Validity and Reliability in Built Environment Research: A Selection of Case Studies

This book aims to guide researchers who are engaged in social science and built environment research through the process of testing the reliability and validity of their research outputs following the application of different methods of data collection.

The book presents case studies that emphasize reliability and validity in different examples of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method data sets, as well as covering action research and grounded theory. The reader is guided through case studies that demonstrate:

• An understanding of the reliability and validity approaches from social science and built environment perspectives in alignment with the relevant research philosophies, approaches and data collection strategies
• Real research projects that have been conducted by expert researchers on topics such as Lean, BIM, Housing and Sustainability to answer specific or evolving questions in relation to the reliability and validity of research
• A simple and easy method that students at Masters and PhD levels can relate to in order to adopt a sound reliability and validity approach to their research

This book is the essential guide for researchers at undergraduate and postgraduate level who need to understand how to validate the quality of the empirical tests they conduct using different techniques. The book will also be a great asset to supervisors from different backgrounds who need a refresher on this key aspect of the research cycle.

Vian Ahmed has over 25 years of industrial and academic experience in the United Kingdom and overseas. During her employment at the University of Salford (2004–2018), she took on a number of management positions, and became Professor in the Built Environment in 2010. She was the Director of the Online Doctoral Programme at the School of the Built Environment (2004–2016) and the Director of Postgraduate Research (2007–2016). Her previous books include: Research Methodology in the Built Environment (2016), and Leadership and Sustainability in the Built Environment (2015).

Alex Opoku is an Associate Professor in Quantity Surveying & Construction Management at the College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE. He is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS) and Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB) with many years of teaching and learning experience in the UK Higher Education sector and the UK construction industry.

Ayokunle Olubunmi Olanipekun is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Construction Management in the School of Built Environment at Massey University, New Zealand. He has professional academic experience in higher education institutions in Nigeria, Australia and New Zealand since 2011. He is Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and a Professional Member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS).

Monty Sutrisna is Professor of Construction and Project Management and the Head of School – School of Built Environment at Massey University, New Zealand. With professional experience in both industry and academia in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia for about 20 years, he has been championing close collaboration between industry and academia to achieve synergy. He is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building, a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Chartered Institute of Building and Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.