Design research and research design – bringing the two together

Abstract

This paper will consider the phenomenon of Design Research as described by Van den Akker (2007). It will then consider Peter Rowe's (1987) four research positions, and then it will present a perspective of Design Research through the lens of Burrell and Morgan's (1979) model of research paradigms in social science research. The paper will show how Rowe's four design perspectives map directly onto Burrell and Morgan's research paradigms, and how by rotating through these paradigms, a design research cycle is formed. Finally, the paper will discuss four research questions that drive design and development research and illustrate this by way of a case study.