How reflective practice is shaping my inquiry

Simplified approach, refined question…

Fig 1. Staircase in Justus Jörgensen studio — photo taken by Kate.

Thinking in action

Schön talking about the convergence of research and practice, that they are both the domain for reflection…relevant to process I am undertaking.

“…when we reject the traditional view of professional knowledge, recognising that practitioners may become reflective researchers in situations of uncertainty, instability, uniqueness and conflict, we have recast the relationship between research and practice. For on this perspective research is an activity of practitioners” (Schön 1983 p.308)

“Frame analysis, the study of ways in which practitioners frame problems and roles, can help practitioners to become aware of and criticise their tacit frames” (Schön 1983 p. 309).

Focusing the inquiry

Conversations across the past four weeks have helped me to refine my question, become more specific and narrowed the lens of my inquiry.

“A most important kind of research has to do with the methods of inquiry and the overarching theories of phenomena, from which practitioners may develop on-the-spot variations. And practitioners can benefit from research on the process of reflection-in-action itself” (Schön 1983 p. 309).

“Their frames determine their strategies of attention and thereby set the directions in which they will try to change the situation, the values which will shape their practice” (Schön 1983 p. 309).

Simplified approach

Several conversations in my first week helped me to simplify my approach and desire to trial a variety of methods to collect and visualise data from phase 2 (walks).

I’ve now settled on one approach — physical map (potentially using the pscho-geographic approach of the Derives), and recording of audio visuals to capture customer insights.

I’ve also worked in peer conversations to the process, helping the incorporation of different views to reframe my thinking.

Refined question

A conversation last week also helped to narrow the focus of my question — at this stage not all of the advice could be applied (which is often the reality of life!), but I’ve applied as much of the thinking, as practically possible.

How might sensory walking research be applied to the ‘exploration’ stage of service design?

1. How might the research characteristics benefit service design?(phenomenology)
2. How might it support an understanding of change?
3. How might the research insights be communicated?

It’s becoming obvious that this inquiry is becoming as much as an inquiry into a research technique, as it is to my own practice and future place. What a ride…

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Reference

Schön, D 1983, The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action, edn reprinted 1991, Ashgate Publishing Limited, Surrey, UK.