A typology of designs for social research in the built environment

Abstract

This article presents a typology of designs for social research in the built environment. Currently there is no such typology, while the notion of ‘research design’ is less known in the built environment compared to the social sciences. Twenty-five subtypes are identified and clustered into 10 prototypical designs, namely: (1) surveys, (2) experiments, (3) modelling, simulation, mapping and visualisation, (4) textual and narrative studies, (5) field studies, (6) case studies, (7) intervention research, (8) evaluation research, (9) participatory action research and (10) meta-research. After determining the extent to which these designs feature in actual studies, the designs are classified according to six design considerations, including research – context, aim and purpose, methodological – paradigm and approach, and source of data. The typology contributes towards greater clarity in terms of ‘research design’, improved teaching of research methodology and greater methodological coherence in projects.