@phdthesis{Kohls2013, author = {Kohls, Christian}, title = {The theories of design patterns and their practical implications exemplified for e-learning patterns}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:824-opus4-1588}, school = {Katholische Universit{\"a}t Eichst{\"a}tt-Ingolstadt}, pages = {322 S. : Ill., graph. Darst., Kt.}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Patterns are an efficient and successful way to capture best practices and access the tacit knowledge of experts. While the basic concept of patterns is simple and applicable in various domains there are many gaps in understanding the deeper meanings of the approach. This work will explore the nature of patterns and pattern languages by discussing the state-of-the-art, linking the pattern concept to its original ideas and develop a theoretical framework to understand the relations and differences between patterns in the world, patterns in our heads and pattern descriptions. The common ground for patterns is to capture the context, problem, conflicting forces, a generative solution and the consequences in written form. To discuss the meanings of these analytical perspectives a path metaphor will be introduced in this thesis. The concepts will be linked to Alexander's original ideas and common views from the pattern community. We will also identify gaps such as the weak understanding of the different problem levels that should be addressed in a pattern. Moreover, the thesis will reason about the quality of patterns by reflecting on wholeness and its properties. The major contribution is the foundation of a framework that links the pattern concept to established theories from other disciplines. Patterns in the world are related to the philosophical idea of universals. A thought experiment will show the problems of abstracting and dividing a structure into parts and patterns. The construction of patterns in our heads is explained according to schema theory. Different experiences can lead to different pattern ideas. In our view the descriptions of patterns is similar to the formulation of theories. A pattern is a network of statements about the interaction of forces in a given context. Its proposed solution is supposed to resolve the existing conflict of forces. Such claims are subject to falsification and can be treated as hypotheses about good design. While good patterns are grounded on empirical cases, the generalized forms cannot be relieved from the problem of induction - what has worked in the past does not necessarily work in future cases. Patterns need to be tested continuously and evolve based on new data. From these considerations we will derive practical guidance for pattern mining. The proposed theoretical framework will be supported by empirical findings. The lessons learnt from an authoring system that generates patterns of interactive graphics show that we can create many variations of instances based on the same universal code. This universal, however, is something artificially constructed by designers. It does not proof that this universal represents the world appropriately. To see whether individuals construct similar patterns we will report on the results from a laboratory study. The experiment tests the construction of schemas of interactive graphics. We will also reflect on pattern descriptions as the result of mining processes. Depending on the format, granularity and level of abstraction these descriptions contain different amounts of testable instructive information. A retrospective document analysis will compare different descriptions of patterns to illustrate this point. The main contribution of this work is to show the variety of ideas about patterns, the underlying theories and relations between patterns in the world, patterns in our heads and pattern descriptions. These relations show that patterns are socially and mentally constructed. At the one hand patterns try to capture one view of the reality that can be tested empirically. On the other hand pattern descriptions also influence which artefacts are created in the future. There is a feedback loop as patterns capture a perceived reality and potentially shape parts of the future reality, i.e. new objects in the world.}, subject = {Entwurfsmuster}, language = {en} }