1 Copyright © 2007 by ASME Proceedings of IDETC/DTM 2008 ASME 2008 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference August 3-6, 2008, New York city, New York, USA DETC 2008-xxxxx CASE STUDY METHOD FOR DESIGN RESEARCH Sudhakar Teegavarapu Graduate Research Assistant Mechanical Engineering Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634-0921 steegav@clemson.edu Joshua D. Summers Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634-0921 joshua.summers@ces.clemson.edu (corresponding author) ABSTRACT Case studies are used in design research to analyze a phenomenon, to generate hypotheses, and to validate a method. Though they are used extensively, there appears to be no accepted systematic case study method used by design researchers. Considering its nature and objectives, the case study method could be a suitable method for conducting design research. However, the ‘scientific method’ of conducting research is considered to be the only appropriate method. Many times, design researchers have to confront questions about the validity of using case studies and their results. The objective of this paper is to justify the use of the case study method in design research. A brief overview of case study method is also included. Requirements are derived from the general characteristics of design research. Four popular research strategies are evaluated with respect to the requirements. A preliminary benchmark study suggests that case study method is most suitable for design research. Keywords: Case study research, design research, developing design methods/tools. INTRODUCTION Research must follow a systematic method for its results to be valid [1]. The ‘scientific method’ shown in Figure 1 is an example of an established research method found in the natural sciences [2]. This method resulted from an importance ranking of activities performed by scientists while they do research [3]. Though this is not the only method that could be used to conduct research, it is a generally accepted series of steps taken by researchers in scientific domains. Design research as a distinguished field of study requires its own research methods [1]. Many unique characteristics, for example, the qualitative aspect of design research, ought to be accommodated by the method used to conduct research. The Validation square is an example of a research method, particularly focusing on validation of design methods/tools, which takes into account both qualitative and quantitative aspects of design research [4]. There is a need for extending similar approaches to the entire process of research in the field of design. Figure 1: Scientific method of research [46] Research in design is truly inter-disciplinary, with influences from engineering sciences, sociology, psychology, and economics. When researchers from different disciplines come into design research, they bring a wide variety of research methods particular to their field [1]. Though a few methods from social sciences are being formally adopted and utilized in design research, the ‘Social science view of design’ is not yet well developed [5]. Recently, the use of case studies for formal design education has been suggested [6]. Though the case study