Action Research 2006 / School of Design, UIAH, Prof. Ilpo Koskinen

Ilpo Koskinen, http://www.uiah.fi/~ikoskine/, office hours: tu 13-14, ikoskine (at) uiah.fi

Syllabus: Action Research 2006

2 cr (4 ects), Compulsory for degree students in Industrial Design

NEW SEPT 26: PAPER TEMPLATE. BEFORE YOU SEND THE FINAL VERSION TO ME, PLEASE, SAVE IT AS A PDF DOCUMENT. - Sorry, this is a complex template, and you wil hate it. However, it teaches you a global format used for many types of publications.

NEW SEPT 22, 13:55: DATA FOR THE EXERCISE (ca. 13MB)

--- Note 1: With one exception (Björn's images), the first name identifies the interviewer. The interviewee ought to be explained in the actual files.

--- Note 2: UPDATE SEPT 26, 13:45: (mistakes correcxted, previous version was lacking some files). The data is completely in English. No more files are on their way.

The School of Design's description of the class

EXTRA: Talk on "writing the thesis" for M.A 2 seminar on Sept. 25th.

Objectives

This class introduces participants to methods in design research. The aim is to give an understanding of the methodological basis for user research in design.

Contents

The class consists of three interrelated parts.

1. Lectures. The first part consists of listening to 12 hours of lectures.
2. Exam. You have to read the book Koskinen, Ilpo, Katja Battarbee and Tuuli Mattelmäki 2003. Empathic Design. User Experience for Product Design. Helsinki: IT Press. IT is available in the library.
3. Guided study. You have to conduct a small empirical study simultaneously with the lectures. Learning methods in abstract is absurd; we are dealing with know-how, not formalized knowledge.

Schedule

18.9.: 9.15-10.45

Introduction,

basic methodology

Introduction to design research and why we do it.

Research process: the basics.

18.9.: 12.15-13.45

Research task

for the class

NOTE: 5MB: Inspiration from an old master's thesis.

Research task for the class.

20.9.: 9.15-10.45
Data 1

Interviewing.

22.9.: 9.15-10.45
Analysis

Inference, etc.

26.9.: 9.15-10.45
Data 2

Documents, observation.

Transscription.

28.9.: 9.15-10.45
Wrap up

Note: This link takes you to a page that has links to references in the lecture. To access the lecture, you have to go through this page.:

Exam

The following book in the school’s general exam in November or December. Dates for the exam in School Study Program!

Koskinen, Ilpo, Katja Battarbee and Tuuli Mattelmäki 2003. Empathic Design. User Experience for Product Design. Helsinki: IT Press.

I will make three questions, out of which you have to answer two, with essays.

18.9.: 9.15-10.45	Introduction, basic methodology	Introduction to design research and why we do it. Research process: the basics.
18.9.: 12.15-13.45	Research task for the class	NOTE: 5MB: Inspiration from an old master's thesis. Research task for the class.
20.9.: 9.15-10.45	Data 1	Interviewing.
22.9.: 9.15-10.45	Analysis	Inference, etc.
26.9.: 9.15-10.45	Data 2	Documents, observation. Transscription.
28.9.: 9.15-10.45	Wrap up	Note: This link takes you to a page that has links to references in the lecture. To access the lecture, you have to go through this page.: