Research Strategy

The Saunders et al. (2009) model refers to ‘research strategy’ as the tools employed to conduct the research. Some of the common research strategies employed include ‘experiment’, ‘survey’, ‘action research’, ‘grounded theory’, ‘ethnography’, ‘archival research’ and ‘case study’ (Saunders et al., 2009). Each strategy again has within it certain inherent rules that are acknowledged to be standard procedures for that particular

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strategy. A more detailed account of each of these strategies is presented in greater detail in subsequent sections of this chapter.

3.5.1 Experiment

An ‘experiment’ is often considered by many as the most rigorous approach to research and seeks to eliminate alternate explanations of findings (Trochim, 2006). This is accomplished by assigning an experimental group that is subjected to a particular treatment or by random assignment of the treatment to a control group and a non-control group (Creswell, 2007). The experimental method of research is often associated with a quantitative study and is often employed in a positivist context of research. Chapin (1917, p. 133) says ‘The experimental method has contributed in large measure to the striking achievements of modern science. This method allows us to analyse our relations of cause and affect more rapidly and clearly than by any other method’.

3.5.2 Survey

A ‘survey’ is a technique to generalise findings based on data derived from sampling populations. As such a ‘survey’ approach involves the self-completion of a questionnaire or a structured interview, used to collect data that can detect patterns of relationships between variables (Bryman, 2012). Survey research is a commonly used technique in applied social research involving feedback for a questionnaire or a detailed interview (Trochim, 2006). The data can be derived from a self-completion questionnaire that may be administered by supervision or by post or more recently through the use of email or the Internet. Alternatively, survey data may be obtained by a face-to-face or telephone interview. A representative sample that reflects the population accurately is essential to the validity of the results of the survey technique (Bryman, 2012).

3.5.3 Action Research

The term ‘action research’ involves the researcher and a client collaborating to diagnose and solve a problem (Bryman, 2012). Action research became popular in the 1980s & 1990s and is taken up by people who want to improve their understanding of practice within an organisation in order to improve their dealings with others in a social context

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business management and involves people within the organisation in the diagnosis of problems and coming up with appropriate solutions rather than imposing solutions to pre- defined problems (Bryman, 2012).

3.5.4 Grounded Theory

The term ‘Grounded Theory’ was introduced by Glaser & Strauss in 1967 (Glaser and Strauss, 2009). Grounded theory involves the development of theory and using qualitative data to refine the theory (Bryman, 2012). The development of theory using data is a central theme in grounded theory and as such data gathering and data analysis occur simultaneously (Oktay, 2012). Data is continuously gathered and analysed to refine the theory until ‘saturation’ occurs wherein no new themes are emerging from the data (Oktay, 2012).

3.5.5 Ethnographic Research

In ‘Ethnographic Research’, the researcher is involved for an extended period in the social life of those being studied and draws conclusions from the observation of participants (Bryman, 2012). Ethnographic research is qualitative in nature and tends to use a collection of approaches such as observation, informal interviews and informal correspondence such as e-mail and letters (Szewczak and Snodgrass, 2002).

3.5.6 Archival Research

‘Archival Research’ implies that the researcher uses data from existing archival records, which the researcher had no part in collecting (White, 2012). Bryman (2012) describes this form of research as ‘unobtrusive’ in nature as the researcher is not involved in observing the interactions or events being studied. The use of government-collected data such as census data is an example of archival research.

3.5.7 Case Study

Yin (2009, p. 18) describes the case study method as ‘…an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident’. A case itself can be defined as a single person, subject, group or organisation

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(Corbin and Strauss, 2008). Case study research may involve the investigation of a single case or multiple cases and can be categorised as ‘descriptive’, ‘explanatory’ or ‘exploratory’ in nature. A descriptive case study is used to describe a phenomenon or a processes whereas an explanatory case study is usually theory driven and may be used to develop hypothesis in a large research project (Fellows and Liu, 2009). An exploratory case study is typically used to test hypothesis to come up with logical conclusions (Yin, 2009).

3.5.8 Research Strategy Summary

The research aim, the research approach, the philosophical underpinnings, the amount of time available etc., typically dictate the choice of strategies available to research a question (Saunders et al., 2009). The strategies for this research must validate that construction site safety supervision can be improved by creating a framework for monitoring the movement of workers on a jobsite, using RFID and BIM technologies. Every construction jobsite is unique due its geography, local culture, size, budget, schedule, location, type of project, etc. Furthermore, there are hundreds of construction sites that exist in any given geographical area, each with its own variations. Therefore, it is also not feasible to conduct an industry wide research of an exploratory innovation.

Multiple research strategies will be adopted in the conduct of this research. Qualitative survey strategy is proposed in the creation of a conceptual framework to monitor site safety of construction workers using RFID and BIM. Lapan et al. (2011) identify the survey strategy may be employed in both qualitative and quantitative contexts. A further explanation of the differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches is presented in section 3.6 of this chapter. As part of the qualitative survey strategy, semi- structured interviews with construction site superintendents will be conducted. Saunders et al. (2009) suggest the use of qualitative interviews as an acceptable strategy for an exploratory study. The methods proposed as part of this strategy are further elaborated in section 3.8 of this chapter.

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quantitative context. The methods employed as part of this strategy are further elaborated in section 3.8 of this chapter.

In the final step, a software prototype will be developed to combine RFID and BIM to monitor safety of construction workers. In an effort to demonstrate the proof-of-concept software prototype, scenario simulations of a construction site will be conducted in a virtual environment. The experiment will be conducted to simulate the use of the framework for combining RFID & BIM for monitoring the movement of workers, using the software prototype. The methods employed as part of this strategy are further elaborated in section 3.8 of this chapter.