Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2722
Date of Award
12-2023
Degree Name
MS in Engineering
Department/Program
Mechanical Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Benjamin Lutz
Advisor Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
Brainstorming is a critical part of the engineering design process and can have a significant impact on the outcomes of the overall project. While research has studied the outcomes of brainstorming and the ideas that teams generate, the role that language and conversation play in these activities is still relatively underexplored. Observing the different ways people use specific types of discourse can reveal how conversations can affect brainstorming itself. To that end, this research aims to answer the following questions:
1) What are the different kinds of discursive moves that students make during engineering brainstorming activities?
2) What patterns or themes emerge among these discursive moves?
We collected data by recording conversations that took place during team brainstorming activities with engineering students. These conversations were transcribed, and we used discourse analysis to code our data according to the speaker's intent. We combined quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify and explore correlation patterns within these conversations.
Three prominent themes emerged from our analyses: Active Engagement, Group Rapport, and Exploring the Problem. These themes highlight the range of different conversational elements that work together to support effective brainstorming discussions. Engineers and engineering educators can be mindful of the way that they frame their brainstorming activities so that the team’s discourse encourages more active engagement, stronger group rapport, and deeper exploration of the problem at hand.