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arXiv · 2404.01848

"That's Not Good Science!": An Argument for the Thoughtful Use of Formative Situations in Research through Design

Raquel B Robinson·Anya Osborne·Chen Ji·James Collin Fey·Ella Dagan·Katherine Isbister
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Abstract

Most currently accepted approaches to evaluating Research through Design (RtD) presume that design prototypes are finalized and ready for robust testing in laboratory or in-the-wild settings. However, it is also valuable to assess designs at intermediate phases with mid-fidelity prototypes, not just to inform an ongoing design process, but also to glean knowledge of broader use to the research community. We propose 'formative situations' as a frame for examining mid-fidelity prototypes-in-process in this way. We articulate a set of criteria to help the community better assess the rigor of formative situations, in the service of opening conversation about establishing formative situations as a valuable contribution type within the RtD community.

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Raquel B Robinson, Anya Osborne, Chen Ji, James Collin Fey, Ella Dagan, Katherine Isbister. 2024-04-02. "That's Not Good Science!": An Argument for the Thoughtful Use of Formative Situations in Research through Design. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.3644063

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