From: yoram+@CENTRO.SOAR.CS.CMU.EDU (Yoram Reich)
Subject: CFP: AI EDAM Special Issue on Research Methodology
Originator: yoram@CENTRO.SOAR.CS.CMU.EDU
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 13:56:54 GMT

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                                Call For Papers
                           Artificial Intelligence in
              Engineering Design Analysis and Manufacturing (AI EDAM)
                      Special Issue on Research Methodology

    AI EDAM is an international journal devoted to the reporting of AI
    (research and applications) in engineering design, analysis, and
    manufacturing (AIEDAM). AIEDAM is a growing field attracting many 
    researchers from academia and practitioners from industry. Early
    work in this field was largely exploratory and often ignored 
    methodological issues. Methodological self-reflection does not 
    presuppose there is one method agreed to by all practitioners,
    but more likely that there are many methods all in need of evaluation 
    and critique to determine the limits of their applicability. 
    Methodological reflection also includes the interpretation of 
    research activity including: the meaning and evaluation of the
    results, the accumulation of knowledge, the relation of research 
    to practice, etc..

    While some scattered studies on AIEDAM research methodology exist, the 
    lack of adequate attention to this subject has some troublesome
    consequences.  It is often unclear: (1) what the goals of the AIEDAM 
    are, (2) what a significant contribution to the field is, and (3) what 
    the appropriate or promising ways of approaching research
    questions are. These problems, and others, complicate the interpretation
    and understanding of research results and gradually make it difficult to
    convince potential supporters of the practical merit of the field. This
    special issue of AI EDAM on research methodology seeks to initiate a
    discussion on these fundamental problems.

    Topics can be chosen from (but need not be limited to) the following 
    issues:

      o  Is AIEDAM a science, an art, or a practice?  Is it disciplinary,
         inter-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary, or beyond disciplinary?
      o  What is the purpose of AIEDAM research.
      o  How should AIEDAM research be tested or validated?
      o  How is knowledge accumulated in AIEDAM research?
      o  What are good measures of AIEDAM research progress or goodness?
      o  What is the relation between AIEDAM research and practice and how
         does it influence the research methodology?
      o  Is (should) research methodology of AIEDAM (be) different from
         methodologies in other engineering disciplines?
      o  What methodologies have been used in research, and were they
         successes or failures.

    This list is by no means exhaustive; other topics are welcome provided 
    that they are relevant to the issue of AIEDAM research methodology.

    All papers submitted to this special issue will be blind reviewed 
    according to the usual procedure of AI EDAM.

    Manuscripts should be limited to 35 typewritten, double spaced pages 
    (12pt font), including figures, tables, and references; two-sided 
    manuscripts are welcome. Each manuscript should have a title page with 
    the title of the paper, full name(s) and affiliation(s) of author(s), 
    complete postal and electronic addresses (if available), telephone 
    number(s), and a maximum 300 word abstract.

    Please submit 4 copies of a paper (or address any inquiry regarding this
    special issue) to the guest editor by 31 MARCH 1993, to the following
    address:

                        Yoram Reich
     BEFORE             Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
     June 15, 1993      Duke University
                        Durham, NC 27706, USA

     AFTER              Engineering Design Research Center
     June 15, 1993      Carnegie Mellon University
                        5000 Forbes Avenue
                        Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

    electronic mail: yoram@edrc.cmu.edu

    Acceptance status letters will be sent by 15 JULY 1993.

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Yoram Reich                             Tel: (412) 268 7864
Engineering Design Research Center      Fax: (412) 268 5229
Carnegie Mellon University              email: yoram@edrc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.ai