The Preferences for Creativity Scale (PCS): Identifying the Underlying Constructs of Creative Concept Selection

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A. Toh ◽  
Scarlett R. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Concept Selection ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Decision Making Biases

Creativity is highly emphasized during the engineering design process, but prior research has shown that decision-making biases and individual attributes can affect perceptions and preferences for creativity. However, there is a lack of knowledge of how to measure creativity during concept selection, or about the factors that affect designers’ preferences for creative concepts in an engineering design context. As a first step in understanding what factors contribute to the promotion or filtering of creative concepts during concept selection, this study investigates the factors that can affect preferences for creativity through the development of a psychometric survey that assesses student designers’ preferences for creativity through Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The result of these analyses is the 23-item Preferences for Creativity Scale (PCS) that assesses an individual’s preference for creativity in engineering design on 4 major dimensions: (1) Team Centrality, (2) Risk Tolerance, (3) Creative Confidence/ Preference, and (4) Motivation. The results of these analyses provide a foundation for studying creativity in the design process and allow for future research that investigates the factors that influence creative concept selection in engineering design.

A Multi Autonomic Objects Flexible Workflow and its Knowledge Acquisition Supporting Engineering Design Process

2010 ◽  
Vol 97-101 ◽  
pp. 3341-3344
Author(s):  
Dong Bo Wang ◽  
Xiu Tian Yan ◽  
Ning Sheng Guo ◽  
Tao Li
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Matlab Simulation ◽  
Engineering Design Process

In order to support the dynamic and creative Engineering Design Process (EDP) comprehensively, after a detailed literature review, a multi autonomic objects (AO) flexible workflow is applied into the supporting and management of EDP, its support for decision making, EDP evolution and design activity granularity is explained, finally and most importantly, a genetic algorithm-based AO knowledge learning method is proposed, the algorithm is demonstrated by a MATLAB simulation that it can satisfy the knowledge acquisition in EDP satisfactorily.

scholarly journals The cognitive experience of engineering design: an examination of first-year student stress across principal activities of the engineering design process

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Nolte ◽  
Christopher McComb
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Physical Modelling ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Concept Selection ◽  
Student Stress ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Cognitive Experience

Abstract The engineering design process can produce stress that endures even after it has been completed. This may be particularly true for students who engage with the process as novices. However, it is not known how individual components of the design process induce stress in designers. This study explored the cognitive experience of introductory engineering design students during concept generation, concept selection and physical modelling to identify stress signatures for these three design activities. Data were collected for the design activities using pre- and post-task surveys. Each design activity produced distinct markers of cognitive experience and a unique stress signature that was stable across design activity themes. Rankings of perceived sources of stress also differed for each design activity. Students, however, did not perceive any physiological changes due to the stress of design for any of the design activities. Findings indicate that physical modelling was the most stressful for students, followed by concept generation and then concept selection. Additionally, recommendations for instructors of introductory engineering design courses were provided to help them apply the results of this study. Better understanding of the cognitive experience of students during design can support instructors as they learn to better teach design.

Streamlining ‘environment in design' decision-making – from concept to operations in major development projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Janine M. Barrow
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Major Development

As the engineering design process for a major development project advances from concept through to ready for start up, many key decisions are made and controls formulated that ultimately influence environmental, social (and safety) outcomes. These decisions are often made based on sound technical grounds with key decision logs, hazard identification or hazard and operability studies or similar used to record the process, but with limited recognition of environmental outcomes. Many of the onshore and offshore regulations in Australia (most notably, the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas (Environment) Regulations 2009) require environmental risks and impacts to be reduced to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Additionally, justifiable assessment of controls and decisions are presented in the environment plans (EP) that are typically prepared later on in the design process. Challenges can often arise when geographically disparate design contractors lack ALARP assessment processes to evaluate decisions and controls from an environmental perspective and record outcomes for future use in regulatory documentation. This can be particularly pronounced for operations EPs. Janine shares her practical experience in environmental integration in engineering design to showcase methods that tangibly demonstrate robust decision-making, inclusive of delivering environmental outcomes, to regulators.

