Research philosophy is the cornerstone of any study. The core strands of research philosophy guide the researcher in making the right decisions about the approach, strategy, data collection techniques and procedures on how to answer the research questions. Williams and Mays (2002) stated that research is based on philosophical principles which define various disciplines. Therefore, research is based on some sets of paradigms which the researcher has to follow. These philosophies are mainly divided into ontology, epistemology and axiology.
3.2.1 Ontology
Ontology relates to the opinion of reality. Ontology attempts to know if knowledge is a product of the mind or it exists, in this instance, it suggests realism and idealism (Carr, 2006; Khin and Heng, 2012; Krauss, 2005; Lawson, 2004; Morgan and Smircich, 1980). Reality can be seen different by different researchers, and when approaching a research, the way in which reality is perceived affects how knowledge is derived. Therefore, the school of thought of each researcher has profound effects on the knowledge created in the form of theories. The researcher can be an idealist who believes that his thoughts and experiences affect the events of the research or the people interacting with the environment in the sense of a real world. This, in turn, affects how issues are viewed from a realist perspective. Therefore, the stands of realism and idealism school of thought act as focal poles defining how research will be conducted right from the beginning. Wangombe (2013) posited that realism or idealism might not be the only two stands when it comes to viewing reality, the realm of symbolic disclosure, social construction or contextual field of information can also be of significance. This form of reality largely depends on the objectives of the research. Table 4 below further explains the ontological stands adopted for this research.
3.2.2 Epistemology
Epistemology is the philosophy which relates to how knowledge can be recognised, developed or acknowledged (Mack, 2010; Mkansi and Acheampong, 2012; and Schuh and Barab, 2007). Epistemology considers alternative ways of approaching research (Hill, 1984; Khin and Heng,
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2012). Eriksson and Kovalainen (2008) explained that epistemology might be objective or subjective; objective epistemology recognises the outside world which is hypothetical impartial. The subjective epistemology suggests that the outside world is in the realm of clarifications from reflection. The epistemological stand, in this case, is positivism or interpretivism (Holden & Lynch, 2004). The positivist analyses data from the quantitative perspective. In this instance, data is gathered using questionnaires, surveys, experiments and so on (Holden and Lynch, 2004). The intrepretivist or social constructionism aims to increase the general understanding of reality. Therefore the experience of the researcher is included as part of the study, includes the opinion of stakeholders in inducing theoretical concepts (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe, & Lowe, 2008). The positivist philosophical stand is directly related to the realist stand, while the social constructionist stand is in line with the realist concept. The epistemological positions for this study are further explained in table 4 below.
3.2.3 Axiology
Axiology concerns are related to how value is judged by the researcher. The value can be seen as being necessary for research. The researcher would definitely want to use his experience in the study or it may be included in the study (Saunders et al., 2015). Therefore, the concept of value- free and value-laden research has been argued by social science researchers over the years. In a value-free scenario, the researcher or the respondent has an impartial contribution of feelings and past experiences throughout the study (Hill, 1984). A value-laden research includes studies which add personal emotions, feeling and past experiences of the scientist or respondent. The axiological positions for this research are highlighted and justified in table 4 below.
3.2.4. Justification for the research philosophical stands adopted
Table 3 below described the morale behind the philosophical stands adopted for this study. This is based on the research objectives in the first section. This justification is tailored to the research objectives of this study. The ontological, epistemological and axiological concepts of realism, idealism, positivism, interpretivism, value-free and value-laden have been explained in the earlier subsections. The philosophical concept adopted for each research objective defines what type of research approach and strategy that are adopted for the research.
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S/N Research Objectives Realism Idealism Positivism Intrepretivism Value-Free Value-laden
1 To identify and evaluate the post- contract cost control techniques used in the construction industry.
The expected knowledge does not exist outside the social phenomenon. Therefore, realism will not be used Knowledge is derived from existing social phenomena. Idealism will be used in this case.
