Lecture3: 1.Idealistic view on DSR projects

Summary

This video script contrasts empirical and design science research, highlighting their differences in timeline, goals, and process. Empirical research focuses on explaining the present or past, while design science aims to shape the future. The script outlines the design science process, which includes problem explication, requirement definition, artifact design, demonstration, and evaluation. It emphasizes the iterative nature of design science and the importance of both explicit and tacit knowledge in driving innovation.

Takeaways

• 🕒 **Timeline Focus**: Empirical research focuses on the present and past, while design science research aims at the future, not just predicting but also influencing it.
• 🎯 **Research Goals**: Empirical research seeks to explain the world as it is, whereas design science research proposes a new world that may or may not exist post-research.
• 🔬 **Research Process**: Empirical research establishes facts and develops theories to explain them, whereas design science generates and tests hypotheses, potentially leading to industry adoption and new realities.
• 🔄 **Relation to Practice**: Empirical research follows and investigates current practice, while design science research aims to lead practice by suggesting innovations for adoption.
• 🔗 **Interconnection**: Despite differences, there's no complete separation between empirical and design science research as theories from empirical research can be applied to create new artifacts and change the world.
• 🌟 **Design Science Phases**: The design science research process involves five phases: problem explication, requirement definition, artifact design, demonstration, and evaluation.
• 🔄 **Iterative Nature**: The design science process is often iterative, with potential loops back to earlier stages upon encountering issues during evaluation.
• 🤔 **Tacit Knowledge**: Design science research involves both explicit knowledge (that which can be articulated) and tacit knowledge (intuitive, unspoken knowledge that guides creativity).
• 🎨 **Creativity in Research**: Creativity is essential in design science research, as it often requires generating ideas that are novel and not solely derived from existing knowledge.
• 📚 **Building on Existing Knowledge**: Even though creativity is key, design science research still heavily relies on existing knowledge to develop solutions, design artifacts, and understand their implications.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between empirical research and design science research?

Empirical research focuses on explaining the world as it is or was, investigating the present and past, while design science research aims at the future, not only predicting but also influencing it by suggesting a new world that doesn't exist yet.

How does the timeline aspect differ between empirical and design science research?

Empirical research is concerned with the present and possibly the past, whereas design science research is future-oriented, aiming to create and influence what could be.

What is the goal of empirical research in comparison to design science research?

The goal of empirical research is to establish facts and develop theories that explain these facts, whereas design science research aims to generate and test hypotheses that could lead to the creation of new artifacts or practices.

How does the process of empirical research differ from that of design science research?

In empirical research, the process involves establishing facts and developing theories, whereas in design science research, the process includes generating hypotheses, designing artifacts, and testing them to see if they solve the identified problem effectively.

What is the relationship between empirical research and practice?

Empirical research follows and investigates practice as it is, aiming to explain current practices and their outcomes.

How does design science research relate to practice?

Design science research tries to lead practice by suggesting new approaches or artifacts that can be adopted and become part of the new practice.

Can you provide an example of how empirical research can influence the world?

An example is Newton's theory of gravitation, which explained the movement of planets and was later used in various fields like military and civil engineering to define new energy facts that changed our reality.

What are the five phases of design science research as outlined in the script?

The five phases of design science research are: explication of problem, defining requirements, designing artifact, demonstrating effectiveness, and evaluating the artifact.

What is the role of evaluation in the design science research process?

Evaluation in design science research involves assessing whether the artifact solves the problem, introduces new problems, and whether these new problems are minor or major, which can influence the decision to adopt the artifact.

How does the script describe the relationship between explicit and tacit knowledge in design science research?

The script describes explicit knowledge as information that can be clearly articulated and used, while tacit knowledge is the intuitive understanding that guides creative processes but is not easily explained. Design science research involves both, using explicit knowledge to develop ideas and artifacts, and relying on tacit knowledge for the creative insights that drive innovation.

What does the script suggest about the practical application of design science research?

The script suggests that design science research can lead to the creation of new artifacts that, if effective, can be adopted into practice. Even if not adopted, the process generates valuable knowledge, including 'negative knowledge' which can be as important as 'positive knowledge' in guiding future research and practice.