Architectural Research Methods [Paperback]

Linda Groat (Author), David Wang (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471333654 | ISBN-13: 978-0471333654 | Publication Date: November 26, 2001 | Edition: 1

A practical guide to research-just for architects
From searching for the best glass to prevent glare to determining how clients might react to color choice for restaurant walls, research is a crucial tool that architects must master in order to effectively address the technical, aesthetic, and behavioral issues that arise in their work.
This book's unique coverage of research methods is specifically targeted to help professional designers and researchers better conduct and understand research. Part I explores basic research issues and concepts, and includes chapters on relating theory to method and design to research. Part II gives a comprehensive treatment of specific strategies for investigating built forms. In all, the book covers seven types of research, including historical, qualitative, correlational, experimental, simulation and modeling, logical argumentation, and case study and mixed methods.
Complete with real-life examples of how good research can be used from project inception to completion, Architectural Research Methods is an essential reference for architecture students and researchers as well as architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and building product manufacturers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A practical guide to research-just for architects

From searching for the best glass to prevent glare to determining how clients might react to color choice for restaurant walls, research is a crucial tool that architects must master in order to effectively address the technical, aesthetic, and behavioral issues that arise in their work.

This book's unique coverage of research methods is specifically targeted to help professional designers and researchers better conduct and understand research. Part I explores basic research issues and concepts, and includes chapters on relating theory to method and design to research. Part II gives a comprehensive treatment of specific strategies for investigating built forms. In all, the book covers seven types of research, including historical, qualitative, correlational, experimental, simulation and modeling, logical argumentation, and case study and mixed methods.

Complete with real-life examples of how good research can be used from project inception to completion, Architectural Research Methods is an essential reference for architecture students and researchers as well as architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and building product manufacturers.

About the Author

LINDA GROAT is Professor of Architecture at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
DAVID WANG is Associate Professor of Architecture and Coordinator of the Master of Science in Architecture program at Washington State University's Interdisciplinary Design Institute in Spokane, Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471333654
• ISBN-13: 978-0471333654
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 0.8 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, a comprehensive text related to architecture, March 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Architectural Research Methods (Paperback)

Having completed three doctoral level research methods courses using bits and pieces of material from a variety of sources, I am happy to at last have a comprehensive text that relates specifically to architecture. Groat and Wang have developed a wonderful, thorough, well-written, and well-illustrated text. I imagine that everyone in methods courses will feel very lucky to have such an excellent resource. And the usefulness to researchers overall can't be understated. Many, many, many congratulations to both authors for an excellent job on a much-needed resource for architectural education.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT resource, February 10, 2010

By 

A. Fulton (Fayetteville, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Architectural Research Methods (Paperback)

This is a GREAT resource for students in the design professions, even if their thesis is not a design thesis. It has great examples and explains how to utilize built works, not just written works in research. It is very helpful for undergraduate students with little to no research experience. A truly invaluable source of information for architecture/landscape architecture/urban design and planning/interior design students.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cohesive and comprehensive, April 11, 2002

By 

D. T. Van Alstyne (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architectural Research Methods (Paperback)

I found this book to be excellent: comprehensive and approachable, eclectic and interdisciplinary. It should save any student, researcher or instructor much time and can serve as a text book and/or a comprehensive reference manual. It also adds to the body of knowledge by freshly demonstrating the application of the research methods of many other disciplines in the specific context of architecture (including many cases and examples), all within a nice, logical, unifying philosophical framework.