Newton, S (2024) Measuring the perceptual, physiological and environmental factors that impact stress in the construction industry. Construction Innovation, 24(3), pp. 684-701. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to highlight and demonstrate how the study of stress and related responses in construction can best be measured and benchmarked effectively. Design/methodology/approach: A range of perceptual and physiological measures are obtained across different time periods and during different activities in a fieldwork setting. Differences in the empirical results are analysed and implications for future studies of stress discussed. Findings: The results of this study strongly support the use of multiple psychometrics and biosensors whenever biometrics are included in the study of stress. Perceptual, physiological and environmental factors are all shown to act in concert to impact stress. Strong conclusions on the potential drivers of stress should then only be considered when consistent results apply across multiple metrics, time periods and activities. Research limitations/implications: Stress is an incredibly complex condition. This study demonstrates why many current applications of biosensors to study stress in construction are not up to the task and provides empirical evidence on how future studies can be significantly improved. Originality/value: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to focus explicitly on demonstrating the need for multiple research instruments and settings when studying stress or related conditions in construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | anxiety; biometric; electrodermal activity; psychometric; pulse rate variability; stress |
| Index terms: | methodology, evidence, anxiety, environmental factor, construction industry, future study, variability |
| Subjects: | environmental science, research design and methodology, mental health and wellbeing, evaluation and assessment methods, statistical analysis, industry analysis, research methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Health and Safety, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 CTA |
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