Most important are procedural theory and substantive theory.
2) Research Methods- Contributed with the interview and observe methodologies used in the behavioral sciences.
Note: Most significant contribution should be emulation. Because there has been so little "scientific" study of architecture and design, this field of study would do well to copy and/or incorporate scientific methods used by behavioral scientists. An example of architecture and design having to rely on others research is the "Modern Movement in architecture" (Lang, 1987).
The behavioral sciences and the modern movement: It is strongly influenced by the behavioral sciences. It is important to note past efforts to clearly see the difficulties of utilizing the behavioral sciences on the problems of design: Empiricism in philosophy and psychology clearly had an effect on romantic classical architects at the beginning of the nineteenth century; in the beginning of the twentieth century, ideas began about psychology, aesthetic theory, and sociology clearly played into ideas about neighborhood theory; in the beginning of this century a psychologist's research, Charles Henry, "provided the positive justification for the work of cubist architects and artists"; in the late 1800's and early 1900's, several philosophers and psychologists had a major influence on the aesthetic philosophy of the modern movement; in 1927, Walter Gropius headed the Bauhaus, and insisted that curriculum include the study of aesthetics; his successor...
NOTE: The Bauhaus had a major influence in the U.S. And the world, but never initiated the development of a positive theoretical base for design. Note: Though the social sciences have definitely affected design, the relationship needs to be enriched.
Recent efforts: Though there was a serious attempt made to incorporate the behavioral sciences at the Hochschule for Gestaltung in Germany, as late as the 1970's, there was still a lack of "human studies" in architectural schools (Lang, 1987).. In the 1980' there was a movement toward a more scientific approach to design which was not wholeheartedly embraced.
The future: The confusion which currently exists as to the relationship between the behavioral sciences and design cannot be addresses without an organizational model for environmental design theory. Note: the author stresses this need throughout this book. He also stresses the normative view. Design should be concerned with what should be not just what is.
References
Lang, J. (1987). Creating Architectural Theory: The Role of the Behavioral Sciences in Environmental Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
