Planning for Rights

Planning Students’ Conceptions of Research

“…Consequently, in countries where the social science tradition has prevailed in planning programs, there is now more demand-from students and employers alike-to incorporate urban design more effectively into the curriculum (Pojani et al 2018). Conversely, in places where physical planning has prevailed in the past, now there is more pressure to teach future planners economic, political, and social skills as well (Büchler, Biggs, and Rocco 2009;Pojani 2012;Rocco and Rooij 2010).…”

“…In diagnostic design research, researchers systematically examine various design processes to improve the future practice of design. And in embedded design research, designers practice their craft in the pursuit of knowledge and by doing so gain insight into possible outcomes (Faste and Faste 2012;Rocco and Rooij 2010). These subsets depend on whether research by design is closer to creative practice or to traditional academic research, and on the degree of a practitioner's involvement in the activities being performed.…”

“…Novice students can struggle to distinguish between theoretical and empirical research, and between descriptive, interpretive, and statistical evidence (Goldstein 2012;Meyer, Shanahan, and Laugksch 2005). In the case of professional education majors, such as planning, difficulties are compounded by the different worldviews within the discipline: design oriented or social science oriented (Rocco and Rooij 2010).…”

“…In the Anglosphere, most planning faculty are academic researchers with doctorates, who have a social science orientation to research (Edwards and Bates 2011). By contrast, in continental Europe, and many parts of the developing world, a positivistic paradigm tends to guide planning academia, and the focus continues to remain largely on physical planning and the design of the built environment; in some cases, students' graduating project is a design rather than a research thesis (Chettiparamb 2006;Pojani 2012;Rocco and Rooij 2010). Many planning faculty members in continental Europe are at the same time consultants in urban design and architectural practices, and transmit that outlook to their students.…”

“…Where design practice is emphasized in a planning program, students might tend to value creativity, spontaneity, and craftsmanship (Rocco and Rooij 2010). When the emphasis is on social sciences, students might dialogue with disciplines such as human geography, economy, law, sociology, and psychology.…”