Analysis of Research Methodologies: Assessment 3 Report (Australia)

This report, prepared for a university assessment, analyzes three research methodologies—quasi-experimental, time series, and qualitative—in the context of construction project analysis. The study explores the causes of project delays, correlations between delay factors and critical success factors, and the impact of critical factors on project success. The report details data collection methods, including surveys and interviews, and explains the advantages, limitations, and ethical considerations of each methodology. It includes a sample size of 50 employees and 5 construction managers. The quasi-experimental method uses survey questionnaires and regression analysis; the time series method involves descriptive, spectral, and forecasting analysis; and the qualitative method employs interviews for data collection. Ethical considerations, such as respecting autonomy and minimizing risks, are also addressed. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the research methodologies used in the construction project and analyzes the data.

Running head: ASSESSMENT 3
Assessment 3: Analysis of Methodologies for the Research Project
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

1ASSESSMENT 3
Table of Contents
1. Describe and justify the research question associated with the research topic............................2
2. Three different methodologies used for answering the research question..................................3
a. Type of data to be collected and analyzed...............................................................................3
b. Description of sample required................................................................................................6
c. Advantages...............................................................................................................................6
d. Limitations...............................................................................................................................8
e. Ethical considerations using the methodologies......................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

2ASSESSMENT 3
1. Describe and justify the research question associated with the research
topic
Following are list of the research questions which are discussed in the literature review
such as:
1. What are causes of the project delays in Australia’s Perth Arena construction
project?
2. How delay factors are correlated to the critical success in the construction
industry?
3. How the critical factors are providing impact on the project success and business
performance?
In this research study, three of the research methodologies are used such as quasi-
experimental, time series and qualitative methodology. The quasi-experimental quantitative
method is provided with descriptive research and experiments which are performed through
survey method using questionnaires. The time series method is forecasted to predict future values
based on observed values. The qualitative research method is included to gather the non-
numerical data.
Quasi-experimental method is suitable for first question about causes of the project
delays in Australia’s Perth Arena construction project. Time series method is used for identifying
the correlation between the delay factors and critical success factors in the construction industry
(Kumar 2019). The qualitative methodology is appropriate for exploring how to carry out the

3ASSESSMENT 3
team work into the construction project and identify the critical factors provide impact on project
success and performance. It is suitable for the last research question.
2. Three different methodologies used for answering the research question
The methods which are used of this research study are quasi-experimental, time series
and qualitative methodology.
a. Type of data to be collected and analyzed
The quasi experimental research is one kind of research that is almost similar on
experimental research but not exact the accurate experimental research. These type of
experiments take place where random experiments are difficult to plot. There are various kinds
of quasi experimental methods and they are-
Nonequivalent group designs: The nonequivalent group design is a between subject
design where the randomly assigned participants are not considered in the conditions. The
researchers use this design to divide it into steps for ensuring the similar groups as possible or
making the important differences in the groups (Silverman 2016).
Pretest-Posttest design: In this design, the measurement of dependent variables is
happened during before as well as after implementation. It is the within subject experiments
where the treatment of each variable occurs under the control condition and after that the
treatment condition (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). The improvement of the treatment
happens when it better to the average posttest score than the average pretest score.

4ASSESSMENT 3
For the quasi-experimental method, the data are to be collected through primary data
collection method using survey questionnaires. It is analyzed by using regression analysis
(Mackey and Gass 2015).
The time series methodology is a series of definite data points that are obtained from the
time intervals over a period of time. If the data is collected irregularly, then the time series does
not make. It is basically a statistical method for analyzing the time series data to form a statistical
view and also the characteristics view of the time series data.
Types of data to be collected
There are various kinds of time series analysis.
 Descriptive analysis: To construct this type of analysis, the time series analysis must
include the graph and different tools. It can be gotten many cyclic patterns as well as
turning points and other outliers from this analysis (Flick 2015).
 Spectral analysis: It is considered as frequency domain and used to separate the cyclic
components in the time series.
 Forecasting: Depending on the historical trends, it is used in business forecasting as well
as budgeting.
 Explanative analysis: It includes the cross relationship within two time series and the
dependency of one series to another one.
The time series is provided with statistical analysis to predict future values based on
observed values.

5ASSESSMENT 3
Qualitative methodology is a scientific methodology. Generally, the scientific
methodology contains some factors like seeking the answer for a particular question, using a set
of procedures to solve the question, collecting the evidence, generating the findings not
determining in advance and also generating the findings applicable the boundaries of the study
(Alvesson and Sköldberg 2017).
Types of data to be collected
The various kinds of qualitative analysis methods are-
 One on one interview: The deep interview method is the most important in the qualitative
analysis. It is normally the personal interview carrying out with one participant
responding at a time. It the conversational methods and contains the opportunities for
getting the details from the participant.
 Focus groups: The focus groups are one of the important qualitative analysis and it is also
helpful in the data collection method. The focus group contains a number of participants
from the target market. The purpose of the focus group for finding the answer for what,
how and why questions. The focus group is used in online surveys through the various
devicesand collected the responses by using the click of a button (Fletcher 2017).
 Ethnographic research: This research is the deep observational method. This method
wants to adapt the target environment from any organization to the city. As being it is a
deep observation method, it last from some days to few years. It is the time consuming
method based on the researcher’s expertise.

