Using design science research to develop and validate the application of client-oriented psychological approaches illustrated by the design of a solution-focused approach

Abstract

In recent years the use of Design Science Research (DSR), a research methodology that has proved fruitful in various domains, has expanded. This contribution shows how the fundamentals of DSR translate into the field of applied psychology and how they might offer formal grounding to novel psychological approaches. The validatory value of DSR is illustrated by applying its methodology to the case of solution-focused psychology. This leads to an articulation of the solution-focused approach that allows to be tested along the lines set out by DSR. Finally, recommendations are given for the use of DSR in applied psychology.