Built environment students are not always familiar with the range of different research approaches they could be using for their projects. Whether you are undertaking a postgraduate doctoral programme or facing an undergraduate or masters dissertation, this book provides general advice, as well as 13 detailed case studies from 16 universities in 7 countries, to help you get to grips with quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed methods of data collection, action research, and more.
Introduction Part One: The Thought Process of Research Journey 1. Getting ready for your research: setting the scene 2. When more does not mean better: Selecting a Research Methodology and Methods 3. Choosing appropriate Research Methods Part Two: Quantitative Research 4. A Survey of Building Surveying Education: The graduate voice 5. Comparing experience through visual behaviour in physical and virtual environments 6. Using quantitative approaches to enhance construction performance through data captured from mobile devices Part Three: Qualitative Research 7. A theoretical framework for conserving cultural values of heritage buildings in Malaysia from the perspective of facilities management 8. Using case-based methods in construction research with complementarities Part Four: Mixed Methods Research 9. Studentification and the housing needs of international students in Johannesburg: a survey 10. Enabling Building Information Modelling capable small and medium enterprises 11. Learning from bioclimatic desert architecture: a case study of Ghadames, Libya Part Five: Action Research 12. Embedding Action Research in the built environment - an action approach 13. Information systems to support planning and decision making in construction organizations using action research methodology Part Six: Grounded Theory Research 14. The application of grounded theory methodology in built environment research 15. Grounded theory style analysis in action: utilising multi-layer methods in developing built environment response to social conflicts in Indonesia Part Seven: Design Science Research 16. Design Science methodology for developing a learning object repository for construction
