Pickrell, S W (1999) A surveyor's world-view: decision-making in building surveying. PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK.
Abstract
This thesis proposes a model for understanding decision-making in the multifarious environment of building surveying. Whilst previous research has led to guidance on the more physical aspects of the building surveying process, the way in which building surveyors construe the surveying environment has had little consideration. This thesis sets out to investigate this gap in the theory. In particular, the research examines why individual building surveyors make different decisions about the same buildings. Having taken the position that these decisions derive from the individual, this implies a constructivist approach, specifically Kelly's Personal Construct Psychology (1955). A qualitative, exploratory approach was undertaken to investigate decision-making in building surveying. Specifically, Repertory Grid Technique, a method underpinned by Kelly's Personal Construct Psychology (Kelly, 1955), categorisation of building surveying terminology, and process mapping have been used. The thesis illustrates how categories emerged from the data, to form a framework by which to explain the decision-making in building surveying. This framework bridges the gap between the very different aspects of psychological construal and physical process. The identification of three areas of decision-making - Construal, Framework of categories, and survey Process - forms the foundation of the model. They are supported by the concepts of a Fact-Judgement dimension, and inter-category influence. The thesis proposes the model - the Surveyor's World-view - as the means with which to explore decision-making. The model illustrates that there are clear areas of judgement that can be captured and compared, and that these change as a result of maturation. The Surveyor's World-view will impact on education, training and practice, aiding identification of the most productive areas for formal education with respect to improving decision-making. This has application to continued training and professional development. In the light of the model, practitioners and researchers can reassess the areas in which poor judgement predominates, from which point the categories that influence judgement in these areas can be focused upon for improvement.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | education; psychology; building surveying; training; professional; repertory grid technique; building surveyor |
| Index terms: | decision-making, mapping, psychology, professional development, repertory grid technique, survey, surveying, building surveying, building surveyor, dimension, practitioner |
| Subjects: | profession, professional development, spatial and geospatial analysis, health monitoring assessment and metrics, behavioral psychology, practitioner, decision analysis, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Information Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here