Architecture Research Methods ARCH 5365 G

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Architecture Research MethodsARCH 5365GW
Chapter 6

• Gary W. Smith, 2006

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Interpretive-Historical Research

• Interpretive-Historical Research is investigation
  into social-physical phenomena (past condition)
  within complex contexts, with a view toward
  explaining those phenomena in narrative form and
  in a holistic fashion.

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• Four parts to interpretive research
• Data/Evidence collection
• Identification/Organization
• Evaluation
• Narration

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• The historian must take the available evidence to
  weave together a coherent account.
• Three components of analysis
• textual authentication
• validity of factual inferences
• weighing alternative interpretations
• All of these can include triangulation.

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• Concept of Causal Explanations of History The
  Idea of Covering Law
• Involves the belief that social phenomenon CAUSE
  or predict actions. (Hempel)

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• Structuralism
• Similar to causal history in that actions
  (designs) can be a response to structure or
  structural analysis.
• Poststructuralism
• Reality is a byproduct of discourse (the
  cultural manifestations of the trafficking of
  thought). Meaning defines an era.
• Poststructuralism takes a period of time as is.
  The material produces of culture are parts of a
  larger immanent discourse.

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• Six categories of classification of history
• politics
• biography
• ideas
• economy
• society
• mentality
• Writers must pull from all of the above in order
  to weave its holistic account of the object in
  question.

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• Evidence must situate the object of study in the
  time and place of one historic world.
• Elements of the built environment are often used
  to situate the object of inquiry in context.

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• Inferential Evidence
• Can link one proposition or idea to another
  through the use of logical deductions, proximal
  dates, or reasoned interpretation
• Recollective Evidence
• Interviews with people familiar with the topic
  who were there when it happened or have intimate
  details of the event(s)

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• Tactics for Analysis of
• Architectural Structures
• On-Site familiarity
• Use of extant documents
• Visual inspection
• Material evidence
• Comparison with conditions elsewhere
• Use of local informants and lore
• Reenactment/testimonial
• Identification of remaining questions

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Notes

• Information in these lectures was adapted from
  the following sources
• Booth, Wayne C., Colomb, Gregory G., Williams,
  Joseph M. 2003. The Craft of Research. Second
  Edition. Chicago University of Chicago Press.
• Groat, Linda N. and Wang, David C. 2002.
  Architectural Research Methods. New York John
  Wiley.