This seminar course will provide students a survey of research methods used in the design disciplines. The course will also expose students to the rigor of intensive reading, writing and discussion whose product will provide a solid foundation for subsequent research in the Masters program in Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The course will have regular readings and follows a seminar format where everyone participates in discussion. Periodic written assignments will complement the readings with practical application of research skills.
Objectives 1. To introduce students to the theoretical issues of research and the methods by which research is conducted; and 2. To reinforce the mechanics and pragmatic requirements to implement and communicate research. Success in this course is based on the student's ability to synthesize a broad array of information, interpret its significance relative to the student's own experiences, and demonstrate competency through a variety of formats including classroom discussion, examinations and writing assignments. Students completing this course will be able to: 1. Define a research problem, a hypothesis for its solution, and a research plan toward its implementation; 2. Identify resources necessary to support the research (informational, financial, personnel); 3. Conduct research using methods appropriate to the individual problem; 4. Interpret the results of research according to the standards necessary for thesis and journal publication.
Course Structure & Topics There will be two types of assignments: daily and periodic. Daily assignments will require the student to coomplete the assigned readings and be prepared to participate in a seminar discussion of those readings. The intent of the discussion assignments is to introduce a rigor of efficient reading, to learn skills in paraphrasing the ideas of others, and to interpret these ideas into use within your own research. The students should be able to concisely summarize key points of the readings and recognize applications to your own research topic. Periodic assignments will apply the research skills from the readings toward developing a final research proposal. The periodic assignments are cumulative and are meant to produce a concise proposal for your subsequent research. All periodic assignments must comply to the format and style criteria established in the required reference texts for this course. Descriptions of individual assignments are located within the course schedule.
