Alternative approach for conducting construction management research : quasi-experimentation

Abstract

Construction management (CM) as an applied academic discipline has a dual mission of creating scientific knowledge and solving practical problems. To do so, proper research approaches are required. Traditionally, CM research has been based primarily on either quantitative surveys or case studies. In this study, experimentation is advocated as a feasible and reliable approach to conduct CM research. Experimentation facilitates the creation and discovery of knowledge and thus leads to the improvement and development of a real setting. This study describes the underlying philosophy and application procedure of experimentation, and highlights its strengths and weaknesses. The applicability of the approach to CM is illustrated through a case study on heat stress research. The findings indicate that experimentation is a rigorous, structured, and reliable research approach that is viable for conducting CM research, which enables the academia to influence and improve work practice in the construction industry. It also fosters better collaboration between industry practitioners and the academia in the quest for excellence in the industry.