What steps can you take to make construction engineering research inclusive?

Construction engineering research and innovation are essential for advancing the field of civil engineering and solving complex challenges in the built environment. However, to achieve the full potential of research and innovation, it is important to ensure that they are inclusive and representative of the diverse perspectives, needs, and values of the stakeholders and communities involved. In this article, you will learn some steps that you can take to make your construction engineering research more inclusive and impactful.

1 Define the scope and purpose

Before you start your research project, you need to clearly define the scope and purpose of your inquiry. What are the main questions, objectives, and outcomes that you want to address? How will your research contribute to the existing knowledge and practice of construction engineering? Who are the intended beneficiaries and users of your research results? By defining the scope and purpose of your research, you can establish a clear direction and focus for your work, as well as identify the relevant stakeholders and ethical issues that you need to consider.

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Hamdy Hammam

BIM Management | Digital Delivery | AEC
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Main questions and objectives: Clearly identify the main research questions that you wish to answer through your study. These questions should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Additionally, establish the objectives of your research, which are the specific goals you aim to achieve. Outcomes and contributions: Determine the expected outcomes of your research. What do you hope to produce or discover through your study? Consider how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge and practice of construction engineering. Will it fill a gap in the literature, improve existing methodologies, or provide practical recommendations?

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Dr. ARIVUSUDAR NAGARAJAN Ph.D.

☑️ Commercial leader ☑️International Sales ☑️ Construction Chemicals ☑️ Waterproofing ☑️ Admixture ☑️protective coatings ☑️ Building Materials☑️ Building Materials☑️ Refractory bricks☑️ Cement Grinding Aids (CGA).
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Primary research questions and objectives: Clearly state the primary research questions that your study aims to address. These inquiries ought to be SMART—specific, measurable, realistic, pertinent, and time-bound. Establish the precise aims you hope to accomplish as well as the objectives of your investigation. Conclusions and input: Establish the anticipated results of your investigation. What results or discoveries are you hoping to get from your research? Think about the ways in which your research will advance the field of construction engineering's current understanding and application.

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2 Engage with diverse stakeholders

One of the key steps to make your research inclusive is to engage with diverse stakeholders throughout the research process. Stakeholders are the individuals, groups, or organizations that have an interest or influence in your research topic, such as clients, contractors, consultants, regulators, end-users, community members, and other researchers. By engaging with diverse stakeholders, you can gain valuable insights, feedback, and input that can help you shape your research questions, methods, data, analysis, and dissemination. You can also build trust, collaboration, and mutual learning among the stakeholders, as well as address their expectations and concerns.

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Dr. ARIVUSUDAR NAGARAJAN Ph.D.

☑️ Commercial leader ☑️International Sales ☑️ Construction Chemicals ☑️ Waterproofing ☑️ Admixture ☑️protective coatings ☑️ Building Materials☑️ Building Materials☑️ Refractory bricks☑️ Cement Grinding Aids (CGA).
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Stakeholders are people, groups, and organisations like clients, contractors, consultants, regulators, end users, community members, and other academics who have an interest in or influence over your research issue. Engaging with a variety of stakeholders can help you develop your research topics, methodology, data, analysis, and dissemination by providing insightful criticism and input.

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3 Use appropriate methods and data

Another step to make your research inclusive is to use appropriate methods and data that suit your research purpose and context. Methods are the tools and techniques that you use to collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, simulations, or models. Data are the information and evidence that you use to support your research findings and conclusions, such as quantitative, qualitative, or mixed data. By using appropriate methods and data, you can ensure that your research is rigorous, valid, reliable, and relevant to the research problem and the stakeholder needs.

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Dr. ARIVUSUDAR NAGARAJAN Ph.D.

☑️ Commercial leader ☑️International Sales ☑️ Construction Chemicals ☑️ Waterproofing ☑️ Admixture ☑️protective coatings ☑️ Building Materials☑️ Building Materials☑️ Refractory bricks☑️ Cement Grinding Aids (CGA).
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The instruments and strategies you employ to gather, examine, and decipher data from experiments, interviews, surveys, observations, simulations, or models are known as methods. Data, such as mixed, qualitative, or quantitative data, are the facts and proof you utilise to back up the conclusions and findings of your study.

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4 Consider the impacts and implications

A further step to make your research inclusive is to consider the impacts and implications of your research results and recommendations. Impacts are the effects and outcomes that your research has on the stakeholder interests and the construction engineering field, such as positive, negative, intended, or unintended impacts. Implications are the consequences and actions that follow from your research results and recommendations, such as implications for policy, practice, education, or further research. By considering the impacts and implications of your research, you can evaluate the significance and value of your research, as well as identify the potential risks and opportunities that it creates.

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5 Communicate and disseminate effectively

The final step to make your research inclusive is to communicate and disseminate your research results and recommendations effectively to the relevant audiences and channels. Communication is the process of sharing and exchanging information and knowledge with the stakeholders and the public, such as through oral presentations, written reports, or visual aids. Dissemination is the process of distributing and spreading your research results and recommendations to the wider construction engineering community and beyond, such as through publications, media, or networks. By communicating and disseminating your research effectively, you can increase the awareness, understanding, and uptake of your research, as well as foster dialogue and debate among the stakeholders and the public.

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Dr. ARIVUSUDAR NAGARAJAN Ph.D.

☑️ Commercial leader ☑️International Sales ☑️ Construction Chemicals ☑️ Waterproofing ☑️ Admixture ☑️protective coatings ☑️ Building Materials☑️ Building Materials☑️ Refractory bricks☑️ Cement Grinding Aids (CGA).
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The practice of sharing and exchanging knowledge and information with the public and stakeholders through written reports, oral presentations, or visual aids is known as communication. The process of disseminating your study findings and recommendations to the larger construction engineering community and beyond, via networks, media, or publications, is known as dissemination. Through efficient communication and dissemination of your research,

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What steps can you take to make construction engineering research inclusive?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the scope and purpose

2 Engage with diverse stakeholders

3 Use appropriate methods and data

4 Consider the impacts and implications

5 Communicate and disseminate effectively

6 Here’s what else to consider

Civil Engineering

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What steps can you take to make construction engineering research inclusive?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the scope and purpose

2 Engage with diverse stakeholders

3 Use appropriate methods and data

4 Consider the impacts and implications

5 Communicate and disseminate effectively

6 Here’s what else to consider

Civil Engineering

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