Overview of Common Methods of Data Collection in Construction

research are observations, interviews, questionnaires and focus group.

3.8.1.1 Observation

This is a process of collecting data whereby the researcher becomes involved by action that can be revealed or concealed in an environment of other people and responds to the way in which the work in such environment is undertaken (Saunders et al., 2012). Observations can be conducted by researcher participating in the process to discover meanings people attach to their actions (Participant observation) or by recording, the frequency at which those actions are performed (Structured observation) (Saunders et al., 2009: Denscombe, 2010). One of its advantages is that the researcher can get to actual information as it is happening. However, the disadvantage is the change of behaviour when the observing sample becomes aware that they are being observed and this may affect the findings

3.8.1.2 Questionnaire

Questionnaire is a quantitative data collection method in which the respondents are asked to respond to the same set of questions in a predetermined order that will be interpreted in the same context by all the respondents (Saunders et al., 2012). The respondents are required to provide answers in same predetermined order Denscombe (2010) espoused that questionnaires are employed to reach a large volume of respondents in many locations. Hence, can be most suitable for descriptive and explanatory research where large samples are needed to ascertain the credibility of findings. Adopt questionnaires will depend on the type of research questions, the number of questions to be asked, and the sample size required for analysis (Saunders et al., 2012; Dawson, 2009). A questionnaire could be either closed, open-ended, or a combination, and may be administered through by hand, telephone, post, or web based (Collis &Hussey, 2009). The questionnaire method offers greater anonymity regarding data collected, facilitates a large volume of information, and can be less time and cost to conduct (Sekaran, 2006).

134 However, the disadvantages associated with this method is low response rates, lack of detailed responses to a phenomenon and limited opportunities for spontaneous responses.

3.8.1.3 Interviews

An interview is a qualitative data collection method that involves purposeful conversations between two or more persons in which one is referred to as the interviewer asking clear and concise questions, and the other(s) the interviewee(s) who listens attentively and willing responds to the questions asked (Saunders at al., 2012). The interview method allows the researcher to collect data interacting person to person between two or more individuals with a specific purpose in mind (Sekaran, 2006). Interviews are best suited where:

 a study focuses on the meaning of particular phenomena from the perspectives of those involved;

 individual historical accounts are required of how a particular phenomenon developed;  exploratory work is required before a quantitative study can be carried out; and

 a quantitative study has been conducted and qualitative data are needed to validate a particular measure or to clarify and illustrate the meanings of the findings

Furthermore, interviews can be most appropriate for complex situations, where visual demonstrations are required, and instant feedback is desirable. As a result, interviews can facilitate high response rate, in-depth information and a platform to obtain explanations for questions and further clarifications (Ranjit, 1999). However, it can be time-consuming, expensive, and can only gather information from a limited number of participants (Sekaran, 2006; Saunders et al., 2012). Interviews can be conducted face to face, or via the telephone (Denscombe, 2010; Sekaran, 2006) however, appropriate for the researcher.

As highlighted by Saunders et al. (2012), interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured.

 Unstructured interviews have no planned sequence of asking questions, rather discusses the research area with a series of interviewees to evolve themes that can later be followed up with either semi or unstructured interviews (Saunders et al., 2012).

135  Semi- structured interview is a more formal interview than the unstructured interview and allows in-depth investigations across some specific topics around which to build the interview (Saunders et al., 2009; 2012). Thus, the list of themes developed by the interviewer linked to the research questions and objectives becomes a guide to ask the questions (Fellows & Liu, 2015). Owing to the degree of structure in its implementation, it allows at least all interviewees to receive some questions in common and gives the researcher the room for flexibility. Semi structured interviews have been identified as the most common type of interview conducted in a small-scale social research because of its advantages.

 Structured interviews allow the interviewer to ask predetermined questions as specified in the interview guide. Thus, the same set of questions is asked every interviewee in same order or manner making data analysis easier.

However, the choice of interview type will depend on what the researcher aim to achieve.

3.8.1.4 Focus Group Interviews

Focus group interview is also a qualitative data collection method for gathering relevant information on a subject of research interest based on expert and personal experience of a selected group of individuals assembled by the researcher (Powell & Single, 1996). This method assists the researcher in gathering information for improving a process or as an adjunct to quantitative data collected (Gill et al., 2008). Approximately six to twelve people who share similar characteristics or common interests are gathered in a focus group. A facilitator guides the group based on a predetermined set of topics. One of the benefits of this method is that it allows a researcher to find out to elicit information on why an issue is relevant, and what makes it so.