Design theory and practice.

Abstract: "The method of conducting research significantly influences its progress and quality. This study advocates for subscribing to thescientific method of performing research, namely, generating theories, conducting experiments to support or refute them, and refining the theories. The arguments in favor of this method are discussed in the two parts of the paper. Part I critically reviews General Design Theory(GDT), a formal theory of design, and discusses its relation to building experimental design systems. Part II of the study describes an experimental system that is built on the foundation of GDT and its experimental testing.The experimental system and its performance are used to suggest modifications to the theory and extensions to the experimental system itself. These important recommendations conclude one successful scientific cycle, thereby supporting the benefits from adopting the scientific method."