Socially oriented action research in design practice /
While well-known in certain academic circles, mainly in the social sciences, action research as a methodology has yet to heavily influence design practice. While the spiral model of "look, think, act" parallels iterative principles of design research, the undercurrent philosophy of action...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London :
SAGE Publications, Ltd.,
2022.
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| Series: | SAGE research methods cases.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | While well-known in certain academic circles, mainly in the social sciences, action research as a methodology has yet to heavily influence design practice. While the spiral model of "look, think, act" parallels iterative principles of design research, the undercurrent philosophy of action research combines other research possibilities highly relevant to our model of social design--it is phenomenological, hermeneutic, and interpretive. The role of social designers, therefore, lies not only in their ability to propose contextual applications to a specific situation but to articulate and interpret it in an inclusive and relevant manner. Two crucial factors link the classic model of action research and social design--the need to rely on data gathered with and from the design partners (as in community-based action research), but even more importantly, act from a clearly defined worldview that influences the research methods and the nature of the outcomes (i.e., designing for people). Conversely, values serve as the basis in actions research as well as social design. Moreover, designers operating in healthcare environments are faced with complex, sensitive situations in which the self-reflective and flexible nature of action research is extremely relevant. In other words, designers need to be both sensitive and creative in constructing their research methodology, while re-evaluating it during the process, taking into consideration the dynamics of interaction with the design partners.This case study will outline the impact of design action research within healthcare and medical processes, through projects that were conducted in local hospitals and clinics. These case studies demonstrate an activist approach to the design process, which invigorates research methodologies, fosters the involvement of the design partners, and enables design interventions and evaluation throughout the process. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource : illustrations. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781529604689 1529604680 |