Convergent methodologies for architectural science

Convergent methodologies are those that have a mixture of both quantitative and qualitative methods of enquiry to examine a particular phenomenon. The approach is common in social science, and it seems to have significant benefits for architectural science where it has been common to use one method in an attempt to answer complex questions concerning the built environment. The advantages of using mixed methods in research design as found in social science are largely because of the context of that research. The use of mixed methods is increasingly useful in architectural science and the papers in this edition which seem to indicate this point. It is useful to examine how the methods used in the research link to design and other research. Mixed methodologies are used commonly in architectural research and in practice. The main reason for using mixed methods is that the strengths and weaknesses of one method compensate for the other. Hence, using multi-methods often provides ‘triangulation’ in the search for validity and is useful not only for answering particular research questions but also for shaping new questions. Triangulation is a metaphor from navigation, which in nautical terms allows the navigators to establish a position from different reference points. Such a methodology provides further evidence and can amplify findings from one method; hence, in some studies a stratification process occurs where there is a primary methodology and then a secondary method to address the limitations of the primary method (Jick, 1979). The first paper by Ghoreishi is concerned with a parametric study of thermal mass property of concrete buildings in US climate zones. Concrete is known for its structural, architectural, and environmental applications in buildings. Its environmental purposes include the use of the material as a fabric heat storage system. Thermal mass when coupled with passive design features such as solar heating and natural ventilation for cooling have known benefits of stabilizing the diurnal range of internal temperatures found in buildings with little thermal mass. However, the complex interactions of form, fabric, and building operation make this kind of study very difficult to ‘ground’ with certainty. The difficulty then becomes one of how to make broader generalizations from the results to practice. The purpose, amount, and location of the thermal mass are critical. For example, thermal mass can be used as capacitive insulation; however, it is not as efficient as light-weight bulk insulation. Also, if masonry or concrete are used it adds additional embodied energy. Furthermore, if it is used for energy storage then the amount and location of the storage system as well as how it is charged and discharged is fundamental to its influence on the heating and cooling loads of the building. Hence, as suggested by this study further research using Life Cycle Assessment is useful; however, this by itself is unlikely to fully ‘ground the research’ sufficient for practice needs as intended. A further method is needed such as validation of the computer model with monitored data from an existing building. A mixed methods approach is really needed in these kinds of parametric studies. However, to achieve a fuller convergence and better validity, additional methodologies such as typological analysis are needed. The influence of building typology in terms of form and fabric as well as climate types might assist. The study has a primary research question of ‘how the thermal mass property of concrete could improve the energy performance of buildings’. This question is reworked in the context of climate change, which necessitates further methods. The next paper by Rajagopalan and Leung examines the acoustic performance of a precast panel system made from environmentally sustainable concrete and its application to sports hall buildings. The authors argue that use of green building materials and products promotes conservation of non-renewable resources and helps to reduce associated environmental impacts. The main question in this paper is where the green concrete gives similar or better performance than conventional concrete cladding panels. However, this question was only partially answered as no ‘control’ panel of conventional construction was used. It would have been useful to broaden the methodology to include monitoring of the acoustic conditions in existing sports halls. Reverberant noise in these halls requires some form of treatment given the low absorbent coefficient of concrete. The next two papers are focused on architectural design and look at ways in which both the technical and artistic aspects of design can be integrated. Shannon examines approaches to the use of ‘Blended Learning’, which uses a combination of conventional computer-based pedagogies in teaching architectural engineering students design. This study has two key research questions: can ‘blended learning’ improve student-learning outcomes while also teaching with fewer resources. The paper reports quantitative and qualitative results of student outcomes and makes recommendations for the adoption of this learning