chapter 3 research methodology - uom ir

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

Department of Civil Engineering 27

CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

Chapter two discussed the key research issues and theoretical status of the identified

problems. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the methodological framework

used to conduct this research. This chapter outlines the steps undertaken to design,

plan and implement this research. It will cover the methodological approach and

methods used to identify the sample population and participants; select and design

research instruments; collect and analyse data. The methodology was chosen as

relevant to the tasks of carrying out opinion surveys in the form of questionnaires or

structured interviews (results from analysis covered in Chapter 4) and critically

analysing and integrating the data set through discussion (see Chapter 5).

3.2 Research Design

A quantitative study approach was implemented in this research and the priority

given to identify existing communication barriers and strategies implemented in the

construction industry. The data collection also involves numeric information through

questionnaires so that the final database represents quantitative information.

Reviewing relevant literature on communication and project management helped

limit the scope of the research, and identified theories, frameworks, models and

findings by other researchers and writers. (see Chapter 2).

3.2.1 Research philosophy

Research philosophy is considered as the first issue when designing a research.

Easterby-Smith et al. (2002) emphasised the significance of research philosophy with

three reasons. Firstly, the researcher needs to clarify the research design and,

research philosophy helps in clarifying it. Secondly, research philosophy helps in

identifying the circumstances on which the research design functions. Finally, it



helps the researcher to identify and create research designs which may be beyond his

past experiences.

When considering the research aim and the nature of this research, it was obvious

that this study needs careful observation of communication and managerial

behaviours of the project managers in construction industry. Thus, this issue

necessitated the researcher to assume that the reality which the research aim seeks

was within the people who have been observed. ‘Interpretivism’ is one of the

philosophies Easterby-Smith et al. (2002) cited and this believes that the reality is

subjective and interior to the people. Hence, interpretivism research philosophy was

adapted in this research.

3.2 Research Approach

After defining the research philosophy, a suitable research approach had to be

selected to deal with the research problem. Easterby-Smith et al. (2002) stated that

the research approaches helped to organise research activities, including the

collection of data, in ways that are more likely to achieve research aims. According

to Yin (1994), five different types of research approaches can be adapted to a

research; namely, experiment, survey, archival analysis, case study and history.

Research approach was focused on collecting and analysing quantitative data while

making pragmatic assumptions. Literature review (see Chapter 2) was undertaken

initially to help establish a rationale for the research questions and to ascertain the

extent and depth of existing knowledge on communication and project management.

The literature was used deductively as a basis for advancing research questions

(Creswell, 2003).

The aim of this research was to build up a communication plan for project managers

in Sri Lankan construction industry. Accordingly, the research problem could be

developed as; “What is the existing the communication processes and what are the



project communication barriers and strategies adopted to overcome communication

barriers at the project level by project managers and project teams in Sri Lanka?”.

This research also dealt with quantitative data as generated through human project

managers and professionals linked with construction.

3.3 Research Process

A survey research method was applied to obtain statistical, quantitative results from a

statistically significant sample. The research process comprised following stages:

initial impetus; literature review; problem statement; questionnaire design; data

collection; data analysis; and, write-up. The whole research process has been

explained in subsequent sections.

3.3.1 Initial impetus

The initial impetus to conduct this study was generated through an opportunity given

by the Department of Civil Engineering for full-fillment of dissertation study for

post graduate candidates for the award of Master of Science degree. During the topic

searching stage, as a Quantity Surveyor industrial practice on communication made

me interest. When the researcher moved to the background study it was interested to

learn communication barriers in project level and extend of strategies employed to

overcome those barriers. Initial study showed that communication processes were

highly acknowledged project managers duties and responsibilities. The focus gave

on communication processes of project managers and teams those were very limited

in literature, even though the importance of learning was highly emphasised in

construction project context. Then study moved to a literature review to find a

reachable problem and a specific focus for this study.



3.3.2 Literature review

The literature synthesis was carried out mainly by referring conference papers, web

publications, thesis, dissertations, books, and journal articles available in common

databases (for example, Emerald full text search) and university library. The broad

topics addressed during the literature synthesis were; be aware of the term of project

communication, project communication process and its management and investigate

the communication process of construction project

3.3.3 Research problem statement

Posing the research questions help to define the intent and direction for the collection

and treatment of data as well as focusing the inquiry and intervention on the topic

under study. Research questions that addressed research issues identified:

1. What is the existing communication processes in construction projects?

2. What are the project communication barriers and strategies adopted to

overcome barriers at project level by project managers and projects in Sri

Lanka?”

Based on the responses to the above research questions, an effective communication

plan is to be developed. The next section explains design of data collection

instrument in order to collect the data around the research problems.

3.3.4 Research Instruments

This survey research method study utilised a questionnaire with predetermined items,

and an ordinal rating scale. Sub section 3.3.4 and 3.3.5 of this chapter described in

detail questionnaire review as data collection instruments. These research

instruments were produced based on intensive literature review, consultation with

construction professionals in building and road projects in Sri Lanka.



3.3.5 Selecting of participants

This research concentrated on personnel from the construction industry specially in

building and road projects in Sri Lanka. The survey sample engendered to draw out

responses a cross-section of the major construction organisation including both

consulting and contracting companies in Sri Lanka. The sample was both randomly

and conveniently selected. This was done due to restricting factors (time, cost,

distance, scheduled projects, and willingness to participate) that prevent the random

selection.

3.3.6 Data collection

The data collection procedures (questionnaires and structured interviews) were

implemented with specific objective in mind. The questionnaire survey was initiated

with the aim of gaining perspective on communication and related project

management issues in the construction industry. The interviews were conducted

focusing specifically on the construction industry with the aim of to assist in

explaining and interpreting the findings of the primary quantitative study.

