Design Research Dissertation: Draft Dissertation
23.08.2021 - 08.10.2021 (Week #1 - Week #7)
Lectures:
Seerat Tayyab Mukhtar Qureshi - 0345576 (BDCM)
Design Research Dissertation
Draft Dissertation
Lectures:
Week #1:
From the recorded lectures, Dr Jinchi introduced us to what a dissertation is. It is a long piece of academic writing that builds an argument by analysing primary and secondary sources. We will be using the primary data from the Design Research Module last semester.
The basic structure a dissertation follows is:
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Introduction
Problem Statement, RQs and ROs
Literature Review
Research Methodology
Data Analysis
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Picture Credits
Appendices
Next, she looked at identifying themes in our collected data. Themes are features of participants' accounts characterising particular perceptions and/or experiences that the researcher sees as relevant to the research question.
Week #2:
This week Dr Jinchi looked more into how to write our discussion. In research a discussion is to interpret and describe the significance of your findings in light of what is already known. It will seek to answer the research problem and explain the meaning of the results to the reader. An effective discussion explores the underlying meaning of our research and its implications. We can engage in creative thinking, think critically about an issue and develop solutions.
Discussions can be broken down into subsections to help readers understand better and make it easier to read. We looked at a student example to help us understand better how we can divide our themes and discuss them. It can also be mentioned how each theme will be discussed.
Dr Jinchi then looked at claims and that they are the general reasons why or how an argument is right to deserving of support. Claims need to be supported by evidence which can come in many forms such as statistics, direct quotes, primary research etc.
Instructions:
Module Information Booklet
Draft dissertation:
Theme matrix:
Our first task was to look at our data and identify themes from our primary research that we will use for our discussion structure.
Table 1.0: My theme identification matrix
After several weeks of feedback and revision from Dr Jinchi, I completed my discussion points. The next step is to compile it into my final submission.
Fig 1.0: Draft planning
I added all the other components required for my final draft.
Fig 1.1: Final Submission
Feedback:
Week #2: This week I showed Dr Jinchi my theme identification and the rough structure my discussion would follow. She gave suggestions on how long each section should be so that it will be a lot easier for me to organise my writing. She said the progression of my discussion was looking good and I can go ahead and start writing down the points I am going to talk about in each section. I can also look at starting my literature review alongside.
Week #3: Dr Jinchi looked over my current draft planning and gave me specific feedback on where to improve. I need to mention clearly why I chose my case study of the Vietnam War and should bring the readers back to today by explaining how it relates to modern times. I should also use pictures and visuals in my body texts and can refer to them using Figures. Secondly, to make everything a bit more cohesive in my advances in tech part, I can talk about how graphics and visuals aren't new and how they have been used in protests for a very long time, social media is just a new tool. Explaining the pros and cons of the convenience of social media will also add to my discussion and help me write a balanced conclusion. For my other parts, I need to once again briefly explain why I chose @impact and its posts and also define the relevant terms in context to my research. For my literature review, I can look for more articles and identify another theme and continue working on it. For next week, I can finish my first descriptive part and continue on to the second one.
Week #4: This week Dr Jinchi looked at my first two discussion body texts. The first thing was that the Vietnam war is not my case study, rather an example or catalyst for me to show how Instagram visuals need to be more responsible. In my chosen examples of posters, I need to explain why they are considered good design in addition to saying why they are meaningful. E.g, for the Make Love Not War poster, the use of the right type and visuals to be relatable to the audiences of that era. For 5.2., I need to make sure my point is more about accurate information, not fake information. I should also clarify that I am focusing on the problems of design, not problems of social media as such. My focus is the design present on it not so much the medium. Use this to stress how important meaningful design is by using the Vietnam War example.
Week #5: Dr Jinchi told me I have made good progress this week. She said my previous discussion points are a lot better and well connected since I am focusing more on the design now. This week she looked at my third discussion point and gave me feedback on that. For 5.3, I should specify why the public's opinion is important to be considered. For the digestible content point, I could add a point about how it is a very vague definition that can lead to its misuse and carelessness. I should also add my opinion on this vagueness and then discuss it. I should also explain what F.g 5.0 is about and add a disclaimer that this is solely to discuss design and not attack anyone. I should also alter my headings slightly to fit the points better. In 5.3.3 I need to add more data from my research to make it more cohesive. Lastly, for my literature review, Dr Jinchi said that I can add literature about the importance of visual communication and even use books rather than research articles only.
Week #6: I need to mention that as technology progresses, the more important are design principles in this visually dominated world. For 5.4, in the introduction, I should add what the visuals I am analysing are and relate them back to the topic of my discussion. In 5.4.1, Dr Jinchi said I should also talk about how these principles exist outside of the classroom and they are proven to work in real life. For the analysis, since I am looking at social media, the 3 principles would be fine due to the limited space and time available on platforms and also how most of the impression is formed at first glance. There is also a slight disconnect between 5.4.1 and 5.4.2. Overall for my discussion points in 5.4, I need to mention more about visuals and how we as visual communicators convey messages using them. My progress is good and next week I can show Dr Jinchi my complete document so that we can go through it all before the submission.
Week #7: This week I showed Dr Jinchi my nearly finished draft dissertation. She mentioned some formatting that I need to clean up such as page numbers and titles. She said that my project recommendation is okay the way it is but I can also think about if I want to do that for my final year project. If I do, then I can add a design recommendation to that section. I just need to fix some formatting and my draft is good to go for submission on Sunday.
Reflection:
Week #1: This module is a continuation of our work from DRM last semester and we are to continue on to writing our dissertation. It seems quite daunting, especially the book formatting and designing part. The writing itself is also quite scary since it needs to be 7000 words. However, it is calming to know that we have done a lot of the research last semester, and this module is more about compilation and using the research.
Week #2: I think the theme identification has helped me a lot in breaking down my dissertation. After identifying the themes it kind of became obvious as to the structure my dissertation will follow. Next, I need to break down my discussion points and look at starting to write my literature review.
Week #3: The framework of my dissertation is coming together. I need to make a few changes to my discussion structure for clarity and my literature review. I am quite happy with my progress so far, I just need to do a bit more secondary research for my literature review since I changed my direction a bit from last semester's critical review.
Week #4: I have started writing the body of the discussion and it feels good to see all the research and work come together. The writing process so far has been going well and I am enjoying it since the topic is something I am interested in. Dr Jinchi's feedback has been really helping me improve my writing and to make sure I am saying what I want to say
Week #5: My points are starting to become more cohesive with each revision. I was a bit worried about the disclaimer part and Dr Jinchi said that I can state that I mean no harm and it is just to facilitate discussion. Overall, I am happy with my progress so far, next week I plan to finish my literature review and discussion points.
Week #6: I am done with the bulk of my dissertation, I need to make some amends to the structure and some areas for clarity. I can't believe I have almost completed it considering at the start I was nervous about what direction I was going to take.
Week #7: I am glad to see all my work come together. It has been a long journey and now the main part of it is almost over. I'm happy with my points and I think I have managed to convey my message. I really enjoyed writing it because I am quite passionate about activism and graphic design and so I got to combine both of them in my topic. The next step is to start to think about the design and how it will look in a book format.
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