DESIGN RESEARCH DISSERTATION- PROJECTS

26/8/19- 1/12/19 (Week 1- Week 14)
Andrea Vie Choong Jia Qi (0331945)
Design Research Dissertation
Exploring Ipoh's Heritage & Culture Through a User Experience Website
Draft Dissertation |  Complete Dissertation with  | Journal Adaption
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LECTURES

Lecture 1: Introduction to the module

27/8/19 (Week 1)


We were briefed on what we are going to do in this module and it is a continuous process from our previous module on Design Research Methodology. 

Lecture 2:-

5/9/19 (Week 2)

There was no lecture this week.

Lecture 3: Critical Thinking and Enquiry

11/9/19 (Week 3)

This week, we learned how to think critically and steps on how to be critically especially when writing in our dissertation.

Lecture 4:-

18/9/19 (Week 4)

We had no lecture this week as we continued with our progress on the literature review and research methodology sections.

Lecture 5: How To Write An Effective Discussion

24/9/19 (Week 5)

We were given some notes on how to write an effective discussion from one of the academic scholarly journals.

 

Lecture 6: Research Methodology, Conclusion & Recommendations

2/10/19 (Week 6)

We had no physical lecture this week but we were given notes on how to write the research methodology, conclusion, and recommendations as guides for our dissertation.

Lecture 7: -

8/10/19 (Week 7)

We did not have a lecture this week as we had to come up with ideas/mood boards for the publication design of our dissertation.

Lecture 8: -

15/10/19 (Week 8)

We had some lecture notes on samples and guide of the reference list. We continue to consult our ideas/mood boards and start with the draft layout in InDesign.

Lecture 9: -

23/10/19 (Week 9)

We had no lecture this week.

Lecture 10: -

30/10/19 (Week 10)

We had no lecture this week.

Lecture 11: How to Turn Your Thesis into an Article

6/11/19 (Week 11)

This week, we had a lecture on how to create a journal publication using our written dissertation. The lecture notes were given as guidelines to help us.

Lecture 12: -

13/11/19 (Week 12)

There is no lecture this week.

Lecture 13: -

20/11/19 (Week 13)

There is no lecture this week as we continue with our progress on journal publication.

Lecture 14: -

27/11/19 (Week 14)

There is no lecture this week but we had to submit our complete dissertation that we printed as a book.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Module Information Booklet (MIB)



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PROJECT 1

Design Research Proposal Presentation


27/8/19 - 3/9/19 (Week 1- Week 2)

We were asked to look back at our final presentation and compilation from our research methodology. We had to do another pitch/presentation on how we can convince the panelists to say that our project can be carried out as a final year project either minor or major project.

Here is the presentation slides.

Research Implementation- Draft Dissertation

27/8/19 (Week 1)

From our findings and research in our research methodology, we need to write a 7000-word dissertation. The structure of our dissertation follows the same process as in research methodology except we need to write our literature reviews and analysis & discussion. This time, we need to compare and contrast between the critical reviews as well as with our primary data.

I started making the matrix that helps me to identify the similarities and differences of the literature reviews as well as the strengths, weaknesses and arguments of the research papers. I even made another matrix for my analysis & discussion section.

Here is a link to my draft matrix.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1naxzbu8Yyhk-cngYXBhkaYtq9bhJv-6tJs2gnjSPZ6I/edit?usp=sharing


3/9/19 (Week 2)

We started to start writing our draft dissertation by constructing the skeleton of it. I added my introduction, problem statement, problem objectives, problem question as well as my research methods from my previous research methodology.


10/9/19 (Week 3)

I had consultations with Dr. Hayati on my progress. Later on, I continued to do my literature reviews for each of my sub-topics this week and fill up my research findings in my draft dissertation in a proper structure.

Here is the 1st version of my draft dissertation:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EZVkNYKry6iz-DrHLMT1tlEAlJ1UiRoT-P1UIz4Au-k/edit?usp=sharing


17/9/19 (Week 4)

I continued to consult with Dr. Hayati about my progress from my introduction right up to the literature review. I had to read up on how to write an effective discussion and start writing my draft discussion.


24/9/19 (Week 5)

I had a consultation with Dr. Hayati on my literature review and research methodology. She commented on the mistakes and suggest improvements. I continued to revise the changes and my discussion. 

Here is the 2nd version of my draft dissertation:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CtmLcNxy7E3dlzSr7X-hTCfKD872MrjVYq0wFCTABbs/edit?usp=sharing


1/10/19 (Week 6)

We had no physical tutorial class this week but we had to consult with Dr.Hayati online and continued with our progress on our dissertation.

