Professional Development Portfolio Academic Enquiry: Research

Research Methodologies

The definition of Methodology is “System of methods used in a particular

area of study or activity.” (Oxford English Dictionary) Understanding
research and Methodology allows one to contextualize and critically analyze
information to formulate an intelligent argument within design/creative
practice. My aim is to use distinctive ways of translating and transforming
my ideas and issues into forms that can be investigated.

Applied Research Methodologies

Now that I have established the basic understandings of the meaning of

research and methodologies. The next layer of the research journal

focuses on my research and the applied methods used in my investigative

theories. To begin my process reflection played a pivotal role in the progression of my research. I started asking questions about imagery and sensory and how could I bring them together for a multisensory experience. While deconstructing my practice for strategies one. I discovered that my process had a more of a process driven approach. Although I had an initial plan and/or an eventual endpoint in mind, I was concentrating more on the how then the why. I knew I wanted an outcome of tactility using the techniques of print on paper. However creative purpose and materials became the focus of strategies of practice one. Yet the methods of research and artistic intent became something I started to oscillate between. It wasn’t just the goal of creating an aesthetic and sensory experience, but

also the why. This critical thinking left me grappling with many theories and questions, and started a new wave of thinking. Scott Adams stated, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep” (The Dilbert Principle) whilst reflecting on what was missing and what went wrong in my previous creative process, this allowed me to choose which areas of importance to keep and take further.

Qualitative Research

Tactile Lasar engraving illustration
Donna Peters 2013

...Through experiment, measuring outcomes-then testing to establish results that becomes fact. The outcomes must be tested to prove they are capable of consistent replication”. (Ringlet) Also described as data collected through the gathering of information, which is quantifiable in the use of scientific experiments, survey and mathematical methods. I applied this method by displaying 10 tactile illustrations in a school setting with 20 students ages 9 to 12. I implemented a survey with three questions.

· Question 1: What did you enjoy most the visual or the tactile?

· Question 2: Would you like to see this followed by text?

· Question 3: Would color add to the experience?

lasar engraving of illustrated bird
Donna Peters 2013

After compiling my data I put them in simple graphs to show which ages were more sensitive to the visual and tactile experiences. Shown below.

Fig. 1

Fig 2

Qualitative Research

My quantitive research concentrated on the scientific findings of how my imagery was interpreted by sighted children (visual learners). While my qualitive research will concentrate on the field study of the observation of vision and visuality. Vision (‘is what the human eye is physiologically capable of seeing, although it must be noted that ideas of the capacity have changed historically and will most likely change see Crary (1992). Visuality (“ on the other hand refers to how vision is constructed in various ways; how we see, how we are able, allowed, or made to see, and how we see and the seeing therein. (Foster 1988): ix) Seeing comes before words, the child looks and recognizes before it can speak.
Further Investigative Methodologies

My initial investigative methodologies were using birds in a interactive learning way geared for children with visual impairments, by using print as a process for a tactile element within my visual imagery. My Methodologies progressed greatly as my research grew. The process became less important and the contextualization became fundamental. I began to look in greater detail animals in art and relatable artists and illustrators using animals as visual vehicles in contemporary art. Focusing more on the why then the how. I experimented with the thought of unlearning what I knew about birds from a child and relearning it through real experiences. I would visit avery's, zoos and museums. I familiarized myself with these feathered creatures by observing them and drawing them in their environment. This would eventually help me establish narratives for my illustrations, to further the idea of designing a learning tool for children that would tell a story. This methodology set the wheels in motion for my Masters project.

Examples of My Methodologies