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Design and Management

Research and Analysis

This unit addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:

Outcomes

A student:

H1.1 investigates industry through the study of business in one focus area
H1.2 identifies appropriate equipment, production and manufacturing techniques and describes the impact of new and developing technologies in industry
H3.2 selects and applies appropriate research and problem-solving skills

Extract from Industrial Technology Stage 6 Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 1999.

Introduction

There is no guaranteed formula for successful research. However, conducting effective research and accurate analysis is an essential part of fulfilling any design brief. Without it, the designer starts without any idea of how others solved similar problems in the past. This would necessitate the designer spending many hours solving basic problems without using or improving upon existing solutions. Many researchers spend a significant amount of their time reading because we can learn a lot more quickly from other people's work than from doing your own fundamental research. Although the majority of the research is conducted before a design solution is determined, the research process should continue throughout the design process in much the same way as a good designer continually evaluates her/his solutions.

The types of information required may include:

providing general background information
identifying existing ideas or solutions which are similar to the design brief
identifying solutions to specific design or construction problems.

The amount of information you could read to have a solid understanding in any field may seem intimidating. Knowing where to look for both general and specific information can make research more efficient and effective.

Read with a question in mind such as “How can I use this?”

Sources of information

It is useful to start with a general field of enquiry and gradually become more specific. This is commonly called working from the tertiary sources, through secondary sources to primary sources.

Tertiary sources of information are reference books or textbooks. They can offer a broad summary of a field of study. They are usually reliable, as they have been complied from a number of other sources and have been thoroughly researched and are generally considered as authoritative. Try to use recently published textbooks as older publications can offer out-of-date information, particularly in the technology field. Textbooks may contain further references to associated material.

Secondary sources of information include summaries of information found elsewhere. Encyclopaedia articles and other publications containing factual information are examples. These sources have the advantage of being current and the information has usually been verified by another source.

Primary sources of information include reports from experiments, investigations and articles in trade journals or on the Internet, first hand accounts and original works. These are usually up-to-date but may offer inaccurate information.

Where to look

The most common places to look for information include:

the Internet
libraries
books
related magazines
journals
the electronic media, e.g. CD-ROMs

How to look

Identify your idea, image or question.
Scan resources such as books, journals, web sites, etc. to see if they are relevant.
Use the table of contents, index or find function to quickly locate useful information.
Highlight interesting ideas as you find them. Highlight different concepts in different colours, such as design shapes in blue, finishes in yellow, etc.
Make notes of your thoughts, questions and ideas as you go. Keep a notebook for this purpose.
As you get some ideas, narrow your research question(s) and do further research.

Collecting and organising researched information

It is a good idea to keep an ongoing research notebook. Different systems work for different people. You might keep it as computer files, in a spiral notebook or on note pads. Find a system that suits you best.

Record in your notebook ideas as they come up. The information collected can be stored at random. The information could be written notes, images, sketches or mind maps. Record your speculations, current problems with your work and the possible solutions. Also note areas of future research.

Read back over your notebook periodically. What you put in your notebook will document your research and problem solving processes.

A mind map is a very visual way of showing the relationships between ideas, expanding from a central “hub” which is the main theme. A mind map can often look like a web, or an octopus. Mind maps offer the advantage of providing a non-linear and creative way of recording ideas on paper. Mind maps help you focus on the central theme and visualise the meaning behind the words. They can be either words or images or a combination of both.

How to make a mind map

Draw a colourful picture for the main idea in the centre of the page.
Draw lines out of this to create an expanding web of ideas.
Use fewer words and more pictures.

Have a look at a mind map that was used in developing a design for a chair to be constructed from chrome plated metal and using a leather seat.

Using the Internet

The key things to remember about using the Internet for research are:

There is more to the Internet than web pages. Many sites have multiple pages and other web links.
Finding good material is often best done using search engines or metasearch engines.
Learning how search engines work can help you to search more effectively.
No one search engine, directory or database contains a list of everything on the web.

Search engines

Search engines enable you to search using keywords or phrases, which describe the subject you are looking for. Some examples include:

Different engines cover different web pages, so you need to search using more than one.

Metasearch engines work the same way as search engines but search the web using a number of search engines at once. Some examples include:

Using metasearch engines offers many advantages including providing a very wide coverage of the web allowing you to find more material. You gain the opportunity to refine and enhance your search by using the many links to useful related material.

Using metasearch engines can also cause some disadvantages. They can often return too much material. Some engines have been found to include paid listings in the search results and have not clearly labelled them as advertisements.

Is the source reliable?

The sources of information found on the Internet vary in reliability. The letters at the end of the URL indicate the organisation type and the country of origin. If there is nothing after the organisation type, the country of origin is the United States of America. Researchers must use discretion when evaluating information from different organisations. Educational (.edu) and non-profit organisations (.org) are generally good places to start research.

Some organisation types and their identification

edu educational
int international organizations
org non-profit organizations
biz business
net networking providers
museum museum

Some countries

Au Australia
Nl Netherlands
De Germany
Uk United Kingdom
Fr France

The Monash University web site offers advice on effective use of the Internet.

Activity 1

Visit the Monash University web site and list four ways to improve search results when using an Internet search engine.

Answer

Activity 2

Visit the Monash University web site and list three ways to tell if the information found on a web page is of good quality.

Answer

Libraries

Libraries commonly contain books, magazines, encyclopaedias, handbooks, atlases, newspapers, journals and audio-visual materials. Most libraries offer Internet access. They can also arrange loans from other libraries if they do not carry a specific item you wish to view.

To locate source material for a particular topic, use the library catalogue systems. Remember to check the shelves for other sources that have the same classification number as the book you are seeking as they often contain useful materials. These books are commonly found with Dewey classification numbers immediately above or below the original item you were seeking.

Librarians are available to offer assistance as required.

Using audiovisual media

Viewing audiovisual recordings can generate many designs ideas or provide solutions to design problems. These are available via library collections or can be viewed on free-to-air or pay television.