Alternative Approach for Conducting Construction Management Research: Quasi-Experimentation

Construction management (CM) as an applied academic discipline has a dual mission of creating scientific knowledge and solving practical problems. To do this, proper research approaches are required. Traditionally, CM research has been based primarily on either quantitative surveys or case studies. In this study, experimentation is advocated as a feasible and reliable approach to conducting CM research. Experimentation facilitates the creation and discovery of knowledge, thus leading to the improvement and development of a real setting. This paper describes the underlying philosophy and application procedure of experimentation and highlights its strengths and weaknesses. The applicability of the approach to CM is illustrated through a case study on heat stress research. The findings indicate that experimentation is a rigorous, structured, and reliable method that is viable for conducting CM research, and this enables academia to influence and improve work practice in the construction industry. It also fosters better collaboration between industry practitioners and academia in the quest for excellence in the industry. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.