Researching Using Social Media (07-03-13)
Researchers at the University of Exeter have analyzed images posted to social media sites to learn more about the spaces valued by members of the general public.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have analyzed images posted to social media sites to learn more about the spaces valued by members of the general public.
A new resource guide is useful and available free.
Designers are often interested in learning how an existing space is used so new environments can be programmed appropriately – either to support current activities or make others more likely.
Designers often write surveys to collect information.
A recent study on an academic campus indicates the value of using photograhs to conduct research before programming begins.
Several new research tools/methodologies are available to designers, and could be useful to those needed acoustical, aesthetic, statistical or worker satisfaction measures.
Space syntax is an important design research tool. N.S. Dalton announced a new iPad app to support people doing space syntax research via a recent e-mail to the space syntax listserv (spacesyntax.jiscmail.ac.uk).
Ray and Smith’s work supports the use of photographs in design-related research, although design is not the focus of their efforts.
Designers ask others to respond to sets of options regularly, for example, for selections from design options or when answering survey or interview questions.
New research confirms that people tend to select objects presented in the middle of a set of options.