ABSTRACT
The research-as-a-process approach is at the foundation of this book. In Chapter 1 the editors of this book presented their view on academic research in landscape architecture by means of three nested figures outlining the research process (Figure 1.2), the conceptual research design (Figure1.3) and the technical research design (Figure 1.4) respectively. We advocate a process approach to doing research because the actual process involves developing research questions, developing the methodology, collecting data, analysing data and reporting results. The process approach is especially well-suited for conducting empirical research - research that generates evidence and derives knowledge from such evidence rather than from theory or belief - although of course there ought to be some theoretical foundations too. Our purpose here is to set out the process approach and some fundamental aspects of research methodology in the social and natural sciences as well as in the arts and the humanities.
