Structural Engineering Research Proposal: A Qualitative Study

This document presents a research proposal focusing on structural engineering, outlining the rationale, research design, and methodology for a qualitative study. The proposal aims to explore the skills, qualifications, responsibilities, and working conditions of structural engineers through interviews with professionals in Australia. The research design employs a qualitative approach with data collected via individual depth interviews and analyzed using thematic data analysis. Key themes emerging from the interviews include the activities performed by structural engineers, the required skills, and their core responsibilities. The study is expected to enhance the researcher's knowledge and abilities in the field of structural engineering, providing valuable insights for career development and understanding current market trends. References to relevant research methodologies are also included.

Applied research method
Q2. Research Proposal

Research Proposal
 The motive of research proposal is to present and justify
the need to study a research problem and demonstrate
pragmatic ways in which the proposed study should be
conducted

Research Design Rationale
 The research proposal demonstrates the concepts of
structural engineering and how one can enhance his or her
career in the respective field. Structural engineering is
grounded on applied laws of physics and empirical
knowledge of structural performance of different methods
and geometries.
 The knowledge is useful to use numerous simple elements of
structural engineering to design and build complex structural
system.

Cont.
 In the present study, the respondents will be structural
engineers who have experienced in the field of structural
engineering.
 The types of information that will be obtained includes
the skills required for becoming efficient structural
engineer, qualifications required, key responsibilities,
authority and accountability, working condition and
experience.

Cont.
 The information can be collected when participants of
research are free especially on weekends and on
Sundays.
 In order to gather the information from respondents, the
researcher can either visit their site, office or where the
participants are comfortable with.
 The rationale for obtaining information from the
participants was to enhance the learning's regarding the
subject matter.

Cont.
 The marketing research project is conducted in order to
analyse the trends which are currently following in the
market relating structural engineering.
 The researcher will obtain information through
interview.

Research Design
 Research Design: : Research design is the plan through
which researcher attempts to answer the questions
associated with the research. Qualitative research
method will be implemented in order to analyse the data
collected by using interview method .

Cont.
 Participants of research: A total of 10 structural
engineers will participate in the research study, from
whom researcher will ask questions. The participants of
research study mainly comprises structural engineers
working in different construction organisation
incorporating in Australia.

Data Collection
 Data collection is important process of research. As
discussed earlier, the researcher will gather the data
using individual depth interview survey. The question
will be open ended relating with the type of work they
do, skills required, etc.

Data Analysis
 Data analysis is an essential process where the
researcher converts the raw collected data into
meaningful information.
 In the research study, the researcher will implement
thematic data analysis, where researcher will produce
themes of the questions he or she asked in the interview.

Theme 1: What activities you do in your job?
 4 structural engineers said that they mainly monitor their
teams and make decisions regarding future step in the
construction process.
 6 participants responds that the key activity they
perform is to generate design of models, deciding which
material would be appropriate for each part of structure,

Theme 2: What skills are required to
satisfy the requirements of this position?
 5 structural engineers respond that skills such as
numeracy, analytical, scientific, and problem solving are
mandatory for progressing in the career of structural
engineering.
 5 structural engineers elucidated that one must have
technical skills, communication skills, in depth scientific
skills, numeracy skills, computer skills, team building
skills and decision making skills.