A Study on the Role of Expertise in Design Fixation and its Mitigation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimal Viswanathan ◽  
Julie Linsey
Keyword(s):  
Design Problem ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Design Fixation ◽  
Novice Designers ◽  
Novel Products

Engineering idea generation plays a vital role in the development of novel products. Prior studies have shown that designers fixate to the features of example solutions and replicate these features in their ideas. This is a major hindrance in idea generation as it restricts the solution space where designers search for their ideas. This study hypothesizes that though expert designers fixate to example features, they still can outperform novices in terms of quantity of ideas as they have a larger set of knowledge acquired through their experience. To investigate this, the experimental by Linsey et al. is replicated for novice designers. Novices generate ideas for a design problem in three groups: one group working with a fixating example, a second group working with the same example along with alternate representations for the design problem and a control group only presented with the problem and no additional materials. The obtained results support the hypothesis. Both novice and expert designers are fixated to the example features, but the expert designers generated more nonredundant ideas. The alternate representations of the design problem help experts in mitigating their fixation, whereas in novices, these have no effect.

Design Fixation and Its Mitigation: A Study on the Role of Expertise

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimal K. Viswanathan ◽  
Julie S. Linsey
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Design Fixation ◽  
Novice Designers ◽  
Novel Products

Engineering idea generation plays a vital role in the development of novel products. Prior studies have shown that designers fixate to the features of example solutions and replicate these features in their ideas. This type of fixation acts as a major hindrance in idea generation, as it restricts the solution space where designers search for their ideas. Building upon the study by Linsey et al. [2010, “A Study of Design Fixation, Its Mitigation and Perception in Engineering Design Faculty,” ASME Trans. J. Mech. Des., 132, 041003], this study hypothesizes that designers fixate to example features and this fixation can be mitigated using certain defixation materials including alternate representations of the design problem. To investigate this, the experiment conducted by Linsey et al. [2010] with engineering design faculty is replicated with novice designers. Participants generate ideas for a design problem in three groups: one group working with a fixating example, a second group working with the same example along with alternate representations of the design problem and a control group. The obtained results show that both the novice designers and design faculty fixate to the same extent, whereas the defixation materials have differential effect on the two groups. This result indicates that design researchers need to be very careful in developing methods and guidelines that are formulated and tested with studies on novice designers. The effectiveness of such measures may vary with the level of expertise of the designer.

Favoring Complexity: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Factors That Influence Concept Selection in Design for Additive Manufacturing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Prabhu ◽  
Rainmar L. Leguarda ◽  
Scarlett R. Miller ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
Nicholas A. Meisel
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Concept Selection ◽  
Educational Groups ◽  
Early Design Stages ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing ◽  
Design For Am

Abstract The capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM) open up designers’ solution space and enable them to build designs previously impossible through traditional manufacturing. To leverage AM, designers must not only generate creative ideas, but also propagate these ideas without discarding them in the early design stages. This emphasis on selecting creative ideas is particularly important in design for AM (DfAM), as ideas perceived as infeasible through the traditional design for manufacturing lens could now be feasible with AM. Several studies have discussed the role of DfAM in encouraging creative idea generation; however, there is a need to understand concept selection in DfAM. In this paper, we investigated the effect of two variations in DfAM education: 1) restrictive DfAM and 2) dual DfAM (opportunistic and restrictive) on students’ concept selection process. Specifically, we compared the creativity of the concepts generated by the students to the creativity of the concepts selected by them. Further, we performed qualitative analyses to explore the rationale provided by the students in making these design decisions. From the results, we see that teams from both educational groups select ideas of greater usefulness; however, only teams from the restrictive DfAM group select ideas of higher uniqueness and overall creativity. Further, we see that introducing students to opportunistic DfAM increases their emphasis on the complexity of designs when evaluating and selecting them. These results highlight the need for DfAM education to encourage AM designers to not just generate but also select creative ideas.

