Understanding the Research Process for Construction Accidents: Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Running Head: Understanding the research process
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Understanding the research process

Understanding the research process 1
Contents
Review of paper.....................................................................................................................................2
Literature review...................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative data.......................................................................................3
Alternate research strategies................................................................................................................3
Descriptive research strategy............................................................................................................3
Analytical research strategy..............................................................................................................3
Fundamental research strategy.........................................................................................................3
Predictive research strategy..............................................................................................................3
Initial research ideas..............................................................................................................................4
References.............................................................................................................................................5

Understanding the research process 2
Review of paper
A paper with the title “Analysis of Fatal Building Construction Accidents: Cases and Causes”, was
selected for review. This paper is written by Opeyemi Samuel Williams, Razali Adul Hamid and Mohd
Saidin Misnan. It was published in August, 2017 in Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science
and Technology (JMEST) in volume 4 issue 8. The paper is attached in the appendix.
In this paper, the data for accidents among the construction worker was collected from September,
2015 to October, 2016. The data was provided by Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) in
Malaysia. A literature review was done in which it was studied that injuries are common among
construction workers. Different type of causes of injuries and categories of injury were also studied.
Different type of data was collected like type of injury, cause of injury, time of injury, etc. from
different construction sites. Total number of 30 fatal cases was studied over a period of 14months.
The data is represented in tabular form in a very well manner. After collecting all data, it was
analysed that death by falling from height is most common. All the results are represented in tabular
form which includes frequency of types of accident, frequency of the causes of accident, time period
and location of the injuries. Among the causes of these injuries, lack of compliance of workers
towards safe work process and their irresponsible behaviour towards the use of personal protective
equipment, is the leading one. It was recommended that, in order to save workers from fatal
injuries, management team should look after the compliance of workers towards safe work
procedure and compulsory use of personal protective equipment. There should also be an inspection
committee which should look after the construction sites for following safety procedures.
Literature review
It provides with the analysis or research done in the area which the researcher has chosen. It gives
the idea about the research that has already been done in that particular area. By writing a literature
review in the paper the author tells that he or she has gone through the literature in that area. It is
an important part of any research. First, a research idea is found out. Then literature related to that
idea is read. After reading or reviewing various papers, the problem is found out and then the work
is further carried out.
The definition of accidents is given as an uncontrolled action which results in an injury (Heinrich,
1931). It is also defined as the situation which is unexpected and unavoidable which involve risk and
danger (Heinrich, Peterson and Roos, 1980). It is known that the prevention of injuries is the
determination of risk factors. Accidents are mostly caused by the unsafe process, acts and conditions
(Hosseinian and Torghabeh, 2012). Among various work places, construction sites are most prone
areas to injuries, some of them which result in deaths. Different types of fatal injuries are fall related
accidents, explosion, fire outbreak, electrical incidents, fall of heavy objects, etc. (Hola, Nowobilski,
Szer and szer, 2017). Another accidents include falls from roof, run over by operating equipment,
tools related injuries (Stepian, 2014). Most of these accidents occur due to human error rather than
unsafe physical conditions. Other factors include unsafe equipment, improper training, job site
conditions and nature of industry (Hamid, et al., 2008). Some scholars have suggested inadequate
designs, poor quality building material, misinterpretation of working plan, etc. (Hale, et al., 2012;
Zubaidah, Samad and Zakaria, 2012).