The Journey to Dissertation Success

For Construction, Property, and Architecture Students

Elizabeth Laycock, Tim Howarth, Paul Watson

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781317558347
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Are you about to embark on a research project for the first time?

Unsure which data collection methods are right for your study?

Don't know where to start?

By presenting the reader with a series of key research management questions, this book introduces the novice researcher to a range of research designs and data collection methods. Building an understanding of these choices and how they can impact on the dissertation itself will lead to a more robust and rigorous dissertation study.

This book is designed to direct your research choices with informative text and key questions, advice from "virtual supervisors" and reflections from students. Lists of suggested further reading also help to support you on your journey to developing an organised and successful dissertation project.

Researchers seeking support on their journey to a successful dissertation will find this book a valuable resource.

1 Preparing for your research journey

Introduction

This chapter presents an introduction to the book, including:

• an outline of the purpose of this book — to assist students in successfully journeying through the dissertation research process by enhancing understanding of both the dissertation process and approaches to undertaking research;

• an outline of the format of this book — one that requires students to interactively navigate the text whilst considering key theory and practice, the guidance of three supervisors and the reflections of other students upon their dissertation experience;

• an overview of the dissertation process, including a flow chart and indicative timetable;

• student reflections on the dissertation.

The purpose of this book

Researching and presenting a dissertation is a requirement of many university degree courses. It can be both very challenging and very rewarding; and for many students, it is by far the largest piece of independent research that they have encountered. The dissertation is an undertaking that demands significant commitment from the student researcher. This book has been written to support students of the built environment disciplines through their dissertation journey and to assist them in making research decisions along the way. The book outlines dissertation research processes and supports students in thinking about their approach to designing, managing and delivering their research dissertation.

A broad range of professional disciplines contribute to designing, developing, delivering and managing the built environment. These professions include: architecture, architectural technology, building surveying, civil engineering, construction management, estate management, quantity surveying and town planning. A good number of dissertation research opportunities are presented by the built environment, its history, its evolution and its many professions, practices and activities. The array of potential topics for investigation is vast and includes, but is not limited to: master planning; conceptual design; detailed design; comparative studies; materials and product innovation; legal and contractual management; planning; surveying; valuation; and the management of people, resources, costs, sustainability, design, quality, building information, environmental impact, and health and safety.

As well as a broad array of built environment research topics, there is also a variety of possible approaches to carrying out dissertation research. These include, among others: laboratory-based experiments; practice-based reviews; comparative studies; case study investigations; attitudinal and behavioural investigations; and desktop-based literature reviews, which are conducted without new primary data being collected by the researcher.

Being given the opportunity to investigate a topic that you have selected can be exciting and maybe a little daunting, with many challenges presented along the way. Without a doubt, though, doing a built environment dissertation can be a satisfying and enjoyable experience. Having the opportunity to set the focus of your research, investigate what research already exists related to your topic, determine the appropriate methods, collect and analyse data, and present it in a dissertation format can be very enriching and even the start of your own specialism within a professional field.

The format of this book

This book has been written for novice researchers, and the authors have assumed that the reader does not have extensive research experience. It considers approaches to undertaking research and outlines key concepts, definitions and requirements thereof. Furthermore, it offers an interactive means to engage with developing an understanding of some potentially daunting aspects of the dissertation challenge. Whilst the dissertation process is outlined and important aspects of research theory and practice are addressed, the book also delivers:

• a succinct introductory overview for each section;

• information in the form of text, diagrams and tables to support study of the dissertation project;

• reflections by real students upon aspects of the dissertation process;

• supervisor guidance and opinion to help the reader critically reflect upon their own dissertation;

• a series of key questions for the student researcher to consider and addres...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of figures and tables
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Preparing for your research journey
• 2 The dissertation challenge
• 3 Doing the dissertation Beginning the journey
• 4 The role of the supervisor
• 5 Evaluating the existing literature
• 6 Research concepts
• 7 The practicalities of primary data collection
• 8 Data analysis and presentation
• 9 Completing the journey Writing up and assessment
• Appendix: example calculations
• Index