The data were collected by questionnaires. The questionnaire questions, which

concern the skills that are required to manage a construction project to an effective

level. Statements that comprised each part of the questionnaire were taken from the

literature and organised in to a test. Respondents were asked to rate on 5-point scales

(ordinal level of measurement) developed for various groups, and which have

consistently proved to be reliable and valid. The questionnaire comprised three

sections as explained in next section.

3.3.6.1 Questionnaire design

Appendix-A illustrates questionnaire format of this research which comprised three

sections: A; B; and, C.



Section A): The extent of implementation of communication in their work experience

(end points: never/always). This section asked the respondents to indicate how their

experience were evident or practiced in the projects that they were involved in by

ticking the value on the scale that best illustrate the extent this was so for the 26 pre-

determined statements.

Item Communication process in construction To what extent

1 2 3 4 5

1 Effective communication

2 A communication plan

3 High levels personal/interpersonal skilled

management

~

26 Effective communication strategies

ensuring successful technology transfer

To what extent rating: 1-Never, 2-Seldom, 3-Sometimes, 4-Mostly, 5-Always

Section B): The impact of barriers to communication (end points: insignificant/

catastrophic). This section asks the respondents to rate the impact of 35

predetermined communication barriers by ticking value on the scale that best

illustrate what happened in their projects.

Item Communication Barriers Rate of Impact

1 2 3 4 5

1 Political/ Community interference

2 Lack of appropriate technology

3 Varying perception and interpretation

~

35 Lack of trust

A 3-point ordinal rating scale was used for responses to part a) of the questionnaire

to rate the extent to which 35 pre-determined communication barriers were overcome

(endpoints: not at all/ totally).



Item Communication Barriers Extent overcome

1 2 3

1 Political/ Community interference

2 Lack of appropriate technology

3 Varying perception and interpretation

~

35 Lack of trust

Section C): The extent communication strategies were employed (endpoints: never/

mandatory). This section asks the respondents to rate the extent that 17

predetermined communication strategies were employed in their projects by ticking

the value on the scale that best illustrate this.

Item Communication Strategies Extent employed

1 2 3 4 5

1 Comprehensive communication plan

2 Clear communication channels

3 Delegating responsibilities

~

35 Problem soling

3.3.6.2 Sample characteristics

The questionnaires comprising standardised measures of checklists of predetermined

items were distributed to 50 selected construction managers in February 2012. The

selection and identification of participants was important. The research concentrated

on personnel from building and road sector projects in Sri Lanka. To gain a broad

spectrum of perspectives construction professionals from client, consultant and

contracting organisations were targeted. The random sampling was aimed at

encompassing a wide range of experience and project size. To ensure consistent and



authentic data collection the research sample was limited to those with experience in

building and road sector projects. This ensured that the sample population

experienced working in the same environment in relation to social, political and

economic impact. The researcher established corporation with a number of

organisations both government departments and private sector enterprises to ensure

adequate number of satisfactory responses.

Figure 3.1: Conceptual framework with factors influencing the context of

communication

3.3.6.3 Identification of unit of analysis

Identification of ‘unit of analysis’ or the ‘case’ is of foremost importance to any

research design and it is linked with the way the research problem is created (Yin,

1994). This study aims to develop a communication plan for the construction project

managers in Sri Lanka. For this study, two primary data collection methods

(questionnaires and structured interviews) were employed where individual

construction practitioner’s opinions and personal reflections were sought regarding

communication and construction project management systems. Therefore, the unit of

Project

Unit

Strategic Management

Operational

Communication

Type and nature of the project

Industry & Business practice

Client Requirement

Hard and soft skills of practitioners

Practitioner’s values, beliefs, attitudes, aspirations and expectations

Social

Political

Legal

Technological



analysis or the case in this research was construction project and its communication

management practice in Sri Lankan construction industry.

3.3.7 Data Analysis

3.3.7.1 Questionnaire survey

After data was collected from the questionnaire survey, was analysed using software

package SPSS statistics (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version19.0.0

produced by SPSS Inc. Prior to analysis, data was screened, edited and entered,

blank or incomplete responses were deemed unusable for analysis, and data was

coded, categorized and programmed. SPSS is a comprehensive user friendly system

that can take data from almost any type of file and use them to generate tabulated

reports, charts and plots of distributions and trends, descriptive statistics and complex

statistical analyses. Following steps were followed before running the statistical

analysis using the software.

Step1: Defining indicator variable using the data editor

26 indicator variables were defined using the data editor of the software with key

attributes of each variable namely, name, type, width, label and values as displayed

in variable view of the data editor.



Step2: Entering data using the data editor

Data fed directly in to the software programme using data editor as displayed in data

view. In a particular section of the questionnaire a row represents individual

respondent to the survey and a column represents responses to each question asked

in the questionnaire survey.

Step 3: Obtaining analysed out put

Running the data analysis using SPSS statistics and obtained means and standard

deviation of each factor identified through the questionnaire survey.



3.3.8 Write-Up

Even though the writing up is given as the final stage of the dissertation, this is being

gradually done throughout the research process in sequential manner. The write-up

was started in an explanatory manner in the early stages (see Chapter 2 and Chapter

3), narrowed down towards the latter stages (see Chapter 5). Throughout the write-up

process, visual aids such as tables and figures were being presented for the ease of

the user.

3.4 Summary

This chapter has presented research approach and research process used in this

research study. The next chapter analyses and discusses the findings from the study

in detail.

chapter 3 research methodology - uom ir

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