Research Design Connection: Multiple Research Methods Best
Recent research by Day and O’Brien makes it clear how valuable it can be to gather information in several different ways when assessing experiences in spaces provided. A press release from Washington State University reports on their work: “Many researchers know that new high-efficiency buildings don’t typically get used as intended…‘I have seen people taping motion sensor light switches to keep their lights off, people placing popsicles on thermostats to turn on the heat, and even someone taping a quarter onto a window sill to reflect light onto a thermostat to turn on the AC,’ said Day…Occupants in the various studies often showcased poor energy efficiency behavior when looking strictly at the quantitative data. However, through interviews and other qualitative methods (i.e. survey stories), the researchers could understand and explain the behaviors…[an] occupant complained their lights were frequently turning off when they were in their office because their motion sensor …
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