Research methods in Engineering Design: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The relation between scientific research and industrial design is fraught with controversy. While the number of academic PhD programs on product design grows because the discipline is in its infancy, there is no consolidated method for systematically approaching the generation of knowledge in this domain. This paper aims to review recently published papers from the four top-ranked journals in engineering design in order to analyse the research methods that are frequently used. The research questions consider the aim and contributions of the papers, as well as which experimental design and which sources of data are being used. Frequency tables show the high variety of approaches and aims of the papers, combining both qualitative and quantitative empirical approaches and analytical methods. Most of the papers focus on methodological concerns or on delving into a particular aspect of the design process. Data collection methods are also diverse without a clear relation between the type of method and the objective or strategy of the research. This paper aims to act as a valuable resource for academics, providing definitions related to research methods and referencing examples, and for researchers, shedding light on some of the weaknesses and challenges for current research in the domain of engineering design.