Title: A practical guide to interviewing as a method for data gathering in engineering design research

Authors: Joshua D. Summers; Claudia Eckert

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080, USA ' Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, School of Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

Abstract: The authors present a set of recommendations for conducting and reporting on interview-based engineering design research. These recommendations are informed by a review of literature on engineering design research that rely on information and perspectives collected through interviewing and the personal experiences of the authors and their students. These recommendations include operational steps to improve and increase the confidence associated with this form of qualitative research. Specific emphasis is placed on the reporting of details associated with the interview. Finally, recommendations are presented to advance the acceptance and objectification of the interviewing in engineering design research.

Keywords: interview; design research; empirical research; research methods; case study; qualitative research; qualitative methods.

DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2023.139209

Journal of Design Research, 2023 Vol.21 No.2, pp.152 - 176

Accepted: 19 Apr 2023
Published online: 25 Jun 2024 *

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