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A NEW RESEARCH PROTOCOL FOR USING SYSTEM MAPS IN SYSTEMIC DESIGN RESEARCH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2023

Stine Moons ,
Esther Noëth ,
Els Du Bois  and
Alexis Jacoby
Stine Moons*
Affiliation:
Universiteit Antwerpen
Esther Noëth
Affiliation:
Universiteit Antwerpen
Els Du Bois
Affiliation:
Universiteit Antwerpen
Alexis Jacoby
Affiliation:
Universiteit Antwerpen
*
Moons, Stine, Universiteit Antwerpen, Belgium, stine.moons@uantwerpen.be

Abstract

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System maps are established tools in design practice and education as well as non-design research, both as a process and an outcome of systemic analysis and synthesis. Applying causal loop diagrams (CLD's) in (systemic) design research could be of great value to tackle the growing societal complexity. At this moment there is, however, no clear research protocol to include the rich data necessary for systemic research and ensure a scientifically valid system map in the context of design research. In this paper, we propose a protocol using CLD's as a research method and outcome in design-inclusive research. The protocol synthesises rich data from qualitative research in a way that the representation yields higher validity compared to the regular approach to systems mapping, using a process of reflection and iteration on boundary setting. An iterative process of qualitative research methods with lean validation methods was used to come to a conceptual proposal. The protocol can support systemic design researchers and practitioners to include a scientifically grounded CLD in the explorative research actions phase, thus bridging the research towards a phase of creative design actions.

Keywords

Design practiceResearch methodologies and methodsComplexitySystemic designCausal loop diagrams
Type
Article
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 3: ICED23 , July 2023 , pp. 343 - 352
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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