Data Collection Instrument: The Questionnaire

The questionnaire was used for data collection, as it is regarded as a suitable research instrument for the quantitative research (Kumar, 2011). Muijs (2004) points out that using a questionnaire to collect data is a not an advantage in itself, as there is need for the researcher to formulate appropriate questions to evaluate the phenomenon under investigation. There are

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many types of questionnaires that can be used to collect primary data. Saunders, et al. (2009) identify self-administered questionnaires (which are completed by the respondents) and the interviewer administered questionnaires that are completed by the interviewer or researcher. The study employed the self-administered questionnaires due to the limitation of time that

made the interviewer administered questionnaires inappropriate (Muijs, 2004). Self-administered questionnaires were also preferred as they promote anonymity, unlike the

interviewer administered questionnaires (Kumar, 2011). The self-administered questionnaires

are further divided into internet-mediated questionnaires, mail questionnaires and hand-delivered questionnaires (Saunders, et al., 2009). The internet-mediated questionnaires

are posted and completed on online platforms, mail questionnaires are posted by post to the research participants and hand-delivered questionnaires are delivered in person by the research or research assistant (Saunders, et al., 2009). Hand-delivered questionnaires were used in the study, as the researcher wanted to create a close rapport with the research participants to improve the response rate.

Questionnaires can either use open-ended questions or closed-ended questions (Muijs, 2004). Open-ended questions give the research participants freedom of giving responses of their choice without any limitation (Saunders, et al., 2009). However, this can lead to the research participants to divert the study into issues that are not focused on the research objectives. Despite this weakness of though, the researcher included both closed-ended, as well as open- ended questions in the questionnaire. The objective was to gather quantitative findings on the subject, as well as the participants’ views or opinions regarding the matter. This assisted with getting responses that directly spoke to the issues related to the research problem. The questions that sought quantitative information were largely Likert-scale type of questions which required the respondents to choose from five responses ranging from strongly disagree, disagree, not sure, agree and strongly agree, while the qualitative questions were open-ended so that the participants provided their thoughts about the issue of health and safety in construction.

The questionnaire was made up of five sections. The first section comprised questions aimed at understanding the attributes of the participants who took part in the study. These attributes included their educational qualifications, employment status, gender, profession, number of years in the construction sector and the nature of projects the respondents have worked in. The remaining four sections focused on the four objectives of the study. The second section had questions to measure the respondents’ awareness and understanding of the Construction Regulations, while the third section focused on the roles of the consultants, clients and the

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consultants as stipulated in the regulations. The questions in the third section were intended to measure the extent to which the clients, contractors and the consultants were performing roles stipulated in the Construction Regulations. The fourth section comprised questions measuring the commitment of the clients, contractors and consultants to the Construction Regulations. Their commitment was evaluated through the implementation of the regulations and training of employees on the regulations by the firms. Finally, the fifth section had questions that evaluated if the adoption of the Construction Regulations has led to a decrease in occurrence of accidents at construction sites in South Africa.

The study used a self-administered questionnaire as already mentioned. Questionnaires are known for low response rate (Muijs, 2004). For this reason, strategies should be put in place to enhance the response rate of the research instrument whenever it is used for data collection.

This is because lower response rate reduces the validity of the research instrument (Singh, 2006). The response rate can be improved by making the questionnaire short and using an attractive layout (Saunders, et al., 2009). The response rate can also be enhanced by attaching an informative cover letter to the questionnaire (Singh, 2006). Saunders, et al. (2009) are also of the view that response rates for questionnaires can be enhanced by continuously reminding the research participants to complete the questionnaires in time and pilot testing of the questionnaire. The response rate for the questionnaire for this study was improved by attaching an informative cover letter, requesting respondents to complete the questionnaire, making the questionnaire short, using an attractive layout and pilot testing of the research instrument. The cover letter contained the purpose of the study, significance of the study, instructions on how to complete the questionnaire, indicating that participation in the study is voluntary, guaranteeing confidentiality and anonymity to the research participants, contact number that could be used by respondents for further enquiries and thanking the respondents in advance for taking part in the study (Kumar, 2011).

After the questionnaire was designed and pilot tested, it was then delivered in person by the researcher to the selected sample units. The delivery of the questionnaire in person was also done to enhance the response rate of the research instrument, following the creation of a close rapport with the research participants. However, the research participants completed the questionnaire at their own, without the assistance of the researcher or research assistant. The researcher and the research assistant only returned to collect the questions upon being completed. The researcher distributed the questionnaire to five members of each of the contractor’s site personnel, namely Contracts Director, Contracts Manager, Contracts Surveyor, Site Agent and SHE Manager or Officer. Appointments with the five members from

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each contractor on site were made telephonically to have the questionnaires self-administered by the researcher. Also, clients both from public and private sector and consultants formed part of the second sample of the survey. Tables 3.3 and 3.4 illustrate the targeted samples of the survey, to whom the researcher administered the questionnaire.

Table 3.3: Survey Sample 1 - Contractors

Item Contractors by Grading Registered

Currently

Target

Sample Percentage

1 CIDB Grade 9 Contractors 22 10 33.33%

2 CIBD Grade 8 Contractors 41 10 33.33%

3 CIDB Grade 7 Contractors 101 10 33.33%

Total 164 30 100.00%

Table 3.4: Survey Sample 2 – Clients and Consultants

Item Clients & Consultants Target

Sample Percentage

1 Property / Development Managers 10 16.67%

2 Health and Safety Practitioners 10 16.67%

3 Project Managers 10 16.67%

4 Architects 10 16.67%

5 Quantity Surveyors 10 16.67%

6 Engineers 10 16.67%

Total 60 100.00%

The aim of the research was to assess the awareness of the respondents on health and safety Construction Regulations on construction sites in South Africa. Thus, the majority of the research questions were anchored on this research objective. The intention of the survey was to select respondents representing a wide spectrum of organisations, with different manpower and financial limitations.

3.7.1 Secondary Sources

The researcher also did some analysis of secondary source of data on construction accidents that occurred nationally pre and post FIFA (Federation of International Football Association) world cup construction of stadia and related infrastructure over a six-year period (2007-2012)

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on construction sites within Gauteng Province, as recorded by the Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance Company Limited (FEMA) in conjunction with the Department of Labour (DoL). The accident statistics were collected to establish the trend of accidents, i.e. accidents that are prevalent and those that are uncommon as well as to establish if accidents have indeed declined following the introduction of the Construction Regulations.