Procedure diagramDesign ProcedureNew Methodologies© Gray & Malins, 1993 1Research Procedures / Methodology for Artists & DesignersResearch Procedures / Methodologyfor Artists & DesignersThis paper attempts to put into context the issues whichsurround the endeavours of researchers working in the field ofArt and Design, in particular the philosophy and context ofresearch procedures / methodologies. The introduction providessome definitions of methodology and its importance in thegeneral context of inquiry and research, historically andactually supranational in essence; characteristics of existingmethodologies in Science (Newtonian and Quantum) andSocial Sciences are examined; characteristics of ‘artisticmethod’ are elaborated, especially through an examination ofFine Art and Design Methodologies in relation to practice;common factors linking creative, scientific and artisticprocedures are identified; ‘Postmodern Methodology’ isdiscussed, in relation to current ‘paradigm shifts’; existing &new procedures / methodologies and devices / tools areidentified, and future developments proposed. AbstractCarole Gray and Julian MalinsThe Centre for Research in Art & Design,Gray's School of Art, Faculty of Design,The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen,Scotland, UK.tel: 01224 263647/8 fax: 01224 263646email: [email protected] and/or [email protected] have made an effortthroughout this paper topromote the use anddevelopment of Art & Design‘research terminology’ in anattempt to establish a commonlanguage of research, vital forits identity and futureprogress. Italicised words arethose normally associatedwith established science/social science languages sothat equivalences can beunderstood. The paper tries tobe ‘bilingual !© Gray & Malins, 1993 2Research Procedures / Methodology for Artists & DesignersIntroduction - Definitions and General Context‘method: 1. way of proceeding or doing something, esp. a systematic or regular one. 2. orderliness of thought, action, etc. 3. (often pl.) the techniques or arrangement of work for a particular field or subject.’‘methodology: 1. the system of methods and principles used in a particular discipline. 2. the branch of philosophy concerned with the science of method.’If meaningful research is to be carried out in any discipline, asuitable strategy / methodology for acquiring new knowledgemust be identified. This procedure should be thorough /rigorous, open / accessible, easy to understand / transparent,and be useful in other contexts / transferable (in concept atleast). The choice and nature of procedure / methodology iscrucial; if not chosen with care, the resulting research may befundamentally flawed and its outcome irrelevant. One mightsay that a piece of research is only as good as its methodology!That is why we believe it is so important to promote work onmethodology for artists and designers, so that funding bodiesand the wider academic and social community can haveconfidence in the quality of research produced.In November 1991 a meeting of the ELIA ResearchNetwork took place at Utrecht School of the Arts; it wasevident from that meeting that one of the most seriouschallenges to the Network in particular and to researchers inArt & Design in general would be the development ofappropriate methodologies. Although this publication has astrong European dimension, it seems impossible to viewresearch (and therefore methodology) as bounded bygeography; historically researchers have been eclectic andsupranational. Research, unlike institutionalised postgraduate‘courses’, has not tended to be as dependent on immediateculture and custom. It is, by its nature, interdisciplinary,collaborative and international (in theory, if not practice), andtherefore provides a good model for some aspects of Europeanco-operation in postgraduate education.Research in Art & Design is a relatively new endeavour;research for higher degrees, which incorporate an element ofpractice, have only been undertaken within the last twentyyears (Allison, 1992). For this reason there are, as yet, nowell-defined strategies on which researchers can draw. Inscientific disciplines research methodologies have beenAllison, B.,'Allison Research Index of Art &Design',Leicester Expertise, 1992‘The New Collins ConciseEnglish Dictionary’London, 1982European League of Institutesof the ArtsThis paper was first publishedin 'Principles & Definitions:Five Papers by the EuropeanPostgraduate Art & DesignGroup', Winchester School ofArt, 1993© Gray & Malins, 1993 3Research Procedures / Methodology for Artists & Designersdeveloped over several centuries; even social science has now acentury old tradition. With this perspective, it is obvious thatthe definition and articulation of ‘artistic’ research procedureswill not be accomplished easily or quickly, given the enormityand complexity of the challenge. The long-term nature ofresearch means that the development of procedure /methodology is an evolutionary process: only after repeated andsuccessful use will a procedure / method be validated andbecome accepted as a ’standard’ technique.The lack of appropriate procedures / methodologies has forcedresearchers in Art & Design to use those which have beenestablished in Science and Social Sciences. Some have beenappropriate (Malins, 1993), others disastrous! The procedures /methods adopted so far by researchers in Art & Designappear to have been in danger of falling between two stools: onthe one hand, being forced to adapt (preferably) or (morecommonly) borrow a ‘standard’ methodology, which maydistort the research; or alternatively, taking the risk ofinventing esoteric methodological devices / tools, which mayremain so project-specific to be of little, if any, use whenapplied to other situations. (However, at this stage in theevolution of research in Art & Design, it would be unwise tocompletely discount idiosyncratic procedural devices, as intime they may become validated and eventually ‘classic’). Art& Design research requires a distinctive approach and the useof procedures / methodologies which are appropriate andsympathetic to the nature of the discipline, but no less rigorous,respectable and accountable than those of the Sciences andSocial Sciences.Research has been defined as accessible, systematic inquiry(Allison, 1992), and ‘intentional, procedural, explicit andpublicly accountable’ (Gray, 1993). ‘Inquiry’ has