Here is the final version of my draft dissertation:



30/10/19 (Week 10)

I submitted my dissertation through Turnitin in Times. 



After checking the plagiarism for my dissertation, I had to rephrase some sentences as my similarity index is high. So here is the updated dissertation.




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PROJECT 2

Complete Dissertation with Visual Design Publication 

8/10/19 (Week 7)

This week, we were asked to search for publication design with keywords of "Page Layout" or "Coffee Table Book". The final book size is in A5 and we need to use InDesign to create it. But before that, we need to create mood boards of our typefaces, colour palette, page layout, etc.

Here are the slides of my mood boards.




15/10/19 (Week 8)

This week, I went ahead to start designing my book layout for my dissertation after consulting my idea and mood boards. I made amends to my mood boards before designing the layouts.

Publication Design by Andrea Choong


22/10/19 (Week 9)

This week, I consulted with Dr. Hayati on the progress of my cover page and page layout for the contents.

29/10/19 (Week 10)

This week, I consulted with Dr. Hayati on my overall page layout with my text and images as I had to adjust the text to the right columns and grid. I tried to print out some pages to see how it looks physically.

Here is my test printing for some pages:

Fig 1.1 Test printing 

After test printing, I did some more adjustments and exported the publication design into PDF.



5/11/19 (Week 11)

After looking at my complete dissertation publication design submission, Dr. Hayati said to decrease the font size of the page number as it looks quite big even though there are at the sides.

I adjusted the font size and here is the updated version.




21/11/19 (Week 13)

This week, I printed the final design of my publication design into a physical A5 book.

Here is the physical outcome below:

[photo of book

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FINAL PROJECT- RESEARCH FOR PUBLICATION

5/11/19 (Week 11)

This week, we had to choose three journals that are relevant to our research topic. I looked at my previous articles in my critical reviews and the ones I found when I did my dissertation.  However, most of the journals are not really close to my topics so I searched for the newer one.

I wrote a rationale for why I have selected these three journals.

Journal Publication: Scholarly Articles by Andrea Choong

12/11/19 (Week 12)

After consulting my three journals, I had to choose one to publish my dissertation as a journal article so I chose to go ahead with "The Journal of Usability Studies" after reading through my justification for each journal. I downloaded the author guideline and word template to help me organize my dissertation into a journal publication.

I wanted to revise my rationale into a justification with more details on the 3 selected journals.




19/11/19 (Week 13)

This week, I continued with my progress in journal publication and wrote why I have selected JUS as my final chosen journal.

Embedded PDF of the Author Guidelines:

 

Embedded PDF of Word Template:



Here is the link to download the author guideline & word template below:

https://uxpajournal.org/call-for-papers/

26/11/19 (Week 14)

This week, I continue with my progress on my journal publication and shortening some sections to match the word count and requirements from the author guidelines.

1/12/19 (Week 14)

I submitted my research of 3 selected journals, final journal justification and journal publication in Google Classroom.

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FEEDBACK

27/8/19 (Week 1)

General feedback: We were told to revise our problem question, objectives and statement if needed. We also need to look through our primary data whether it meets with our problem question and objectives.

3/9/19 (Week 2)

Presentation (Panelists' feedback):

Mr. Kannan- To define and identify unique user experience (UX) that promotes curiosity in learning history via web/app created.

Mr. Razif- Need to think about the content element and content presentation. How is it going to be? If it’s just a regular informational website then it might not be that interesting and new. Think about what kind of experience you want visitors to have.

General feedback: Dr. Hayati suggest to follow the skeleton of the draft dissertation and start with draft dissertation 1 and followed by draft 2,3 and so on. 

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati said that I am on the right track and she asked about the panelists’ feedback from the earlier presentation. She showed me the requirements in the dissertation. She said to make sure your findings fulfill your research objectives and questions. Also make sure while doing a literature review, it is also related as well. Find other articles until you get all the related topics. And most importantly, do remember to allow any possibilities and creativity to come to you. Just strive to be your best!

10/9/19 (Week 3)

General feedback: Dr. Hayati said to complete our literature review and our research from research methodology into our dissertation skeleton if not we won’t have enough time to start our discussion part. We were told to create a new folder for our new research findings. For our analysis & discussion, we can discuss in many ways: primary vs secondary data, findings based on objectives/problem/question.

