Research Methods // Course Syllabus
Overview
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00–4:20pm — MM A11
Contact: mortegap@andrew.cmu.edu & ecperez@andrew.cmu.edu,
ta: helenh@andrew.cmu.edu
We hold office hours by appointment:
From 1:00–2:30pm on Tuesdays in MM 207A
Dates & content may be subject to change over the course of the semester
Course Description
This mini (half-semester course) is about research in design, and mostly about research through design — how to use the methods and skills you’re learning as a designer, to investigate questions in the world, and generate and evaluate ideas. The course will also provide several themes by which research may be understood, including qualitative and quantitative, objective and subjective, structured and unstructured, truth and uncertainty. Methods include surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observational studies, usability testing, among others.
Course Goals:
- Learning and applying research methods to develop people-centric design practices.
- Understanding how research methods are an essential part of the design process.
- Analyzing and synthesizing various quantities of user research data and information.
- Visualize research methods in process documentation.
Course Objectives:
- Integrate research in a design context, and understand different kinds of research approaches.
- Gain knowledge of a range of qualitative methods for design research, identify their advantages and disadvantages, and ability to select appropriate method for your research practice.
- Plan and prepare methodological tools of inquiry.
- Build a foundation experiencing research methods in design, with the insight to be able to use them in future projects.
- Articulate and demonstrate design research planning, application and execution through documentation practices.
Expected Schedule and Assignments
Week 1
Jan 15: Introductions and + Lecture Observation
Jan 17: Field Trip, Guerilla Observation, Introduce Assignment Theme
Week 2
Jan 22: Observation share-out (Observation Assignment Due Date)
Jan 24: Design Probe lecture + Introduce Probe Assignment
Required Readings
Cultural Probes and the Value of Uncertainty
Cultural Probes — Gaver, Dunne, Pacenti
Optional Reading
Design Probes — Tuuli Mattelmäki (Chapters 1–2)
Week 3
Jan 29: Guest Lecture — Marti Louw + Feedback session on probe design (4 teams per instructor) + Reflection of guests lectures assignment
Jan 31: Probe Progress Check-in/Feedback + In-class work in progress
Week 4
Feb 5: Guest Lecture —Andrew Whitcomb + Probe Progress Check-in/Feedback
Feb 7: Guest Lecture—Lowell Reade + Probe Progress Check-in/Feedback
Week 5
Feb 12: Probe Presentation (Team 1–4) + Analysis/Affinitization Lecture + Assignment (1. Collect secondary research + primary research) (Probe Assignment Due Date)
Feb 14: Probe Presentation (Team 5–8) + Silent Affinitization Exercise (Bring secondary and primary research written on post its)
Week 6
Feb 19: Affinity Diagram presentation (Affinitization Assignment Due Date)
Feb 21: In-Class Workday + Confluence
Week 7
Feb 26: Ideation Lecture and Workshop+ Final Assignment (Guest Lecture Reflection Assignment Due Date)
Feb 28: Final Assignment proposal + In-Class work
Week 8
Mar 5: Progress Check-in/Feedback/In-Class Work
Mar 7: Ideation Review Pin up (Final Assignment Due Date)
Assignments
15% — Observation
25% — Cultural Probe
20% — Affinity Diagram
25% — Ideation/Final Assignment
10% — Reflection on Guest Lecture
5% — Class Participation
Method of Evaluation
Evaluation will be done related to the qualities of student-produced artifacts, the effort it takes to produce them, the mastery of design competencies, as well as each individual’s performance as team members and class participation.
Policies
Responsibility — Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent from class. Late assignments, failure to complete the assignments for class discussion and/or critique, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions, presentations and/or critiques will jeopardize your successful completion of this course. Students must have prior permission from the instructor to submit work late and/or adequate evidence of unforeseeable circumstance, such as a sudden illness. Work is considered late if it is not received before the beginning of class on the date due, or as otherwise detailed by the instructor. Even with permission, late work is subject to a grade penalty of a full letter grade deduction per day, i.e from an A to a B, after the original due date.
Academic Integrity — It is the responsibility of students to know and follow the university’s policies for academic integrity and to learn the procedures specific to their discipline for correctly and appropriately differentiating their own work from that of others. Compromising your academic integrity may lead to serious consequences, including failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or more significant disciplinary action with the university. For a clear description of what counts as plagiarism, cheating, and/or the use of unauthorized sources, please see the University’s Policy on Academic Integrity (revised in April 2013): http://www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/Academic Integrity.htm
Participation and attendance — Class participation is an essential part of class and includes: keeping up with reading, assignments, projects, contributing meaningfully to class discussions, active participation in group work, and coming to class regularly and on time.
Class attendance is mandatory. Missing class for any reason counts as an absence, even if unavoidable. If an absence is unavoidable, always provide evidence of the reason, such as a doctor’s note, and notify the instructor directly prior to the class, if possible, or soon after. This will not automatically excuse the absence but will provide a basis for discussion if a student exceeds the allowable number of absences and an incomplete is requested. 2 absences on any grounds brings you down a full letter grade, i.e. an A into a B. More than 2 absences on any grounds constitutes grounds for failure, i.e an F.
The following may also be counted as an absence: coming to class without the required materials, sleeping in class, doing other work in class, and using a phone, email or social media during class if not related to class work.
Within the first week of our course, please look ahead and see if you need to miss class for any excusable reason (religious observance, job interview, university-sanctioned event, etc.) and notify us as soon as possible. We may be able to make alternative arrangements for completing assignments and class attendance. Everyone is permitted one absence without the deduction of points. If there are extenuating circumstances that require you to miss more than one class session, please come and discuss this issue with us in advance of your absence(s).
Late/Make-up Work — Due dates for every assignment are provided on the course syllabus and course schedule. Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due on those days. However, we recognize that sometimes “life happens.” In these instances, you may use your allotted two flex days. These days allow you to submit an assignment up to two days late without penalty. You can use these days for any assignment and for any reason. You do not need to provide us with the reason: simply email us and tell me how many of your flex days you would like to use.
Once you’ve exhausted your flex days, then point deductions will occur for any assignment submitted after the deadline. An assignment submitted 24 hours of the due date will only be eligible for 80% of the maximum number of point allotted. Assignments submitted more than 24 hours after the due date will not be accepted. If you experience extenuating circumstances (e.g., you are hospitalized) that prohibit you from submitting your assignments on time, please let us know. We will evaluate these instances on a case-by-case basis.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities — If you have a disability and have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, we encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. We will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect that you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with the Office of Disability Resources, we encourage you to contact them at access@andrew.cmu.edu.
Delays — In rare instances, the instructor may be delayed arriving to class. If s/he has not arrived by the time class is scheduled to start, you must wait a minimum of thirty minutes before leaving. Please use the time effectively on any current group or individual work. In the event that the instructor will miss class entirely, a notice will be posted in the classroom and/or by email indicating activities for making use of class time and for the next week’s assignment.
Take care of yourself—Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.
All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is almost always helpful.
If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412–268–2922 and visit their website athttp://www.cmu.edu/counseling/. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.
