MProvE - Validation of Methods in Product Development through Experiments – Development of a Procedural Model

在产品开发方法研究中，如何证明所开发方法的有效性是一个挑战。然而，特别是在方法的成功标准有用性、适用性和接受性方面，证据对于成功地开发方法至关重要。为了能够提供这一证据，方法研究人员目前在一般和抽象的研究方法论(如设计研究方法论)和具体的方法验证步骤(如通过问卷获取数据)之间找到了科学的中间结构。本研究项目的目的是为产品开发方法的客观和可重复性验证开发一个过程模型。流程模型应能够就上述方法的成功标准作出声明。在此过程模型的开发过程中，对方法进行了实验验证，并将得到的结果用于测试和优化过程模型。在产品开发中，一般可以区分侧重于个人工作的方法(如分析方法)和侧重于团队合作的方法(如头脑风暴)。为了在流程模型中涵盖这一系列方法，需要具备这些领域的专业知识。这些专业知识基于IPEC采用C&C²方法的经验(侧重于个人工作)和PKT采用综合PKT方法(侧重于团队合作)的经验。在他们的调查中，还利用了椅子现有的各种数据采集方法的经验进行实验研究。在PKT，研究观察员的经验和焦点小组访谈被用来调查侧重于团队合作的方法。在Ipek，眼球跟踪和有声思考被用来调查个人工作的方法。要研究的过程模型的创新之处在于，通过支持方法的实验研究，对所描述的方法成功标准的可重复性和客观性陈述成为可能。将方法划分为单独的方法步骤支持实验调查的执行。因此，验证的结果可以积极地用于方法研究，这是由于验证活动主要是下游的和不太客观的，到目前为止还不可能。在此基础上建立了过程模型，进行了三个阶段的实验研究(初步研究、主要研究、测试研究)，以分析、优化和评价其对方法验证的适宜性。所建立的过程模型使建立合适的研究成为可能，以便能够就方法的成功标准的有用性、适用性和接受性做出声明。通过这种方式，方法研究人员将在未来对他们开发的方法进行验证。

In method research of product development it is a challenge to prove the validity of developed methods. However, particularly with regard to the success criteria usefulness, applicability and acceptance of methods, proof is crucial in order to successfully develop methods. In order to be able to provide this proof, method researchers currentlylack the scientific midstructure between general and abstract research methodology such as Design Research Methodology (DRM) and concrete aids to steps of method validation such as data acquisition through questionnaires. The aim of this research project is to develop a process model for the objective and reproducible validation ofmethods for product development. The process model should enable statements to be made on the success criteria of methods mentioned above. In the development of this process model, methods are validated experimentally and the obtained results are used to test and optimise the process model. In product development, a general distinction can be made between methods focusing on individual work, such as analysis methods, and methods focusing on teamwork, such as brainstorming. In order to cover this spectrum of methods with the process model, expertise in these areas is required. This expertise is based on the experience of the IPEK with the C&C² -Approach (focus on individual work) and the PKT with the integrated PKT approach (focus on teamwork). In their investigation, the existing experiences of the chairs with various data acquisition methods are also used for the experimental studies. At PKT, experiences withstudy observers and focus group interviews are used to investigate methods with a focus on teamwork. At the IPEK, eye-tracking and think-aloud are used to investigate methods for individual work. What is innovative about the process model to be researched is that by supporting the experimental investigation of methods, reproducible and objective statements on the described success criteria of methods become possible. A division of the methods into individual method steps supports the performance of experimentalinvestigations. Thus, the results of the validation can be actively used in method research, which has not been possible so far due to the mostly downstream and less objective validation activities. With the process model developed on this basis, a three-stage experimental study (preliminary study, main study, test study) is carried out in orderto analyse, optimise and evaluate its suitability for method validation.The developed process model makes it possible to build up suitable studies in order to be able to make statements about the success criteria usefulness, applicability and acceptance of methods. In this way, method researchers will be supported in the validation of their developed methods in the future.