Design protocol analysis

Protocol analysis is an empirical, observational research method. A protocol is a piece of record of the time path of behaviors. Design protocols are usually in the form of recordings of designer’s overt behaviors, like verbalization, sketches and audio-visual recordings captured by cameras [1]. Since Eastman’s pioneer works of studying i nterior design i n t he l ate 1 960s [ 20, 2 1], p rotocol anal ysis ha s become one of well-established empirical research tools in the field of design research [9, 15]. However, beside Cross [12] and Eastman [22] have summarized some findings from existing design protocol studies in a small scope, very few comprehensive review has been undertaken to understand its methodological perspectives.