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Title: MODELLING AND PROFILING STUDENT DESIGNERS’ COGNITIVE COMPETENCIES IN COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
Abstract There are three approaches to studying designers – through their cognitive profile, design behaviors, and design artifacts (e.g., quality). However, past work has rarely considered all three data domains together. Here we introduce and describe a framework for a comprehensive approach to engineering design, and discuss how the insights may benefit engineering design research and education. To demonstrate the proposed framework, we conducted an empirical study with a solar energy system design problem. Forty-six engineering students engaged in a week-long computer-aided design challenge that assessed their design behavior and artifacts, and completed a set of psychological tests to measure cognitive competencies. Using a machine learning approach consisting of k-means, hierarchical, and spectral clustering, designers were grouped by similarities on the psychological tests. Significant differences were revealed between designer groups in their sequential design behavior, suggesting that a designer's cognitive profile is related to how they engage in the design process.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1842588
PAR ID:
10311692
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the Design Society
Volume:
1
ISSN:
2732-527X
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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