How Engineering Design Students’ Creative Preferences and Cognitive Styles Impact Their Concept Generation and Screening

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Heininger ◽  
Hong-En Chen ◽  
Kathryn Jablokow ◽  
Scarlett R. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Individual Traits ◽  
The Impact

The flow of creative ideas throughout the engineering design process is essential for innovation. However, few studies have examined how individual traits affect problem-solving behaviors in an engineering design setting. Understanding these behaviors will enable us to guide individuals during the idea generation and concept screening phases of the engineering design process and help support the flow of creative ideas through this process. As a first step towards understanding these behaviors, we conducted an exploratory study with 19 undergraduate engineering students to examine the impact of individual traits, using the Preferences for Creativity Scale (PCS) and Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation inventory (KAI), on the creativity of the ideas generated and selected for an engineering design task. The ideas were rated for their creativity, quality, and originality using Amabile’s consensual assessment technique. Our results show that the PCS was able to predict students’ propensity for creative concept screening, accounting for 74% of the variation in the model. Specifically, team centrality and influence and risk tolerance significantly contributed to the model. However, PCS was unable to predict idea generation abilities. On the other hand, cognitive style, as measured by KAI, predicted the generation of creative and original ideas, as well as one’s propensity for quality concept screening, although the effect sizes were small. Our results provide insights into individual factors impacting undergraduate engineering students’ idea generation and selection.

A Case Study in Challenging Engineering Requirements

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth R. Crouch ◽  
Gregory M. Mocko
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Concept Selection ◽  
A Value ◽  
Value Model

Requirements are an essential element to engineering design as they are used to focus idea generation during conceptual design, provide criteria for decision making during concept selection, and verify the chosen concept fulfills product needs. Because they are essential to the entire design process, emphasis must be placed on ensuring that they are correct. This research focuses on a value-based methodology useful for challenging and validating established requirements. A case study was conducted on an industry-sponsored project to use this value-based process on the requirements that constrain the design of an automotive seat. A human anthropomorphic model, comfort value model, occupant safety model, and a model of an automotive seat are integrated to establish an H-point travel window to maximize the safety and comfort of an automotive seating structure. This case study shows that this approach provides evidence to establish requirements based on value to the human rather than legacy seating requirements.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Thoughts on Student Decision Making During Engineering Design Lessons

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Process Study ◽  
Challenge Based Learning

In this paper, I share the results of a study of teachers’ ideas about student decision-making at entry into a professional development program to integrate engineering into their instruction. The framework for the Engineering Design Process (EDP) was based on a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) model. The EDP embedded within the CBL model suggests teachers should provide opportunities for students to make decisions throughout the design process. The differentiation consolidation decision-making framework was used to understand the decision-making process. Study data was gathered from 16 teacher participants, interviewed and surveyed at entry into the program. The data were analyzed to understand the kinds of decision-making activities the teachers’ identified as possible for students to make based on eleven engineering design scenarios and the teachers’ current use of, and confidence in applying, lessons that engaged students in decision-making. The results indicated the teachers most frequently identified students that engaged in stage one decisions-making activities, i.e., problem identification and clarification. When the teachers discussed stage two and stage three decision-making activities, they most frequently discussed general problem solving or design process type activities with little differentiation of specific details of how the decision-making was to take place. In addition, in most cases teachers did not mention teaching or supporting student decision-making strategies.

Can a House Without a Foundation Support Design?

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Olewnik ◽  
Kemper Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
House Of Quality ◽  
Support Design ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Engineering Design Process

The House of Quality is a popular tool that supports information processing and decision making in the engineering design process. While its application is an aid in conceptual aspects of the design process, its use as a quantitative decision support tool in engineering design is potentially flawed. This flaw is a result of assumptions behind the methodology of the House of Quality and is viewed as an important deficiency that can lead to potentially invalid and poor decisions. In this paper this deficiency and its implications are explored both experimentally and empirically. The resulting conclusions are important to future use and improvement of the House of Quality as an engineering design tool.

Exploring the Engineering Design Process Through Computer-Aided Design and 3-D Printing

Science Scope ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 041 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Garafolo ◽  
Nidaa Makki ◽  
Katrina Halasa ◽  
Wondimu Ahmed ◽  
Kristin Koskey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Aided Design
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