Exploring the group dynamics in pedagogic design studio context

Abstract

The design studio has been practiced as a key deliverable mechanism in architectural education. This study is aiming on exploring the group dynamics of architectural students within the design studio environment. For this study researchers have used naturalistic observation and focus group interviews as key data collection methodologies. For this, 30 design students participated and they were divided in to six groups. The students’ level of collaboration was explored and recorded by the researchers throughout three studio days with the engagement of eighteen studio hours. The results were analysed by six phased thematic analysis and the results have been contributed on developing group dynamics models of each group type. We have observed the group dynamism with in the groups and the results depicted four major dynamics such as Collaborative, multiple leadership dynamism, Leader centric, leader dominant dynamism, Virtually active, physically passive dynamism and Grouping within the group. The study has shown the patterns of engagement and how it could affect to the collaborative group behaviour.