ABE 009

The first year of a PhD project is to a large extent dedicated to the elaboration of the research design. The research problem and research questions must be formulated, a tentative conceptual model must be formulated, and the approach to answering the research questions must be outlined. The function of the research design is to ensure that the evidence obtained enables us to answer the initial question(s) as unambiguously as possible.

The course introduces themes in research design for architecture and the built environment. Based on these introductions each candidate’s initial research proposal will be discussed and partly rewritten and/or elaborated. The course is mandatory/’strongly advised’ for all PhD-students as part of the ‘Research and discipline-based competences and skills’.

Themes

The course focuses on the following themes:

Discriminating between different types of research in architecture and the built environment
Formulating research problem and research questions
Elaboration of research questions
Plan or proposal to conduct the research
Identifying ethical aspects and compliance requirements for the Go/NOGO proposal

Learning objectives

Streamlining and scheduling the research process
Assessing methods to be used
Making intermediary adjustments (often important in long term research projects)
Identifying possible risks for research involving human participants and data collected from human participants and developing a mitigation plan using the TU Delft Risk-planning Tool: Managing Risk in Human Research

Teaching methods

Two introductory lectures about (1) what is science and what is research, and about (2) what is design and what is design research
Workshop discussing PhD-students’ initial research proposals
Workshop discussing PhD-students’ rewritten/elaborated research proposals
Short lecture about compliance in research (ethical aspects, handling personal data etc.) and workshop discussing PhD students’ mitigation plan for addressing the identified risks

Required reading

Groat, L. and Wang, D. (2001), Architectural Research Methods, Wiley
Findeisen, W. and Quade, E.S. (1988), The Methodology of Systems Analysis, in: Miser, H.J.and Quade, E.S., Handbook of Systems Analysis: craft, issues and procedural choices, Wiley, chapter 4.
Cross, N. (1990), The Nature and Nurture of Design Ability, Design Studies, 3, pp. 127-140.
Koskinen, I., Zimmerman, J., Binder, Th., Redström, J., Wensveen, S. (2011), Design Research Through Practice. From the Lab, Field, and showroom, Elsevier, chapters 1 and 2

Schedule

ABE009-1 22 April 2024 13.45-16.45h room P
Session 1: Lecture ‘What is science? What is reseach?
Required reading: Groat and Wang (2001), chapters 1 through 4; Findeisen and Quade (1988)

ABE009-2 6 May 2024 13.00-16.00h room Q
Session 2: Lecture ‘What is design? What is design research?
Required reading: Groat and Wang (2001), chapter 5; Koskinen et al. (2011), chapters 1 and 2; Cross (1990)

1st submission deadline: 20 May 2024

ABE009-3 (proposal feedback round 1) 27 May 2024 13.00-16.00h room K

2nd submission deadline: 1 June 2024

ABE009-4 (proposal feedback round 2) 7 June 2024 13.00-16.00h room Q

Prerequisite for registering this course

1. Early PhD candidates must already start their PhD for at least 3 months, and have identified and confirmed their PhD topics with their Promoters.
2. Advanced PhD candidates who have already in their last year of PhD should make use of this course to develop a research proposal as an extension of PhD, to apply for Post Doc in future.

How to enroll

Please send an email with your name, mail address, start date, research group and title of your research to abe@tudelft.nl

Course Info

Course code
ABE 009

Course type
Lectures and workshops

Most appropriate for
First semester. Mandatory for all GS-A+BE PhD candidates

Costs
Free for PhD candidates of A+BE Graduate School

Number of participants
min. 10 /max. 12

Name of lecturer(s)/coach(es)
Prof. Cor Wagenaar - BK (C.Wagenaar@tudelft.nl); Dr. Queena Qian - BK (K.Qian@tudelft.nl)

Course load

Graduate School credits
4

Assessment

Period
Twice a year

Upcoming course dates and times
Fall 2023, see schedule

Contact
For further information, please contact Queena Qian.

Alternative (similar to)
Were you unable to enrol, try this course: Nethur CC2 Research Design