This presentation covers some of the things I have learnt while undertaking a PhD in architecture. It focuses on the development of a robust research process through the use of MUPPET: Motivate, Undertake, Plan, Ponder, Exchange & Test.
For more writing related to the thesis itself checkout:
http://www.stress-free.co.nz/thesis
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Suggestions For Improving Your Research Process
1. Suggestions for improving your research process
Using a MUPPET to help chase down rainbows with your horse and cart
2. Who am I?
Started PhD at the end of 2003 with
a Top Achiever Scholarship...
...the thesis will be submitted for
review in a few months.
What was I doing during that time?
• I.T. consulting & programming
• Traveling
• Growing up
• Battling the research process
3. What I will cover
Identifying the horse, cart and
1 rainbow within your research.
The missteps I took during my
2 research and its consequences.
MUPPET: simple tips for
3 keeping your research on track.
How MUPPET helped me
4 formalise my research process.
4. 1 2 3 4
Chasing rainbows with your horse and cart
6. 1 2 3 4
Without a process you are not moving towards
your objective, just enjoying your interest.
7. 1 2 3 4
Without an interest, research is a long hard
slog and the outcome unsatisfying.
8. 1 2 3 4
The interest sustains and the process leads
9. 1 2 3 4
But what happens if...
...the interest drives the process?
10. 1 2 3 4
Letting my cart get ahead of the horse
11. 1 2 3 4
Objective: “better” digital collaboration
12. 1 2 3 4
The technical diversity within the industry poses a problem
13. 1 2 3 4
Building Information Models Or so we are led to believe
result in better digital collaboration
14. 1 2 3 4
We currently do a bad job of BIM is a “perfect” record of an
outcome, but the processes that
recording the design story led to it are lost or forgotten.
15. 1 2 3 4
Interest: applying Web technologies within architecture practice
16. 1 2 3 4
These Web-centric technologies are reshaping the way we
communicate, acquire information and conduct commerce.
17. 1 2 3 4
The architecture industry has been slow to adopt such practices.
18. 1 2 3 4
Rather than develop a research process, I followed my interests.
19. 1 2 3 4
I blogged my thoughts and findings because in the context of the
research it “made sense”.
20. 1 2 3 4
I developed and tested a software prototype embodying interesting
Web technologies within an architectural collaboration environment.
21. 1 2 3 4
Gartner Group, 2006
Realisation - The industry lacks Principles are decision aids
principles for digital collaboration in a rapidly moving environment
22. 1 2 3 4
Proposed the
principles of the
Project Information Cloud
Simplicity
Ubiquity
Decentralisation
Modularity
Context Sensitivity
Information Awareness
Evolutionary Semantics
23. 1 2 3 4
Problem: How to robustly justify the hypothesis of
the principles without starting from square one?
24. 1 2 3 4
Using MUPPET to foster the research process
25. 1 2 3 4
M otivate Eureka moments only take you so far.
U ndertake Write something research related every (other) day.
P lan Consciously identify your rainbow, horse and cart.
P onder Understand how your actions relate to the research.
E xchange Talk to everyone (relevant) about your research.
T est Evaluate what you have done & where you are going.
26. 1 2 3 4
Motivate: Research is not a sprint but a marathon broken up by euphoric “eureka” moments.
27. 1 2 3 4
Undertake: Creating something tangible establishes a point of discussion and reference.
28. 1 2 3 4
Plan: Start developing your research structure immediately with the knowledge it will change.
29. 1 2 3 4
Ponder: Try not to blindly act but if you do, take time afterwards to assess its research value.
30. 1 2 3 4
Exchange: Develop the key research ideas through elevator, email and coffee pitches to peers.
31. 1 2 3 4
Test: No (research) plan survives contact with the enemy, be prepared to change or compromise.
32. 1 2 3 4
Applying MUPPET to improve my research process
33. 1 2 3 4
Eureka moment - the research actually dealt with
M otivate broader digital collaboration principles.
Action: Take the time to analyse all the research
U ndertake results to develop a process that justifies this finding.
P lan
P onder
E xchange
T est
34. 1 2 3 4
M otivate
I was writing reasonably regularly about the subject
U ndertake but it was informal.
Action: Commit to writing “real” thesis chapters.
P lan
P onder
E xchange
T est
35. 1 2 3 4
M otivate
U ndertake
P lan I knew the high-level structure of my thesis but below
this was patchy.
Action: Review everything produced, assemble it into
P onder a viable structure and identify its shortcomings.
E xchange
T est
36. 1 2 3 4
M otivate
U ndertake
P lan
P onder The prototype had inspired the eureka moment but
experiments prove hypothesis, not create them.
Action: Determine how the prototype’s results prove
E xchange the identified digital collaboration principles.
T est
37. 1 2 3 4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photochiel/
M otivate
U ndertake
P lan
P onder
Regular publishing of blog content and papers had
E xchange built worldwide ties within the industry.
Action: Proactively engage with a broad range of
T est people to develop the viability of the research.
38. 1 2 3 4
M otivate
U ndertake
P lan
P onder
E xchange There was very little cohesion between the writing on
the blog, the published papers and the prototype.
T est Action: Continually work through the argument until
all aspects of the work have a consistent message.
39. In conclusion
• How I approached my research was not “right” but it was worthwhile.
• Select your research interest wisely as it will sustain you.
• Identify achievable and precise research outcomes.
• Formulate and follow a research process early on.
• Resist the urge to “see where your interest takes you”.
• If in doubt remember MUPPET:
Motivate, Undertake, Plan, Ponder, Exchange & Test