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Conjectures, Cycles and Contexts: A Systematic Review of Design-based Research in Engineering Education Cover

Conjectures, Cycles and Contexts: A Systematic Review of Design-based Research in Engineering Education

Open Access
|Mar 2021

Figures & Tables

Table 1

Study Context and Focus.

[i] Note: Articles listed in italics are focused on affect (e.g., interest, motivation) of students or teachers. Gale et al. (2019) is listed in both learning experience and teacher focus because it included data about the perspectives of both students and teachers.

Table 2

Articles by Design-Based Research Cycles Reported.

Cycles reportedStudiesPaper features
Multiple, iterative design cyclesDasgupta, 2019
Diefes-Dux et al., 2010
Finelli et al., 2015
Hira & Hynes, 2019
Langman et al., 2019
Moore et al., 2014
Newstetter, 2005
Todd et al., 2011
  • Explains and justifies revisions over time to principles/conjectures or the object of design (e.g., curriculum, tools, frameworks)

  • Multiple sources of evidence that may vary over phases/cycles

  • Multiple participants/reviewers over time

  • Explains variations, revisions, and refinements

One design cycle or one aspectBlanchard et al., 2015–impact study
Friedrichsen et al., 2017
Gale et al., 2019
Guloy et al., 2017
Hardre et al., 2010
Spelt et al., 2015
Tang, 2013
Weber et al., 2014
Yueh et al., 2014
  • Examines/investigates one version of the design

  • Explains design process that led to the version used in the publication

  • Explains research questions and sources of evidence

  • Conclusions/implications provide recommendations for future designs

Table 3

Embodiment of Designs by Studies.

Embodiment of DesignStudiesPaper features
Curriculum design and implementationBlanchard et al., 2015
Gale et al., 2019
Hardre et al., 2010
Hira & Hynes, 2019
Langman et al., 2019
Newstetter, 2005
Spelt et al., 2015
Tang, 2013
Todd et al., 2011
Weber et al., 2011
Yueh et al., 2014
  • Describes specific courses, modules, or tasks

  • May include multiple cycles of revisions of the materials in the article

Pedagogical tools, strategies, or supportsDasgupta, 2019
Diefes-Dux et al., 2010
Friedrichsen et al., 2017
Guloy et al., 2017
  • May be independent of a particular class or content topic

  • May support implementation problem-based or inquiry-based learning

FrameworksFinelli et al., 2015
Moore et al., 2014
  • Larger scope

  • Beyond a specific pedagogical approach or a course

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21061/see.35 | Journal eISSN: 2690-5450
Language: English
Page range: 142 - 155
Submitted on: Jan 16, 2020
Accepted on: Feb 15, 2021
Published on: Mar 31, 2021
Published by: Virginia Tech Publishing
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2021 Margret A. Hjalmarson, Allison Ward Parsons, published by Virginia Tech Publishing
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.