by
draping on a form vs on a flat surface
• Reflection on how to facilitate conversations.
• Designing workshops to educate and change
behavior and sharing the results
• Developing a new method of making or doing and
sharing the method
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Research by Design
Reclaiming resources and building resilience
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Research by Design
Mapping the development of resilient systems
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research can be described as
• A type of research that focuses on collecting and
interpreting data
• The scientific method- setting a hypothesis and
proving or disproving it
• Close ended questions- experiments with a
definitive outcome
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Quantitative Research
Some examples of Quantitative Research
• Testing two designs against each other
(A/B testing)
• Card sorting
• Crowdsourcing
• Questionnaires
• Surveys
• Usability testing
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Quanitative Research
Experimentation
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Introduction to Research
Examples of Quanitative Research
Surveys and Analysis
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Syllabus
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Syllabus
Course Description
Students will explore user-centered and participatory
research techniques for human-centered design in
developing an ability to conduct insightful qualitative and
quantitative research based on scientific and responsible
design principles. They will examine how to use information
and data collection resources including library, internet,
journals, government sources, interviews, and trend reports.
Students will formulate questions and execute a range
of primary and secondary research processes aimed at
achieving strategic objectives.
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Syllabus
Course Competencies
• Explain the characteristics of user-centered,
participatory and scientific approaches used for
qualitative and quantitative inquiry in academia and
design.
• Define psychographic, demographic and lifestyle
data.
• Identify research problems and formulate research
questions
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Syllabus
Course Competencies
• Use information gathering resources including
observational methodologies, questionnaires,
interacting with groups in specific activities, focus
groups and one-on-one interviews.
• Use data collection resources including library,
internet, journals, government sources and trend
reports.
• Select research methods and techniques that
correspond to the problem identified.
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Syllabus
Course Competencies
• Identify data-driven business analytics and other
forms of rigorous investigative inquiry.
• Produce data collection instruments (devices)
based on the research methods and techniques
selected
• Identify appropriate data management and
assessment systems
• Critically analyze the data collected
• Interpret research results
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Syllabus
Instructional Methods
•Review
•Lecture and Discussion
•Collaborative Exercises
•Pair or group based exercises
•Lab Time
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Syllabus
Instructional Methods
•Research Logs/Documentation
•Critiques/Peer Reviews
•Presentations
•Material Construction and Testing
•Individual Projects
•Group Projects
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Syllabus
Process for Evaluation
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Midterm Log (incl Assignment 3)
Assignment 4
Assignment 5
Research Proposal
Weekly Journal & Reflections
Final Research Project
Final Research Project Presentation
Participation/Professionalism
Total Mark
5%
5%
15%
5%
5%
10%
10%
30%
5%
10%
100%
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Syllabus
Course Content
• Research methods terminology
• User-centered and participatory research
techniques
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Psychographic, demographic and lifestyle data
• Information and data collection resources including
library, internet, journals, government sources and
trend reports
• Interpreting information and statistics
• Composing a research question
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Syllabus
Course Content
• Validity, reliability, and the insider/outsider problem
• Information and data collection instruments
• Questionnaire, interviews, focus groups
• Data-driven business analytics
• Critical analysis of data: thematic analysis and
coding
• Methods of analysis
• Research log
• Data management and assessment systems
• Report findings
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Syllabus
Learning Outcomes
• Applying key concepts and vocabulary
• Identifying information and data collection
resources
• Creating a data management and assessment
system
• Researching and collecting qualitative and
quantitative data
• Posing research questions
• Reviewing of methodology plans by peers
• Participating in an information and data analysis
workshop
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Syllabus
Evaluating Learning
Evaluation Type
Exercises and
Assignments
Weight
40%
Research
Documentation
and
Communication
30%
Final Project
30%
100%
TOTAL
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Syllabus
Late Assignment Policy
A majority of class consists of discussion or group
research activities.
Homework assignments are due before class starts.
Assignments that are received by the end of class
will be permissible, but instructor will need to be
notified if an assignment will be late.
Some assignments will have strict due date
and some will have 10% per day late policy;
Check the assignment descriptions on
Omnivox and instructor’s instructions in
class.
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Documentation
What is the purpose of documentation
in research?
What are some types of
documentation?
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Introduction to Research
Conducting Research
Documentation
Documenting research is how it can be reflected
upon, interpreted, communicated with others, and
critiqued.
• Journaling
• Drawing
• Data sheets
• Reflective writing
• Visualization of data
• Reports
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Introduction to Research
How to Begin- Literature Review
In order to understand where we will start our
research, we have to understand the problem or
topic we have chosen.
First choose a list of keywords that describe your
topic that can be used when searching for sources.
Use the keywords to search the internet and
databases for your topic.
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Introduction to Research
How to Begin- Literature Review
Not all sources are equal. For data or examples
of research, search for articles that have been
published in journals. Articles in journals have been
peer reviewed and contain verified data.
• Google Scholar
• LaSalle Library Search
• Web of Science
• Academia
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Introduction to Research
How to Begin- Literature Review
Design research is not always published in academic
journals. You may also find examples and references
on various design websites, on individual or
company websites, or places like Instagram and
blogs.
Wherever you find your information, be critical of the
source and what they claim. If it seems too good to
be true- it just might not be true!
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Course Focus- Plastic Waste
Addressing plastic waste through
design research
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Course Focus- Plastic Waste & Plastic Recycling
What do we know about plastic waste?
What should we know?
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Assignment 1-Plastic Waste and
Circularity Literature Review
Over the next two weeks conduct a study of
literature and resources about plastic waste and
their recycling procedure. As you find articles,
artist postings, books, or any other relevant
sources, share them in the class discussion
board. Each student is expected to share at least
2 new resources to the class log, but you are
welcome to include other’s references in your
own literature review.
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https://www.citationmachine.net/ is a helpful
tool for creating accurate citations. Think about
where your source came from and choose the
correct option from the list.
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MTH102- 2021 Week 1
Assignment 1-Plastic Waste and Circularity Literature
Review
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Finding Sources
As a group, find a source using
Google Scholar or the LaSalle Library
website.
Share with the class why you chose
this source and what keywords you
used to find it.
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Weekly Journal
After each class you will be expected to record
your thoughts on the contents of class that day.
This includes comments and documentation of
the in class research exercises.
You may choose to submit these journals each
week, or all of the entries together at the end of
the term. The journal, and prompted reflections
for your last entry, are worth 10%of your grade.
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