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Much has been written about Design-based Research, but what about hearing from some of the experts themselves? These short interviews, conducted at AERA International Convention in 2006, provide some specific insights from some notable researchers in the field of Design-based Research.


Dr. Brenda Bannan-Ritland from George Mason University
  Decision-making in Design-based Research: Dr. Brenda Bannan-Ritland discusses the design-related aspects and decision trajectories researchers must take DBR. She situates DBR in the larger scientific cycle and delineates how to warrant design-based decisions in this paradigm. In this interview, Dr. Bannan-Ritland addresses the following question: What can design-based research add to the scientific cycle and how is it different? Play Video

Dr. Sasha Barab from Indiana University
 

 

 

1. The Development of a Design-based Researcher: Why do design-based research? Dr. Sasha Barab explains how he started in traditional research and why he felt unsatisfied with what it provided and how he moved to design-based research as a better way to do research. He discusses what design-based research provides for him personally that he didn't find in other research. Play Video1

 

 

 

2. Two Examples of Design-based Research and the Development of Theory: Dr. Sasha Barab first describes the Inquiry Learning Forum as an example of the development of theory through design-based research. He then discusses another design-based research project, the development of Quest Atlantis. Each of these projects were unique and they provide interesting different examples of what design-based research projects may be like. Play Video2

 

 

3. Publishing Design-based Research: How do you publish design-based research and add credibility to design-based research work? In this interview, Dr. Sasha Barab explains the logistics of how to publish research articles from design-based research projects. He talks about project management, and managing the research side of projects while you concurrently work on design. He also discusses writing and disseminating design-based research in a way that will be credible and acceptable to other types of researchers. He specifically addresses some of the concerns from design-based research critics. Play Video3

Dr. Paul Cobb from Vanderbilt University
  Characteristics of Design-based Research and Theories: What are the characteristics of the theories produced in design-based research? In this interview, Dr. Paul Cobb discusses the characteristics of design-based reserach and theory development that add to the uniqueness of design-based research. Play Video 
 

Dr. Allan M. Collins from Northwestern University
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Design-based Research: Reflections on the Past and the Future. Dr. Allan Collins discusses the origins, defining principals, and major issues of design experiments, and how it has evolved over the years. Play Video


Dr. Chris Hoadley from Penn State University
 

 

The Unique Attributes of Design-based Research: Is design-based research only for formative research or can it also be summative? Dr. Chris Hoadley discusses the differences between formative evaluation and design-based research, and reflects on the unique attributes of design-based research that allows design-based research projects to add new kinds of scientific knowledge. Play Video

Dr. Anthony E. Kelly from George Mason University
  Is Design-based Reserach a method on its own? Anthony Kelly contrasts design-based research to other research approaches and methods. He also discusses the importance of commissive space in social science research. Play Video

Dr. Susan McKenney from University of Twente
 

Multiple Roles and Multiple Researchers in Design-based Research: Dr. Susan McKenney discusses the balancing act that design-based researchers have as they take on multiple roles as researchers, designers, and practitioners. She also discusses the collaborative environment created by conducting research with multiple people on the research team. Play Video


Dr. Thomas C. Reeves from the University of Georgia
 

Responsibility and Transparency in Design-based Research: How can people engaged in design-based research do so in a socially responsible manner? Dr. Tom Reeves discusses issues of ethics surrounding data collection, theory generalization, and tool generation to help design-based researchers conduct socially responsible research. Play Video


Dr. William Sandoval from University of California - Los Angeles
  Data Collection and Design-based Research: What types of data need to be generated to make conjectures useful for generalized contexts? Dr. William Sandoval talks about the difficulties, pitfalls, and precautions of determining and collecting the necessary data needed for DBR studies. Data collection must be connected not only to questions, but also to theory and tool development. Play Video
 
@ Video Group 2006