Overall objectives:

1 - Acquire knowledge advanced of research for design and research through design.
2 - Develop competence in understanding the methods and tools for research in design.
3 - Develop competency of generating original scientific investigation ideas emerging from studio or workshop activities.
4 - Elaborate a research project abstract and a research project poster.

Syllabus:

1 - Empirical and theoretical methods of data collection.
2 - Qualitative and quantitative research tools
3 - Case studies has a research tool.
4 - How to do Interviews, questionnaires and user studies.
5 - Observation perspectives of studying an object - strategy, identity and technology.
6 - The structure and method to do a scientific research.

Literature/Sources:

Ecco, H , 1997 , Como se faz uma tese em Ciências Sociais e Humanas , Editorial Presença
Yin, R , 2005 , Estudos de Caso. Planejamento e Métodos , Bookman
Blessing, L. T. M. and A. Chakrabarti , 2009 , DRM, a Design Research Methodology, , Springer
Albarello, L. et al., , 2005 , Práticas e Métodos de Investigação em Ciências Sociais (2ª ed. , Lisboa: Gradiva.
Broadbent, J. , 2002 , Generations in design methodologies , Durling, J. Shackleton (eds.), Common Ground, Staffordshire University Press, Stoke-on-Trent.
Cooper, R. , 2003 , About: Academic Design Research. , Design Council
Cross, N. , 2011 , Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work , Oxford: Berg.
Laurel, B , 2003 , Design Research: Methods and Perspectives , MIT Press

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The teaching methodology combines conceptual and theoretical knowledge, with some practical application in the proposed works. It is intended to maintain a dialogic methodology that encourages the construction of an articulated discourse and thought. Assessment is continuous, supported by the performance and oral presentation of papers and reports. The amount of work per semester may vary. The students will be judged on theoretical aptitude, text reading, scientific writing, idea analysis and synthesis competency. This course adopts the Evaluation Model ?B? predicted in the University of Madeira evaluation forms.