Understanding conceptual electronic design using protocol analysis

Many theories about the process, of design have been derived from prescript ive or descriptive analysis. There have been few attempts to empirically te st these theories. Protocol analysis facilitates derailed inspection of the design process allowing design task analysis across the temporal dimension . Some hypotheses about the design process, derived from the literature, ar e objectively tested using results obtained from protocol analyses of vario us electronics designers engaged in conceptual design. Support for the hypo theses is found.