6ASSESSMENT 3
 Case study research: The case study research includes few years and then it develops the
research method. It is used to explain any organization or any object. This kind of
research involves ion the field of education, social sciences and other activities.
The qualitative method is collected through using interview method where the data is
analyzed by using the interview data from 5 construction managers involved into the
construction work of Perth Arena.
b. Description of sample required
The sample used for analyzing the critical factors in the construction project of Australia
is smaller in numerical value which is suited with criteria of the selected research title. The
sample for the customers was selected as simple random probability sampling where no such
specific criteria are to be considered. With help of online questionnaire, the employees of
Buckeridge Group of Companies were asked to participate. The sample size of the quantitative
method is 50 employees while for qualitative method are 5 construction managers.
c. Advantages
Following are advantages for quasi-experimental method such as:
 The quasi experimental designs are more feasible because there are no limitations in the
time as well as the logistical activities related to the true experiments.
 The reactions of experiments are needed to be more genuine because there is no artificial
research test.
 The decrement of the difficulty and also the ethical concerns may be happened that are
related to the pre selection and the random assignment of the experiments.

7ASSESSMENT 3
 Quasi experimental design helps to reduce time as well as resources (Silverman 2016).
Following are the advantages of the time series methodology such as:
 By using the time series, the past behavior is understood properly. It also helps to predict
the future predictions.
 The identification of the fluctuations in time can easily contain from the time series
analysis (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015).
 It helps to compare the performance between the different series along with different type
at the same time duration.
 It can compare the present performance of the series with the past performance of the
series.
Following are the advantages of the qualitative methodology such as:
 The evaluation of the subject materials can be greater and it should be in detail form.
There are various kinds of time restrictions placing on the research methods (Long 2016).
The major purpose of the time restriction is to make the measurable outcome for the
pacing of metrics. In the qualitative analysis, the main focus is on the subtleties not the
metrics.
 Research frameworks must be fluid and it depends on the available data.
 Qualitative research data generally depends on the human experiences as well as
observations (Bresler and Stake 2017).

8ASSESSMENT 3
 The data that are gathered in the qualitative analysis has a high predictive quality. The
common mistakes occur that the personal perspective can generalised into the group
perspective.
 The qualitative research always operates within the structures which are fluid. Here the
data is collected depends on the observations as we’ll as experiences, and for that an
experienced researcher can follow the answers with the additional questions (Leatherdale
2019).
d. Limitations
Following are limitations of quasi-experimental method such as:
 There are no meaningful statistical analyses because of the absence of randomization and
pressures to the internal validity (Bell and Jones 2015).
 There is also important factor in the validity of the experiment and it is human error.
 Pre-existing factors and also the other activities are not taken because there is less
controllable variables exist in quasi experimental designs (Smith 2015).
Following are the limitations of the time series such as:
 The time series analysis is not always perfect.
 The different factors that are obtained from the fluctuations from the time series cannot
be adjusted properly.
 The different factors in the time series are not similar for the expand period of time and
as a result, the forecasting of this analysis in unreliable.

9ASSESSMENT 3
 With the help of the increased population, the increasing trend in the time series analysis
may happen. For that, necessary modifications happen in the experiment that is difficult
to understand the trend (Flick 2018).
Following are the limitations of the qualitative methodology such as:
 The quality of the information or the data that are gathered in the qualitative analysis is
greatly subjective.
 The data rigidity is difficult to evaluate and also demonstrate.
 The data collecting in this analysis is time consuming (Rubin and Babbie 2016).
 The qualitative analysis generates the valuable findings but the presentation of it is so
difficult.
 The data of the qualitative analysis is not always accepted.
e. Ethical considerations using the methodologies
Ethical considerations are critical in the case of all the research methodologies. The
selected methods have some benefits related to the ethical issues. Some of the ethical principles
are-
 Respect the autonomy as well as the decision making variables.
 For researching the variables, it needs to minimize the risk and maximize the benefits.
 It should to be selected the variables from the groups in such a way where the research
may has advantage.

10ASSESSMENT 3
 The relationship between the researchers and participants can make various ethical
concerns and the qualitative researchers have faced a lot of ethical dilemmas as the
privacy respect and establishing the honesty as well as the open interactions. Some of the
ethical concerns like anonymity, confidentiality as well as informed consent.
 The qualitative analysis is used to explain, clarify and elaborate the various aspects of the
human experiences. There are many strategies that are used to protect the personal
information and also secure the data storage methods. Researchers are responsible to
protect the variables in a study from the harmful activities that may affect in the results.

11ASSESSMENT 3
References
Alvesson, M. and Sköldberg, K., 2017. Reflexive methodology: New vistas for qualitative
research. Sage.
Bell, A. and Jones, K., 2015. Explaining fixed effects: Random effects modeling of time-series
cross-sectional and panel data. Political Science Research and Methods, 3(1), pp.133-153.
Bresler, L. and Stake, R.E., 2017. Qualitative research methodology in music education.
In Critical Essays in Music Education (pp. 113-128). Routledge.
Fletcher, A.J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 20(2), pp.181-194.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Flick, U., 2018. An introduction to qualitative research. Sage Publications Limited.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Leatherdale, S.T., 2019. Natural experiment methodology for research: a review of how different
methods can support real-world research. International Journal of Social Research
Methodology, 22(1), pp.19-35.
Long, Q., 2016. A novel research methodology for supply network collaboration
management. Information Sciences, 331, pp.67-85.