Defining Design
From ResearchID.org, a nexus for researching Intelligent Design
Design as a perceived effect
The results of intelligent activity often, but not always, relay real and tangible physical effects. These effects are often referred to as design. These physical effects constitute an set of data that can undergo empirical analysis and study.
Many questions flow from the claim that design is detectable.
- How big is this set of data?
- What kind of set is perceived?
- Does recognition of the effect require knowledge of the original intelligence?
- What type of study is proper to this set of data?
In order to answer these questions, we must develop an understanding of what design is, and then conduct an applied study. In application, there is not one simple and clear-cut definition of design to which all possible scholarly and scientific applications can utilize. In research, choosing an appropriate definition for a particular field of study should be dictated by the conventions adhered to by the researcher.
