RESEARCH METHODS IN DESIGN AND CULTURE Instructor:

RESEARCH METHODS IN DESIGN AND CULTURE Instructor: Dr. Elaine L. Pedersen, Oregon State University

Course Description and Overview:

The course is a multidisciplinary overview of qualitative data collection and general research methods that can be used to research design and culture. We will examine the definition of culture, the application of qualitative research to the exploration of design and culture,

participant observation, ethnography, content analysis, photographs as data and data collection aids, material culture, interviews. The culture of the United States will be the case study for the course.

This course has two main goals:

1. Increase students’ understanding and use of spoken and written English

2. Increase students’ knowledge and application of research methods in design and culture.

Learner Outcomes:

Through a variety of learning activities, the intention is for you to demonstrate your ability to:

 Identify basic research methods that can be used in the study of cultural influences on design and use of textile and apparel products

 Communicate the importance of reliability and validity in qualitative data collection and some means by which it may be achieved

 Apply selected data collection and data analysis techniques to a mini research project How class will work:

The class will be presented in English, with Chinese translation as needed.

Using the principles of adult education,

 Each class period will be conducted as an interactive workshop.

 You will have opportunities in class to apply the ideas being presented through small group discussion and application. Students are expected to participate in these group activities.

 At the end of each class period, you will identify and submit to the instructor two to three short-answer questions that cover key concepts or ideas presented that day. These questions will be reviewed and used to create the final short-answer essay examination.

Reading and Homework:

 Readings are in English.

 Readings are assigned for each class topic. Ideally, the readings should be completed before the class topic is discussed. Please read for the major ideas, not detail.

How You Will Learn:

You will learn in several ways:

 Learning Through Reading: Assigned readings will include essays, research papers, and theory papers.

 Learning Through Discussion: Discussion questions will be presented during each class

session.

 Learning Through Activities: There will be several assigned research activities.

 Learning Through Writing: Writing will be incorporated into the course in three ways to facilitate your learning.

1) You will write responses to in-class discussion questions

2) You will write 2 to 3 short-answer questions at the end of each class period 3) You will write a short-answer essay exam during the class period of the course 4) You will write a short application paper based on the data you have collected and

analyzed during the course sessions

Demonstrating and Assessing What You Have Learned

 Performance evaluation (30% of the grade)

Knowledge of the assigned readings and class discussion will be evaluated by means of an essay exam. The exam will be presented in English and responses should be in English.

 Participation and active involvement in class activities and discussions (20% of the grade)

Discussion questions will be posed by the instructor during class. You will be expected to write responses and share these responses with others. On some days there may be in- class or out-of-class activities and written assignments to be turned in the following class time. These will be handed out and discussed in class.

 Participation in Group Project: Ethnographic Life Story(30% of the grade)

You will have the opportunity to experience several research methods, to analyze and interpret your data, and to write an ethnographic life story of the instructor. The research methods you will use for this project include:

Content Analysis Project Artifact Analysis Project Interviews

 Daily Short-Answer Questions (20% of the grade):

You will be asked to submit 2 to 3 short-answer questions that cover the key concepts or ideas presented that day. These questions will be reviewed and used to create the final short-answer essay examination.

Learner Expectations: To get the most out of this class:

 Complete reading assignments as close to the day the topic is discussed as you can;

preferably before the topic is discussed in class. Ask questions about information for which you need further clarification.

 Participate fully in class discussions and activities; engage yourself in the material; ask

questions; have fun.

What You Will Learn: Topics, Concepts, and Issues

The United States – These readings should be useful for your “Ethnographic Life Story”

project. We will discuss the United States and its culture periodically throughout the course. You will want to read these for your use early in the class sessions.

Countryman, Edward. (1996). Americans: A collision of histories. New York: Hill and Wang.

Read “Preface,” pp. xi-xvii.

Lanier, Alison R., & Davis, Jef C. (2005). Living in the USA (6th ed.). Yarmouth, ME:

Intercultural Press. Read: pp. 5-26.

Naylor, Larry L. (1998). American culture: Myth and reality of a culture of diversity. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey. Read: pp. 51-66.

Day 1, Session 1 –Sunday March 16 (3 hours) Warm-up activity: Getting to know each other

Introduction and orientation to the course What is culture? What is dress?

