Smits, M W M (2019) A quasi-experimental method for testing rural design support within a DRM framework. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 8(2), pp. 150-187. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the quasi-experiment setting to test the formulated design support (developed in the author’s PhD research) within a design research methodology (DRM) framework. This support intends to help designers to consciously engage rural families within a development aid scenario and increase their self-reliance towards their built environment (housing). Design/methodology/approach: This paper elaborates on the setting in which the design support was tested within a quasi-experiment. The literature section describes the challenges in design research and why the DRM is suitable for this type of empirical research. Findings: Findings of the paper include a workable setting to organise and evaluate the impact of a design support within a DRM framework on a vulnerable rural community. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of the research lies in the study population. Due to financial and time constraints, only four teams could participate in the experiment conducted in rural Kenya. Social implications: Further research will need to prove that the support works in comparable situations on the African continent. Originality/value: The quasi-experiment setting within a DRM framework could benefit researchers in comparable empirical investigations.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | applied design research; design support evaluation; inhabitant self-reliance; quasi-experiment; sub-Sahara Africa; sustainable development |
| Index terms: | Kenya, housing, population, methodology, experiment, sustainable development, testing, investigation, research methodology, built environment, designer, Africa |
| Subjects: | regions and continents, professional practice, research design and methodology, construction type, profession, data collection methods, demography, infrastructure and transport systems, research methods, health safety and environment, Geography |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here