Verbal focus shifts: Forms of low coherent statements in design conversations. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Menning, Axel; Grasnick, Bastien M.; Ewald, Benedikt; Dobrigkeit, Franziska; Nicolai, Claudia
• Is Part Of: Design studies. Volume 57(2018)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: creativity -- communication -- computational models -- design cognition -- design behaviour; Design -- Periodicals; 745.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2018.03.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-694X

Abstract

Abstract : Previous studies on design behaviour indicate that focus shifts positively influence ideational productivity. In this study we want to take a closer look at how these focus shifts look on the verbal level. We describe a mutually influencing relationship between mental focus shifts and verbal low coherent statements. In a case study based on the DTRS11 dataset we identify 297 low coherent statements via a combined topic modelling and manual approach. We introduce a categorization of the different instances of low coherent statements. The results indicate that designers tend to shift topics within an existing design issue instead of completely disrupting it. Highlights: Previous studies on design behaviour indicate that focus shifts positively influence ideational productivity. A linguistic equivalent for mental focus shifts are low coherent statements. In a case study we identify 297 low coherent statements via a combined topic modeling and manual approach. Designers tend to shift topics within design issues, rather than disrupting them. Design issues are abstract, hard to grasp, polytopical segments.