Why is learning about research methods in design and culture important?

What does “Research methods in Design and Culture Mean?”

Readings:

Definitions: Culture and Dress

Crapo, Richley H. (1990). Cultural anthropology: Understanding ourselves & others (2

ed.).

Guilford, CT: Dushkin Publishing Group. Read pp. 23 to 35.

Eicher, J. B., Evenson, S. L., & Lutz, H. A. (2000). The visible self : Global perspectives on dress, culture, and society. New York: Fairchild. Read pp. 40-42.

What does “Research Methods in Design and Culture Mean”?

Pelto, Pertti J., & Pelto, Gretel H. (1978). Anthropological research: The structure of inquiry (2

ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag Publications. Read: “Tools of research – I,” pp. 67-82.

Day 1, Session 2 – Sunday March 16 (3 hours) What does “Research methods in Design and Culture Mean?”

Data Collection Data Analysis, Part 1 Readings

Data collection

Creswell, W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five

approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Read “Data Collection,” pp. 117- 143.

Data Analysis

Kane, Eileen, & O’Reilly-de Brún. (2001). Doing your own research. London: Marion Boyars.

Read “Stages of Data Analysis,” pp. 290-307.

Day 2, Session 3 – Monday March 17 (3 hours) Interviews

Interviews and Use of Photographs Life in the United States

Readings Interviews

Fontana, Andrea, & Frey, James H. (1994). Interviewing: The art of science. In Norman K.

Denzin, & Yvonna S. Lincoln (Eds.). Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 361-376.

Use of photographs

Collier, John Jr., & Collier, Malcolm. (1986). Visual anthropology: Photography as a research method. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. Read Chapter 8:

Interviewing with Photographs, pp. 99-115.

Scherer, Joanna C. (1992). The photographic document: Photographs as primary data in anthropological enquiry. In Elizabeth Edwards (Eds.). Anthropology and Photography:

1860-1920 (pp. 32-41). New Haven, CN: Yale University Press.

Day 3, Session 4 – Wednesday March 19 (3 hours) Ethnographic Life Stories

Content Analysis

Life in the United States Readings

Ethnographic Life Stories

Plummer, Ken. (2001). The call of life stories in ethnographic research. Handbook of Ethnography (pp. 395-406). London: Sage Publications.

Content Analysis

Paoletti, Jo B. (1982). Content analysis: Its application to the study of the history of costume.

Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 1, 14-17.

Day 4, Session 5 –Thursday March 20 (3 hours) Content Analysis continued

Material Culture

Life in the United States Readings

Material Culture

Kellehear, Allan. (1993). The unobtrusive researcher: A guide to methods. St. Leonards, Australia: Allen & Unwin. Read: “Material culture,” pp. 96-113.

Towards a material history methodology. (Autumn, 1085). Material History Bulletin, 22, 31-40.

Day 5, Session 6 – Friday, March 21 (3 hours) Material Culture continued

Life in the United States

Day 6, Session 7 – Saturday, March 22 (3 hours) Ethnography

Participant Observation Life in the United States Reading

Ethnography/Participant Observation

Kane, Eileen, & O’Reilly-de Brún. (2001). Doing your own research. London: Marion Boyars.

Read “Participant Observation,” pp. 217-226.

Kellehear, Allan. (1993). The unobtrusive researcher: A guide to methods. St. Leonards, Australia: Allen & Unwin. Read: “Simple observation,” pp. 115-138.

Spradley, James P. (1979). The ethnographic interview. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Read “Informants,” pp. 25-39.

Day 7, Session 8 – Sunday, March 23 (3) Validity and Reliability

Data Analysis, Part 2 Reading

Validity and Reliability

Moisander, Johanna, & Valtonen, Anu. (2006). Qualitative marketing research: A cultural approach. London: Sage Publications. Read pp. 23-33.

Day 8, Session 9 – Sunday, March 23 (3) What is Theory and What does Theory have to do with Research?

Reading

Silverman, David. (2005). Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook (2

ed.). London:

Sage Publications. Read “Using Theories,” pp. 95-100, 105-107.

Day 9, Session 10 – Monday, March 24 (3) Application of Research Methods in Design and Culture

Exam (2 hours)

Course Evaluation