The research strategy adopted was carefully selected based on the
research questions to be addressed and the best strategy that offers
the right framework for answering them. As a result of the multiplicity
of the questions and diversity in types and sources of data
required, it became apparent early in the study that the best methodology
to use would involve a combination of qualitative and
quantitative research methods. Therefore, a mixed method research
design as described typically by Bryman (1992) and Creswell
(2003) was adopted, where the two research approaches were integrated
in a sequential two-stage data collection process. The first
stage used a quantitative method based on a cross-sectional postal
questionnaire survey to investigate the structural features of social
aspects of delay analysis. This survey was designed to tap, at largescale
level, the awareness of existing delay analysis techniques,
their use in practice, obstacles affecting their use, etc. (see results
in Ndekugri et al. 2008; Braimah and Ndekugri 2009). The second
stage of the data-collection process employed a qualitative method
based on cross-sectional in-depth interviews to investigate planning
and programming factors (i.e., the Processual aspects) that
influence the use of delay analysis techniques. Interviews were
considered appropriate due to a number of reasons, including fragmentation
of the functional roles of the potential participants, their
geographical dispersion, and commercial confidentiality. The firststage
questionnaire survey was designed to facilitate the secondstage
data collection. For instance, results of the survey were used
to confirm and narrow down the programming issues that would
require further investigation at the second stage. The survey was
also used to identify suitable respondents by asking them to indicate
their willingness to participate in the second-stage interviews.
The key advantage of this approach is that respondents’ prior
involvement in the survey makes them highly suitable for the interview
because of their awareness of the framework of the
whole research study.