Design Theories, Models and Their Testing: On the Scientific Status of Design Research

Abstract

In this chapter I characterise design theories and models of design, and analyse their testing. Using resources from the philosophy of natural science, I argue that testing design theories and models by falsification can improve the scientific status of design research. First, design theories and models are compared to their scientific counterparts and grouped by their descriptive, demarcating and prescriptive aims. Second, the testing of design theories and models is considered in relation to two deficiencies that are by design researchers lowering the scientific status of the discipline: a lack of generally accepted and efficient research methods for testing design theories and models, and a fragmentation in separate research strands. It is shown that both deficiencies can be related to the view in design research that testing consists of the validation of design theories and models. Third, I argue that testing by falsification can address the deficiencies: naive Popperian falsification provides effective means for testing design theories and models; sophisticated falsification as described by Lakatos enables comparing design theories and models from different research strands.