This objective will not be independent of the researcher. Therefore, positivism cannot be used. This objective can easily be resolved using literature review.
This objective involves the
stakeholders' opinion. It will involve general understanding of the situation The experience and opinion of the researcher is not required for the conclusions in this research It will be value- laden because the evaluation of the post-contract cost control process will not be independent of the researcher's opinion and experience. The research objective identification process also depends on the rich literature review gathered by the researcher
67 2 To establish and evaluate the techniques
used in post-contract cost controlling management in small and medium scale construction companies in Nigeria.
Some of the post- contract cost control techniques can exist outside the social phenomena. Therefore realism will be adopted The remaining aspect of the objective which involves evaluating the post-contract technique will adopt idealism because some knowledge can exist in the literature.
This objective involve the activities of the researcher in identifying the post- contract cost control techniques in the outside world. Therefore the
positivist stand will be partly adopted
The evaluation and some identification process involve stakeholders in the academia. Therefore the interpretive stand is necessary for this objective. The value-free concept is related to the positivist aspect and realism. Therefore it will be partly value-free This objective involves the use of the researcher's experience and opinion in evaluating the identified post- contract control techniques. Therefore it will also be partly value-laden. 3 To identify and evaluate the
critical post-contract cost controlling activities for
incremental cost reduction in small and medium scale construction companies in Nigeria. In this objective, the nature of reality depends on the social phenomena of the outside world Realist stand is required because of some of the factors which exist outside literature articles.
The positivism stand of this objective is based on the unit of analysis which will be identified and reduced to simplest terms.
The objective seeks to increase the general understanding of the study. Therefore literature will be required in the identification process. Interviews are also required in this case.
The objective required the independence of the research. positivist stand, therefore it will also be partly value- free The idealist stands adopted makes this objective value- free.
68 4 To review and evaluate the critical
success factors of adopting kaizen in small and medium scale
construction companies in Nigeria.
In evaluating the concept kaizen costing, the perspective of the social event has to be from outside the phenomenon The idealist stand is required for knowledge within the phenomenon. The independence of the researcher is required in resolving this objective. Due to these reasons, the positivist position is required for this research.
Interpretivism is required for this objective because the opinion of Quantity Surveyors and contractors are imperative. The realist, idealist and positivist stand makes value- free essential for this objective The researcher's choice of idealism and interpretive also necessitates a value biased position for this study
5 To develop and validate a
framework based on kaizen, which can be integrated into the post- contract cost control practices in small and medium scale
construction companies in Nigeria.
The kaizen costing framework development process will require a lot of knowledge which has to be gathered from outside the social event. Realism is therefore required for this objective.
There is no knowledge required to be gathered within the social event of kaizen costing at this stage. Idealism is not needed.
The positivist stand in this study is not necessary because this objective needs opinions in terms of interviews from the stakeholders.
Intrepretivism is required for this study because the opinion of key stakeholders were required for the validation of the framework The adopted positions of realism and positivism dictate the axiological stand. A value-laden position is therefore required. . The objective does not demand the input of the researcher in the framework development process. The value-laden stand cannot be adopted.
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Table 7 above justifies each philosophical stand for each objective based on the interpretation of each objective in relation to the philosophical stands.
Figure 3.3. Research philosophy choice for this study
The overall choice of research philosophy for the study is summarised in the illustration above. This is based on the research philosophical stands for each of the objectives. In summary, the study is more of realism than idealism; positivisms than interpretivism; value free than value-laden.
Initially, this study seems to be more of intrepretivism because of the limited literature which would be required to resolve the objectives. However, having identified the research philosophical positions for the research objectives, the stands in figure 3.3 justifies the study. This would also affect the research approach other sections of the study such as strategy techniques and methods. The first step for the research methodology framework has been defined through the philosophical stands in figure 3.3. The direction for the research approach will be based on these philosophical stands. The next research onion layer is the research approach.