Designing Research Methods (7 ECTS)

Designing Research Methods introduces first-year PhD Fellows to a range of themes central to advanced research in the history, theory and practice of architecture, design, urbanism, landscape and related fields. The course is concerned with areas of common ground across AHO's areas of research expertise, and presents a series of practical, conceptual, critical, methodological, and epistemological lenses for thinking through the unique problematics and possibilities emerging within and between the candidates' individual research projects.

The course provides an introduction to research ethics, philosophy of science, and research methodology within AHO’s disciplinary fields. The aim of the course is to secure and enrich the required intellectual independence for carrying out the individual thesis work. The course consists of understanding and defining various modes and habits of research which attend the various research disciplines at AHO, with an emphasis on the place of design within the process of generating knowledge through research.

The course consists of a taught course in which candidates learn about positioning activities as research.

Course responsible: Associate Professor Dr. Ingrid Halland

Aims

The “Designing Research Methods” course provides an introduction to research ethics, philosophy of science, and research methodology within AHO’s disciplinary fields. The aim of the course is to secure and enrich the required intellectual independence for carrying out the individual thesis work. To make candidates learn about positioning activities as research, the course focuses on understanding and defining various modes and habits of research which attend the various research disciplines at AHO, with an emphasis on the place of design within the process of generating knowledge through research.

Research methods that are discussed in the course might include (but are not limited to): ethnography, anthropology, giga-mapping, action research and participatory workshops, discourse analysis, interviews and questionnaires, archival research, and oral history. 

The course consists of research lectures by AHO faculty and external guests, reading seminars, discussions, and submission of a final essay (a reflection on the reading list). 

The “Methods” course is offered every fall (September-December) and should be taken in the first semester of the PhD. All participants are expected to actively participate in discussions which are part of the course.

Course content

The Research Lectures consist of presentations by invited guest scholars and AHO faculty/PhD fellows on given topics, in which the speakers focus on their own use of method and/or theory. The lectures will be given on Zoom (or hybrid format) and are open to all AHO PhD Fellows.

In the Text Discussion session, the group will discuss articles/book chapters on the reading list that relate to the topic of the Research Lecture and each first-year candidate is asked to present one article to the group and prepare questions for discussions.

Compulsory assignments

  1. Read a 1000-pages reading list

  2. Active participation in the Research Lectures and the Text Discussion sessions

  3. Five prepared text presentations in the Text Discussions

  4. Writing assignment: a 1000-words reflection on the reading list in relation to the research method(s) most relevant to your object of research. The text should include an annotated bibliography on five articles/books that are not included on the reading list, but related to your selected method(s) and object(s) of research.

  5. Chairing and leading the discussion in one session of the annual AHO Colloquium (each fall)

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

After completion of the Methods course, the candidate 

  • can position practice-based activities as formal research within particular fields.

  • has good knowledge of research philosophy and the different means and aims in research discourses in the humanities and/or social sciences (quantitative research, qualitative research, research by design, ethnography, history, theory, and criticism).

  • thinks critically regarding their own discipline from different external academic perspectives.

  • can reflect on the role of a researcher, and the requirements and expectations this entails in terms of social responsibilities and research ethics.

Skills

After completion of the Methods course the candidate

  • can recognize methodological implications of the various research designs in general terms.

  • is familiar with the formalized apparatus around research dissemination (academic presentations, publication, peer-review).

  • can identify various forms of plagiarism and academic misconduct in order to carry out the research with scholarly integrity.

  • has developed their skills in academic and creative writing.

  • can identify relevant concerns in research ethics.