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Collier, C (2006) Researchers' perceptions of the development of qualitative approaches in construction management research. In: Boyd, D (Ed.), Proceedings 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2006 Birmingham, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 2, 751–9.

  • Type: Conference Proceedings
  • Keywords: culture; methods; research; theory
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0 9552390 0 1
  • URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2006-0751-0759_Collier.pdf
  • Abstract:
    Drawing on Kuhn's thesis of normal and revolutionary science, this study investigates how cultural factors impact on the production of qualitative research within the discipline of Construction Management.. Members of the CNBR e-mail network were invited to respond to a series of questions regarding their perceptions of qualitative research, and the responses were analysed as a text. Five broad narrative themes are identified: constraint, hopefulness, sanguinity, caution and scepticism. There also is a brief discussion of the way language is used to legitimise and problematise methodology. It is argued that there are agreed vocabularies which can be used to defend and critique qualitative research, and that the critical terms have connotations of blurring and unboundedness. It is also noted that terms historically used to endorse quantitative research which met with critical approval are now being used to signify the value of qualitative outputs. In conclusion, it is argued that what we know has a social dimension and, therefore, the need for shared understandings of epistemological legitimacy is emphasised.