Abstract

Interior designers need to understand the importance of research and evidence-based solutions in design. In interior design education, senior students usually start the “research phase” of their projects before the practical phase. They often struggle with crafting a well-refined research thesis, relying on a scientific research background, and implementing appropriate research methods. The present study aims to explore the teaching strategies that instructors at a private university in Saudi Arabia use to conduct senior thesis projects. The study will be conducted using mixed methods. First, a qualitative description of the teaching methods that have been used through different semesters will be explained. These strategies have been developed over time and evaluated through several semesters in an effort to aid the students with their senior theses, adjust to students’ capabilities, and follow the developing trends of design pedagogy. The study will then be supported by an analysis of students’ work and the application of knowledge gained through several semesters using a grading rubric developed by the instructors of the course and based on the requirements of each assignment submitted by students. For the quantitative part, senior students’ completed questionnaires will be used to assess their level of understanding of the research methods and achievement of desired learning outcomes. The study will be limited to the evaluation of research methods taught for senior students. The obtained result will contribute to the literature on interior design pedagogy, specifically in relation to the integration of research methods and the practice of interior design.