scholarly journals The Role of Paternal Age and Occurrence of Orofacial Clefts in South Indian Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 2465-2469
Author(s):  
Soumi Samuel ◽  
Rajendra Prasad B. ◽  
Thara Chandran ◽  
Deeyah Miriam Deepak ◽  
Shaji Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Congenital Anomalies ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Paternal Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
South Indian Population ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Orofacial Cleft ◽  
Orofacial Clefts ◽  
South Indian

BACKGROUND The association between orofacial cleft and parental age is evident. This study focuses on paternal age playing a vital role in the birth of children with orofacial clefts. We wanted to assess the role of paternal age as a factor in the development of congenital anomalies in this study. METHODS A case control study was performed on 1000 cases and 250 controls in Mangalore. The parents were interviewed regarding their age at the time of conception. RESULTS 46.4 % of fathers of the cleft children belonged to 30 - 34 years of age group and 25 % belonged to 25 - 29 years of age group at the time of conception. In the control group, 38 % belonged to 30 - 34 years of age group and 24.8 % belonged to 25 - 29 years of age group. CONCLUSIONS Paternal age in the age group of 30 - 34 years has significant contribution in the birth of orofacial children with cleft deformities. KEY WORDS Orofacial cleft, Paternal Age, Congenital anomalies

scholarly journals Design Fixation From Initial Examples: Provided Versus Self-Generated Ideas

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keelin Leahy ◽  
Shanna R. Daly ◽  
Seda McKilligan ◽  
Colleen M. Seifert
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Design Fixation ◽  
Design Heuristics ◽  
Scale Experiment ◽  
Initial Concept ◽  
Provided Examples

Abstract Jansson and Smith (1991, “Design Fixation,” Des. Stud., 12(1), pp. 3–11) demonstrated that design fixation occurs when an example solution is provided along with a design problem. After seeing an example concept—even with its flaws pointed out—new designs often share its features. In Jansson and Smith’s studies, a control group saw no example and showed less fixation to the example provided only in the other group. However, another source of fixation from an initial example may arise in the control group from the designer’s own first-generated concept. We conducted a large-scale experiment with beginning engineers to investigate whether design fixation occurs even without seeing a provided example. Half of the participants saw an example solution and half were given no example; instead, they generated their own initial design. Next, all students were individually brainstormed ideas for 30 min. We analyzed both groups’ concepts for fixation on the first solution they saw—either the example provided or their own initial concept. The results showed that the students provided with an example concept experienced less fixation on the initial example than those in the control group, whose concepts were evaluated for similarity to their own initial concept. To consider whether fixation on initial examples (provided or self-generated) might be mitigated, we asked these students to complete a second (30 min) idea generation phase using Design Heuristics for idea inspiration. The results showed that both groups experienced less fixation during the second-generation phase. These findings suggest that fixation on first solutions occurs in individual idea generation arising from both provided examples and self-generated concepts. However, more divergent idea generation can be facilitated through the use of design tools, such as Design Heuristics, to mitigate the consequences of design fixation.

scholarly journals Role of Chitosan Application in Postoperative Abdominal Adhesions in Rabbits

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
E’atelaf A. Al-Mutheffer
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Cavity ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Abdominal Adhesions ◽  
Abdominal Organs ◽  
Post Operation ◽  
Surgical Preparation ◽  
Chitosan Powder

     This study was performed to evaluate the reliability and efficacy of intra-peritoneal performances of chitosan powder in preventing abdominal adhesions following laparotomy. Twenty clinically healthy rabbits of both sexes, weighing 1.5-2 kg were allocated randomly into 2 equal groups; control group (G1) and treated group (G2). After surgical preparation the animals had undergone to laparotomy which was performed to create a sero-muscular incision of 4cm length in the stomach, in G1 the incision was closed by suturing stomach wound and abdominal wall, While (G2) animals were subjected to same operation but after stomach incision suturing, 1gr. of chitosan powder was sprinkled on stomach incision and peritoneal cavity prior to the lina alba and skin closures. 5 animals of each group were euthanized at two periods:   7th and 21st   day post operation, adhesions in abdominal cavity were examined macroscopically and microscopically. The results showed clearly no adhesions at the operation site (the stomach wound), also on all abdominal organs and peritoneum cavity in both examination periods in G2. In conclusion this study revealed that chitosan plays a vital role in restrictions of intra-abdominal adhesion even though the mechanism of action is still unknown.

