Research in engineering design: the role of mathematical theory and empirical evidence

Abstract

The editors of this journal have offered an opportunity to reply to Dr. Hazelrigg’s letter in depth. Indeed, with its numerous points of critique of the paper ‘‘The Pugh Controlled Convergence method’’ (Frey et al. 2009) stated so strongly, the letter demands a detailed rebuttal. We provide a response to the specific points discussed in the letter as well as the broader issues raised. Writing on these topics has been an opportunity to explore some issues of interest to us, including the role of mathematical theory and empirical science in design research. To pursue this fully, additional authors participated to add more varied expertise on social sciences, preference measurement, and industry practices. We hope that our response will do more than defend the paper; we hope that it will also suggest some constructive paths forward in design research.