Investigating Social Relevance and Knowledge Construction in Engineering Design Research Published in the Journals of Mechanical Design and Mechanisms and Robotics

Abstract Engineering design research is evolving to incorporate socially relevant themes such as justice, ethics, and sustainability. With this evolution, new methods, theories, and concepts are introduced, resulting in a need for strategies aimed at gaining disciplinary depth and increased impact on other disciplines. This study examines how knowledge is constructed in engineering design research by analyzing articles published in well-respected venues for this field: the Journal of Mechanical Design (JMD) and the Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics (JMR). Using a systematic literature review, we analyze all JMD and JMR articles published in 2023 for discussion of social relevance, goal function (agentic/communal) and goal type (the type of knowledge construction it employs). Our findings show that research with communal goals, primarily “working with people” and “helping others”, tend to employ fortifying functions by refining and validating established methods. In contrast, agentic research is primarily focused on success in a particular role and relies on the advancing function by exploring the use of new theories, concepts, and methods in design contexts. This study critically examines how knowledge is constructed in engineering design research and provides a foundation for clarifying disciplinary identity and strengthening intellectual contributions. Because communal goals are associated with higher participation of women, these findings may inform strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in engineering design research.