Research Methods In Architecture

By Ryan Phlean

Good architectural research does more than collect information-it turns complex questions about buildings, people, places, and performance into credible evidence for better decisions.Research Methods in Architecture gives you a structured, accessible guide to planning and conducting rigorous inquiry across architecture and the built environment. Whether you are preparing a dissertation, evaluating a completed building, investigating urban space, or strengthening evidence-based design decisions, this book helps you choose methods that genuinely fit your research question.
Inside, you will learn how to: Formulate focused research questions, aims, hypotheses, and conceptual frameworksConduct literature reviews and evaluate the quality of available evidenceApply interviews, surveys, ethnography, case studies, observation, and documentary analysisUnderstand sampling, descriptive statistics, experimental design, and quantitative analysisCombine qualitative and quantitative evidence through mixed-methods researchUse post-occupancy evaluation, GIS, space syntax, simulation, and computational modelingNavigate research ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, validity, reliability, and biasCommunicate findings through dissertations, reports, presentations, and design recommendationsOrganized across 30 substantial chapters, the book connects foundational research principles with architecture-specific applications. It also examines emerging areas such as sensor-generated data, machine learning, climate research, open science, participatory inquiry, and research equity.
Instead of promoting one universal methodology, Ryan Phlean shows you how to assess the strengths, limitations, and appropriate uses of multiple approaches. The result is a practical architectural research methods reference that supports both academic work and professional practice.Build a defensible study, interpret evidence responsibly, and make your next design decision with greater confidence-get your copy today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HG9NH3FT
• ISBN13: 9798194558780
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.5" x 11.0"