Chapter 4 - Research Methodology

CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the research method and the data collection techniques adopted in this research study. Initially it describes what types of research methods and the reasons for choosing the case study approach are then presented together with a review of its critical aspects. It then describes in some detail the way in which the data collection exercise was undertaken, and the way in which this data was subsequently analysed. Finally, the chapter provides an appraisal of the validity of the process as it has been carried out in this programme of work, making some reference to the limitations of the methodology.
4.2
TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS
A major issue that confronts researchers is the decision on what method of research has to be employed. Should it be qualitative or quantitative, or both elements should be present (Walker 1997:151). The nature of the topic investigated as well as the proposed research objectives required that both qualitative and quantitative research techniques be combined in order to satisfactorily attain the objectives. The researcher studied available documents, conducted interviews and administered questionnaires.
4.2.1
Quantitative research
Quantitative research answers the questions how much or how many. In this kind of research, relationships may have been established, and the approach deals more with the investigation of which variables are significant, and their extent known, in a scientific way. In this research project the how much? and how many? will be considered particularly when dealing with inflation figures and employee turnover.
Nilson Biton Student Number 9756570
BSc Construction Management
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4.2.2
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is exploratory in nature, and tends to attempt to deduce answers to how? and why? questions. The major issue is the determination of what variables are involved in the situation.
4.3
CASE STUDY RESEARCH STRATEGY
Many authors agree that the basic success criteria for measuring contractor performance is through what is termed the iron triangle, namely time, cost and quality. This can only be achieved in a real world setting. Real world conditions imply little or no control over the events surrounding observed practices (Santos, 1999). In particular, the principles under study needed to be assessed in the construction business environment. There was a strong need to understand how the phenomenon of hyperinflation impacts the achievement of optimum results in terms of contractor performance. In this context, Table 4.1 shows that case study is the research strategy that matches better with these characteristics.
The most widely accepted definition is given by Yin (1994:13) who defines case study as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real life context and where the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. This definition is highly pertinent since the present research is a testing-out research. Denscombe (2007:37) points to the fact that the decision to use a case study approach is a strategic decision that relates to the scale and scope of an investigation, and it does not, at least in principle, dictate which method or methods must be used. He further notes that the strength of a case study approach lies in
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embracing the use of a variety of methods depending on the circumstances and the specific needs of the situation.
Table 4.1
METHOD
Research methods v research characteristics

