LibGuides: Interior Design Program Guide: Gathering Information

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Subjects: Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education and Human Services, Health Sciences, Public Safety, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Transportation

Gathering Information

Once you've defined your problem, question, or topic, it's time to see what's out there. This may involve interviews, surveys, observations, case studies, action research, laboratory experiments, or a combination of methods.

Don't limit this phase because it's where you explore options and gather ideas!

Search for Background Information

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Use this database to understand basic concepts taught in your courses. It's also a great database for the first step in your research process. It contains short articles from encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks and other reference sources on a wide range of subjects. Get started on your assignment or research project by learning about key people, places, dates, events, concepts, and ideas related to your topic.

Finding Case Studies, Precedent Studies, and Secondary Research

A case study is an in-depth study of a particular instance, event, or situation. You can explore a single case study or compare multiple case studies to identify themes. There are a variety of places where you will find case studies and other interior design research. Search for your topic and "case study" in one of the recommended databases. Search for or within designer websites and portfolios using your favorite search engine.

Another great place to find research others have done is in professional publications and magazines. You'll also find some of those in databases listed below.

Try the databases below as your starting point. You will also find additional resources within the the Types of Sources portion of this guide.

Academic OneFile (Gale) This link opens in a new window
This source contains a huge variety of content from almost every subject, including design. Search for scholarly and trade publications, magazines, research, case studies, and more.
Fine Arts (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
Find articles from magazines, journals, newspapers, and multi-media in the fields of graphic design, digital media, studio arts, art education, art history, photography, drama, music, and filmmaking. Includes Gale’s visual Topic Finder tool.
GreenFILE (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
This specialized database contains scholarly journals and general-interest magazines that cover topics related to the impact of human activity on the planet. Use this database for assignments related to the environment and climate change. Topics covered include global climate change, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and other areas that are impacted such as education, law, health and technology, and more.
Vocation and Careers (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
Content of this includes highly specialized industry publications, trade journals, and vocational information. Several architecture and design publications included here, so it's worth a quick glance.

Conducting Primary Research

Your research question or problem may also require you to conduct some primary research. This may take a variety of forms and involve surveys, observations, or interviews.

For additional information about conducting primary research, consult the following books in the interior design collection:

Programming and Research by Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky
ISBN: 9781628929546
Publication Date: 2017-04-20
Research-Based Programming for Interior Design by Lily B. Robinson
ISBN: 9781501327742
Publication Date: 2020-02-20