Design Fixation in Physical Modeling: An Investigation on the Role of Sunk Cost

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimal Viswanathan ◽  
Julie Linsey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Physical Modeling ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Sunk Cost ◽  
Subject Experiment ◽  
High Degree

Physical models are very commonly used as tools for engineering idea generation, yet the guidelines in literature about their implementation are conflicting. A prior study has shown that physical models have the potential to supplement designers’ erroneous mental models; whereas a few observational studies have shown that physical models can cause a high degree of fixation under certain circumstances. At the same time, a previous controlled study fails to show the presence of fixation in idea generation with physical models. This study hypothesizes that prior observed fixation in physical modeling is due to Sunk Cost Effect, which is the reluctance to choose a different path of action once significant money, time or effort is invested in present one. Consistent with the prior study, this study also hypothesizes that physical models supplement designers’ mental models. These hypotheses are investigated through a controlled between-subject experiment. The results show that cost of building plays a vital role in fixation and fixation is not likely inherent in physical representations. Results also show that physical models supplement designers’ mental models and lead them to higher quality ideas.

scholarly journals Novel Insights into Dietary Phytosterol Utilization and Its Fate in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 571
Author(s):  
Priyadarshini Chakrabarti ◽  
Hannah M. Lucas ◽  
Ramesh R. Sagili
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bees ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Dietary Sterol ◽  
Head Protein ◽  
Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition is an important factor in global bee population declines. A significant gap in knowledge persists regarding the role of various nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees. Sterols are essential micronutrients in insect diets and play a physiologically vital role as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. Sterol requirements and metabolism in honey bees are poorly understood. Among all pollen sterols, 24-methylenecholesterol is considered the key phytosterol required by honey bees. Nurse bees assimilate this sterol from dietary sources and store it in their tissues as endogenous sterol, to be transferred to the growing larvae through brood food. This study examined the duration of replacement of such endogenous sterols in honey bees. The dietary 13C-labeled isotopomer of 24-methylenecholesterol added to artificial bee diet showed differential, progressive in vivo assimilation across various honey bee tissues. Significantly higher survival, diet consumption, head protein content and abdominal lipid content were observed in the dietary sterol-supplemented group than in the control group. These findings provide novel insights into phytosterol utilization and temporal pattern of endogenous 24-methylenecholesterol replacement in honey bees.

scholarly journals Assessing Regulatory Focus Differences in Creative Ideation: An Examination of Prevention and Promotion Mindsets on Novelty and Usefulness

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
Rianne Wally Meurzec ◽  
Brandon Koh ◽  
Georgios Koronis ◽  
Jacob Kai Siang Kang ◽  
Christine Yogiaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Baseline Condition ◽  
Assessment Technique ◽  
Creative Pedagogy ◽  
Consensual Assessment Technique ◽  
Novice Designers ◽  
Creative Ideation ◽  
Novel Products

AbstractThe purpose of this work is to compare impact of regulatory focuses, namely preventive and promotional contexts, on creative ideation measured by novelty and usefulness. The study consisted of Singaporean students from an undergraduate university, and assessed their personality using the Big Five, Regulatory Focus, Creativity type and creativity outcomes measured with the Consensual Assessment Technique by completing a Collaborative Sketch exercise. Participants were randomly assigned to either the preventive, promotional or a baseline condition and tasked with a design problem necessitating a solution in the form of sketches. This study found the three conditions to yield significantly different novelty scores, but not usefulness scores. The most impactful condition on novelty was the baseline, indicating novice designers are capable of creating novel products and services. Those in the promotion condition created the second most novel sketches, or design solutions, followed lastly by the prevention condition. This may be so as novice designers consider larger space of solutions and may generate more ideas. This research is useful in creative pedagogy and for design professionals.

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