Research Methods for Construction

The fifth edition of this book provides a coherent, comprehensive examination and explanation of construction research. It pursues a processual approach and addresses both theoretical/philosophical considerations as well as practical applications - to academic activities and to industry and practice. A pervading theme amongst editors of research journals is the lack of research rigour commonly encountered in construction research papers submitted for consideration. The express aim of this book, like its previous editions, is to emphasise what rigour in construction research means and to enable its achievement to render any research valid and reliable. The new edition has undergone a significant restructuring to enhance the logical flow based around the development of a research cascade which leads from the question, through a range of research activities to produce results and conclusions. Significant new or enhanced material includes additional attention given to axiology, determinism and stochasticism, along with particular attention throughout to ethics, data protection and access, new material on theory borrowing, sensemaking and directionally motivated reasoning, along with additional models and details pertaining to translation.