From Messy Processes to Structured Approaches

Refining and Adapting the Decision Map for the Initial Generation of Design Principles

Abstract

Design principles (DP) play a central role in Design‑Based Research (DBR) as a key mechanism for linking theory development and practical design. Although their importance is widely acknowledged, the early phase of their initial generation is often described as methodologically unclear. To address this challenge, Althoff et al. (2025) proposed a Decision Map to structure key decisions preceding the initial formulation of DP. Building on this work, the present article aims to refine and adapt the Decision Map in order to provide more explicit guidance for this critical phase of DBR. The study draws on a retrospective comparative analysis of three completed DBR projects in geography education. The analysis focuses on (1) the role of design processes prior to DP formulation, (2) the contribution of these early phases to theory development, and (3) the influence of context‑specific project parameters. Based on these insights, the Decision Map is revised by integrating exploration phases and context‑specific parameters as overarching framing elements and by strengthening its connection to theory development. The refined Decision Map offers a more differentiated and transparent heuristic for structuring the initial generation of DP especially for novice DBR researchers.