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati said for my matrix, I need to list down the authors that mention that statement under the literature data. For my literature reviews, make sure to say whether it meets with our research objective or not. Indicate the new research findings added in your introduction. Since your new findings are relating to UX, try to relate your research question to it. For the research methodology section, it would be better to give sections like research design, research sampling, research instrumentation.



17/9/19 (Week 4)

Specific feedback: For my introduction, Dr. Hayati said to write what are the changes made to your research objectives and question and say that your previous research is initial research. Make sure to put your cover page given in MIB. Avoid starting any sentence “with” or “for”. You can use “in regards”, “in relation” , “within”, “despite” and “nevertheless”. Don’t use websites or blogs to support your statement and avoid using the thesis. For the research methodology part, list down the design, sampling, and instrumentation.

24/9/19 (Week 5)

Specific feedback: Make sure to create another version so it doesn’t overwrite with the first version. Avoid repetition in sentences and “and” try to replace it with another connective or semicolon. Check your grammatical mistakes and don’t use first-person “I”, use the researcher/writer/author or third person. Add refer to Figure… to relate the text with the images. In the discussion, make sure to put emphasis that it is vital to relate your findings to research objectives. In the research methodology, the main headings should be research design, sampling, and instrumentation.


4/10/19 (Week 6)

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati commented to avoid using too many “and” in a paragraph, try to use different words/phrases to replace the “and” in the abstract and acknowledgment. And for the user experience, if I am using UX, it needs to be used throughout the dissertation. She reminded me not to use 1st party indication in academic writing, use 3rd person in this context.


8/10/19 (Week 7)

General feedback: Dr. Hayati adviced us to look upon some existing page layouts on either Pinterest or Behance and see how designers layout their text and images in grids and columns. You can follow the layout but change it a little to make it look like it's yours. The cover page should be from your design. If you use other artists/designers' work, make sure to give credits. Most importantly, the book should reflect on your research.  Make mood boards first and do some trial mockups in InDesign.


15/10/19 (Week 8)

Specific feedback: Dr.Hayati commented that the first page layout is save to use for your concept in Heritage & Culture. The second layout can also be used but you need to change in terms of the colour palette. Look into earth colour palette. For the colour palette you have selected, the yellow goes with the grey if you want to use it. The cover page the one with “FORMULA” it would be good to use for your concept. The heading typeface, Francois One is too masculine and strong personality and it is a very big constrast to Roboto.

22/10/19 (Week 9)

Specific feedback: Dr.Hayati said to search for “page layout heritage” and use the rustic look to some of your pages. It will look interesting. For the cover page, use one image instead of multiple images. The word “IPOH” can be bigger. Try playing with the sizes of “Ipoh” and “Culture”. Follow the cover page and page layout similarly so it look like how it looks in the mood board. For research sampling, describe the participants that are used in your survey. Describe the demographics of the participants. For the visual analysis, describe the observation is based on the researcher itself.

29/10/19 (Week 10)

General feedback: Make sure to only submit your dissertation in text on pdf to turnitin. Remember to go through the similarity index for each one as the overall percentage is not accurate. 

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati said to keep your layout consistent and follow the grids&colum rule when placing your running text. If you put pictures with it, you can break the rules. If you are putting emphasis on something, you can change the colour/increase the font size. Create a table for your listing in research instrumentation. For my cover page, she said to place the image more to the end of the right margin and the back cover, reduce 50% of the image and let the text be next to it. For the margin, you can place text/image outside it but need to keep at least 3mm space so that it doesn’t trim out when printing. Try printing some pages to see how it looks.

5/11/19 (Week 11)

General feedback: Make sure to go through relevant articles to you topics and look through templates for scholarly article and look at the author guide of the articles you have selected.

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati said to adjust the size of the page number as it looks really big even though it is at the side of the page.

12/11/19 (Week 12)

General feedback: To gain your 10% for justification, write about reviews/remarks of people saying about the journal, compared with other journals and relevant articles that are published in the journal. Download the articles published in the journal.

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati commented to add the publisher name along with the journal title. For your justification, you can justify more and avoid using too much first person. Read the author guide and the template to understand how the journal article should be structured. 



19/11/19 (Week 13)

General feedback: Make sure the envelope is a little bit bigger than A4 and print and place your cover page on it.

Specific feedback: Dr. Hayati said to make sure to justify in detail your final selection journal before writing your journal article. Make sure to shorten and rephrase some words so it is not similar to your dissertation.

26/11/19 (Week 14)

There was no feedback this week.