A: Inquiring and Analysing
Command Terms
Types of Research
Primary Research
This is research that you do and involves data you collect. Examples could include:
Surveying the needs and preferences of your user group.
Collecting anthropometric data about your specific users by measuring them yourself.
Experimenting with a tool in order to learn how to use it. This is "hands on" as you are actually using the tool.
Investigating different materials by doing experiments to determine which are ideal for the design context. This is "hands on" as you are actually handling and testing the materials.
Observing or interviewing your users to learn more about their needs
Secondary Research
This is research that someone else has done. You are using their research to inform and understand. Examples could include:
Using anthropometric data from a database to determine dimensions for a product.
Using a published market research study, article, or document to learn more about your user group.
Watching videos or online tutorials to learn how to use a tool, software, or material. This is "hands off" as you are not actually handling the tool or material.
Reviewing and Analysing a website with information about your design context, users, or their needs.
Important note about Primary and Secondary Research
As a designer, you are expected to include both Primary and Seconday research in your your research plan.
Creating a Research Plan
In Year 5 (Grade 9 and 10) MYP design at BHA we use a table to record our research plan. Your table should include all the sections completed below.
The most important section is the question - asking good questions will give you useful, valuable, and relevant answers that you can use to understand your design context.
Priority
Identify the importance of the information you are going to research. Use the following
1 = Essential: You must to do this research in order to better understand the design context
2 = Useful: This research will be useful, but is not essential to your understanding.
3 = Non-essential but interesting to know
Type
Indicate whether your research is Primary or Secondary. You need to include examples of Primary AND Secondary Research
Primary research is research you do yourself (measuring your user group, or conducting a survey)
Secondary research is done be someone else (reading an article or using data that someone else has collected)
Question
You need to identify what you need to know. Start by asking these questions:
What do I need to know about my user group?
What do I need to know about the design problem?
*Remember, your research does NOT include the analysis of existing products (You will do that in A3)
User Research Questions
View these resources for guides on conducting user interviews and user research
Categories of questions could include:
Information about your user group's needs
What challenges do my users face?
The ergonomics or anthropometrics of a user group
How tall are the people in my user group?
Preferences or feedback from surveys
Where do you use your laptop?
Understanding how something works
How does a simple light circuit work?
How do I join pieces of wood together?
Learning more about the design context
What kinds of hand tools do doctors use?
What kinds of objects does my user group need to store?
Concepts related to the design context
What are the Ten Principles For Good Design?
What are some sustainable design practices?
Rationale
Describe why this research is necessary or important. Remember to connect it to the design context. Use 1-2 sentences
I need to know hand dimensions of my users in order to design a comfortable handle.
Knowing where students use their laptops the most will help me understand some of the constraints on size, color, weight, etc.
Summarize your findings
List the key findings from your research here. Only include key points that will be useful in your design.
You can use bullet points if you like.
Measured 20 grade 9 students. Average height is 138cm.
Use an additional page if you need additional space to show graphics, images, or charts.
Source
Cite your sources using the MLA style.
Sign in with your school email to access NoodleTools to record your research and create citations.
View online examples of different MLA citation formats at Purdue's OWL Online Writing Lab