Jones, M M (2024) Exploring accessibility, usability, and relevance: A case study of Wyoming's construction workforce training program. PhD thesis, University of Wyoming, USA.
Abstract
Wyoming’s construction sector faces a growing number of job openings yet contends with a decreasing number of skilled workers. This study explored the Wyoming Construction Workforce Training Program (CWTP) from an inclusivity perspective, investigating the accessible, usable, and relevant instructional design and delivery conditions. Through provisional and open coding content analysis, the CWTP documentation revealed inclusive design elements already incorporated into the training design and identified missing elements. Additionally, Wyoming construction industry leaders completed surveys answering closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics analyzed the quantitative results uploaded from database storage. This embedded single-case study had an exploratory qualitative methods approach with a quantitative element. An embedded single-case study was an appropriate methodology due to the unequal weight of the quantitative and qualitative parts. While certain design elements of the CWTP lacked accessibility and usability, the results found the training pertinent in its content and delivery methods, reinforcing its relevance to the construction workforce. Insights encourage using inclusive instructional design and that construction training could expand to include specialized programs. The CWTP can specifically cater to women and minority groups, including incarcerated women and minority groups. This approach could foster diversity in the construction industry while decreasing the skilled trades gap.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Williams, M and Jacobs, F |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accessibility; workforce; women; documentation; training; content analysis; case study; delivery method |
| Index terms: | case study, accessibility, skilled worker, database, delivery method, minority, women, statistics, construction industry, inclusive design, documentation, qualitative method, survey, face, content analysis, usability, program, methodology, construction sector |
| Subjects: | management, software systems, professional development, data management, delivery method, sociology, industry analysis, data collection methods, user-centered design, research design and methodology, mathematical modelling, design methods, data analysis and analytics, inclusive design, research methods, psychology |
| Topics: | Ethics, Procurement, Human Resources, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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