Research Methods Exam in Construction Technology

Course Information

• The course is PM 562: Research Methods, offered by the Department of Construction, Technology, and Management, KNUST, Kumasi.
• The course examiner is Prof. E. Adinyira.

Course Objectives

• Explain the concept of Research
• Undertake an effective literature review
• Describe quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to research
• Identify types of data and sampling techniques
• Develop a good Research Proposal
• Understand and use relevant statistical tools and techniques in data analysis
• Adequately report research

Assessment Requirements

• Class attendance: 10%
• Research proposal: 30%
• End of semester examinations: 60%

Further Readings

• Reid, P. (2000), Handbook for Preparing and Writing Research Proposals
• Fellows, R., & Liu, A. (2021), Research Methods for Construction, 5th ed.
• Tan, W. (2017), Practical Research Methods
• Cresswell, J. W. (2014), Research Design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method, 4th ed.

Course Introduction

• Research is an organized activity with specific objectives, aimed at discovering, interpreting, or revising human knowledge.
• Activities involved in research include compilation of related data, application of relevant tools of analysis, and derivation of logically sound inferences.

Characteristics of Research

• Research originates from a question or problem
• Involves dividing the problem into sub-problems
• Requires a clear articulation of a goal
• Follows a specific plan of work
• Is guided by a scientific question or hypothesis
• Accepts certain critical assumptions
• Involves the collection and interpretation of data
• Is spiral/cyclical in nature

Choosing a Research Topic

• Steps for choosing a topic include:
  • Brainstorming for ideas
  • Reading general background information
  • Determining the scope
  • Refining the topic
  • Making a list of useful keywords
  • Researching and reading more about the topic
  • Being flexible

Formulating a Problem

• Translating and transforming the selected research problem into a scientifically researchable question or statement
• Steps include:
  • What you want to know/solve
  • Rationale of the question/solution
  • Specifying question(s)/hypothesis

Building a Synopsis

• Problem Statement is a concise statement of what the research is about
• Research question/hypothesis is a specific question(s)/statement(s) indicating areas of investigation
• Aim is the outcome/end expected to be realized from the study
• Objectives are concerned with specific ends that the research seeks to achieve
• SMART objectives are specific, measurable, agreed, realistic, and time-bound

Example of Problem Statement and Aim/Objectives

• Problem Statement: In Kwaebibirem Municipality, funds from the Fairtrade Market have been used purely for the benefit of the communities registered and certified to produce Organic Oil Palm through a committee comprising of the Farmer Representation and the Processing Firm.
• Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to examine community participation in the selection of Development Projects in the Kwaebibirem Municipality towards developing a framework to guide the process of project selection.
• Objectives of the Study:
  • To examine stakeholder engagement in the selection of development projects in the Kwaebibirem Municipality.

Principles of Research

• Replication: The ability to reproduce the research results
• Validity: The extent to which the research measures what it claims to measure
• Reliability: The consistency of the research results
• Objectivity: The absence of personal bias in the research process
• Ethics: The moral principles guiding the research process
• Representativeness: The extent to which the research sample represents the population being studied
• Precision in Measurement: The accuracy of the research measurements

Research Process

• Formation of the topic: Identifying a research problem or question
• Articulation of hypothesis/question: Clearly stating the research question or hypothesis
• Conceptual definitions: Defining key concepts and variables
• Operational definitions: Defining how key concepts and variables will be measured
• Collection of data: Gathering data to address the research question
• Analysis of data: Examining and interpreting the data
• Conclusion and recommendation: Drawing conclusions and making recommendations based on the research findings

Types of Research

• Source of data: Primary (original data) or Secondary (existing data)
• Process of research: Qualitative (exploring meaning), Quantitative (examining numerical data), or Mixed (combining both)

Outcome of Research

• Applied: Research with practical applications
• Pure: Research for the sake of knowledge
• Action: Research that aims to solve a problem or improve a situation
• Purpose of research: Exploratory (exploring a topic), Descriptive (describing a phenomenon), Analytical/Evaluative/Explanatory/Diagnostic (examining and interpreting data), or Predictive/Prognostic (making predictions)

Defining the Research Problem

• Research starts with a problem or question
• Sources of problems/questions: Literature, Experts, Experience, or Intuition
• A good research topic is one that is: Interesting, Original, Broad, Researchable, Significant, Feasible, Durable, and Non-political

Assessment Requirements

• Class attendance: 10%
• Research proposal: 30%
• End of semester examinations: 60%

Characteristics of Research

• Research originates from a question or a problem
• Research involves dividing the problem into sub-problems
• Research requires a clear articulation of a goal
• Research follows a specific plan of work
• Research is guided by a scientific question or hypothesis
• Research accepts certain critical assumptions
• Research involves the collection and interpretation of data
• Research is by its nature spiral/cyclical