RESEARCH QUESTION CONTROL OVER EVENTS FOCUS ON CURRENT EVENTS
Experiment
How? Why?
Yes
Yes
Survey
Who? How many? What? How much? Where?
No
Yes
Case study
How? Why?
No
Yes
History
How? Why?
No
No
Archival analysis
Who? How many? What? How much? Where?
No
Yes/No
Source: Adopted from Aguinaldo dos Santos (1999:142)
4.4
DATA COLLECTION
The foregoing sections have provided academic justification for the use of a case study model in order to achieve outcomes from this research study. This section provides a detailed description of how in practice the data collection was undertaken and the way in which the data was used within an analytical process in order to allow the resulting theories to be built up and supported. The study focused on Kuchi Construction (Pvt) Nilson Biton Student Number 9756570
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Ltd as the unit of analysis. Questionnaire copies were circulated to middle and senior management responsible for project implementation. The basis of choice was to
obtain relevant information first hand from individuals in the coal and what their experience were on a day to day basis.
4.4.1 Questionnaire
The use of questionnaires is one of the data collection methods widely used and commonly associated with the quantitative research approach technique. Many researchers use this type of research technique as it provides flexibility and a wide range of results which can be adapted to almost any area of research. Naoum (2007) states the essential element of a successful questionnaire is simply the format of the questions: The questions should be very carefully worded and free from faults such as ambiguity, vagueness, technical expressions, difficult questions and so forth (Naoum, 2007)
The questionnaire was designed from information gleaned from literature review as well as examining other questionnaires from past researchers in the construction industry. The questionnaire was divided into three sections namely A, B and C. Section A contained general information of the respondent in terms experience, name, designation and years with the company. This information was vital in ascertaining the maturity of the respondents and their construction experience. Section B contained project characteristics and the some fifty nine (59) factors affecting contractor performance. The project characteristics were meant to ascertain the complexity of the project, location, type of project, tender sum, contract duration, the procurement approach and the form of contract used on each project. The factors affecting
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contractor performance were categorized into those related to labour, plant, materials, client, project, design team, contractor and external environment. Section C contained open ended and closed questions relating to the state of the construction industry in Zimbabwe.
Questionnaire copies were distributed through the Construction and Commercial Managers to their respective team members. This was meant to ensure that the correct representation is obtained and those involved in the construction process responded. A total of 28 questionnaire copies were administered and only 20 responded within the allocated time frame. The response rate was therefore 71%. This was considered to be a success in that it covered the entire project portfolio of Kuchi Construction (Pvt) Ltd.
4.4.2
Archive Data
In order to supplement data gathered through the questionnaire, access was granted to all archived data of Kuchi Construction (Pvt) Ltd related to its past performance and the database of all the projects for which the organization was involved. This enabled careful scrutiny of the relevant information particularly to unearth the impact of inflation on the organizations capability to deliver projects to the satisfaction of their clients. Further sources of archive data were from the national press, CIFOZ, ZBCA and ZCIC. This information was needed to bring rationality to the findings in the case study and remove any biased information. In this information related to the problems affecting construction business in Zimbabwe was obtained.
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4.4.3 Interviews
The semi-structured interview was adopted for this study. The purpose was to interview representatives of the construction industry associations representing contractors namely ZBCA and CIFOZ. At industry level, interviews were conducted with the representative president of ZCIC. At total of six interviews were planned. All the president of CIFOZ, ZBCA and ZCIC were interviewed to obtain a balanced view of what their concerns of the Zimbabwean construction industry and their views on the impact of hyperinflation on contractor performance. The Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of these representative bodies were also interviewed in order to establish what their members concerns were. This enabled data to be collected from a holistic point of view to augment information form the case study
Interviews can take place over the telephone or face to face and provide a form of data collection for the researcher allowing for more scope, depth and control which cannot be found associated with questionnaires. The ability to control, which is given to the researcher, provides more secure and complete responses which can be further probed to get rich and accurate data. There are three types of interview technique as listed below: Unstructured interview open-ended questions with no formal questions listed prior to meeting the interviewee; Semi Structured interview allow a great deal of freedom to probe various areas of research identified prior to meeting and to digress at tangents in order to truly establish the interviewees opinions;
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Structured interview set questions are asked in given order with no option to deviate throughout the interview.
4.4.4
Data Analysis
The data collected from the feedback of the questionnaire were analyzed using the relative importance index by Kometa et al (1994) subsequently used by Chan and Kumaraswamy (1997) as follows: 10 WiXi n=1 10 Xi n=1
I=
Where : I n Wi Xi = importance index = response category index= 1, 2, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10. =the weight assigned to the nth response = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively. =frequency of the nth response given as percentage of the total responses of the factor affecting contractors performance.
The author adopted a scale of 1 to 10 to assess the effect of each factor on contractor performance, where 1 represented the lowest level of effect and 10 the highest level of effect.
Apart from the above, the data obtained from the interviews and some information from questionnaire copies were qualitatively analysed.
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4.5 CRITIQUE OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The strength of the case study strategy used for this research study was as follows: Allows the research to focus on one or a few instances of the natural phenomenon and allows for a holistic approach. It allows for the use of a variety of research methods thus, enabling the triangulation of data. Since the approach is concerned with investigating a natural phenomenon, the researcher is not pressurised into imposing controls or to change circumstances. The approach fits well within the needs of a small scale research through concentrating effort on one research site or just a few sites Both theory-building and theory-testing research can use the case study approach to good effect Source - (Blaxter et al, 2006; Denscombe, 2007)
The technique has a number of potential weaknesses. The credibility of generalizations made from the findings of a case study research method is often questioned. Thus, the researcher must demonstrate and carefully allay suspicions to which the case relates. Case study approach is often viewed as producing soft data. This criticism
emanates from the qualitative nature of case studies as relying more on interpretive methods. This weakness is counter-balanced by the use of mixed methods as well as data triangulation. The boundaries of the case can be difficult to define thus, posing difficulties in deciding which sources of data to incorporate or to exclude in the case study.
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The observer effect may compromise what is being investigated and the conclusions drawn from case situations. Source - (Blaxter et al, 2006; Denscombe, 2007)
The above not withstanding, the research method adopted for the study produced valid results in that validation of data collected from Kuchi Construction was made through the carefully selected industry expects who are also directors in their own construction organisations.
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Chapter 4 - Research Methodology

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Chapter 4 - Research Methodology

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CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS

Nilson Biton Student Number 9756570

BSc Construction Management