ANÁLISIS ESPECTRAL DE LOS DESPLAZAMIENTOS

The study utilised both interviews and questionnaires. No use was made of diaries because they can disrupt the flow of a working pattern for the respondent. Since observation as a method of data collection involves watching people, this method was equally inappropriate for the study. It would not have been possible to observe at all times all those who were involved in asset management work.

The philosophical argument underlying this investigation is that a mixed method sequential exploratory design is the most ideal as a research approach (section 6.3.2). The approach starts with phenomenological approach where a few individuals with close involvement in asset management practice were studied followed by the survey investigation. The self administered questionnaire, designed on the specialist software called SurveyMonkey, was used in the survey investigation while interviews were used to gather data in the selected local authorities chosen as study sites. The questionnaire was emailed to respondents and responses captured electronically. According to Tharenou, et al., (2007 p161), Polit and Beck ( 2003, p235); and Sheatsley (1983 pp198-199) self administered questionnaires are ideally suited in survey research. They are extremely useful as a means of collecting relatively straightforward data from a large number of people and for measuring complex unobservable constructs (latent variables) such as attitudes, values and beliefs (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1982; Bailey, 1987; Fink and Kosecoff, 1985; Bryman, 1989; and Robson, 1996). The study measures the respondents’ views, beliefs and attitudes especially those about asset management performance (Tharenou, et al., (2007 p161).

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6.7.4.1 Semi-structured Interviews

Questionnaires are good for obtaining a breadth of standardised information from a large number of people but are less successful in finding out about the details. For this reason, interviews were used in the second part of the study where a few local authority cases were investigated. This was in order to explore in depth the issues that arose from questionnaire surveys. Different types of interviews exist with some suited to specific types of study approaches. There are three main forms of interview: structured, semi-structured and unstructured (Bryman, p41; Nachmias and Nachmias 1982, pp224-225). The semi- structured interview was used for this investigation and both the structured and unstructured interview types were rejected as they were inappropriate choices for this study.

The structured interviews would not be appropriate for this study as they are very similar with questionnaires as such they do not really offer any more insight than a questionnaire. This type of interview the questions, their wording, and their sequence are fixed and are identical for every respondent. In addition, structured interviews require a lot of time, effort and expense to organise. The unstructured interview was also unsuited to this research investigation and therefore was rejected on the basis that with this form of interview no prespecified set of questions is employed, nor are the questions asked in a specified order, and neither is a schedule used (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1982, pp224-225). This type of interview therefore requires a great deal of expertise to control and a great deal of time to analyse.

The use of semi-structured interview meant that the respondents were given considerable liberty in answering questions. Interviewees were asked questions from a prespecified list. However, flexibility was built into the interview process in terms of the order in which questions were put, their wording, and in following up any answer with additional relevant questions. In addition, interviewees were allowed to develop ideas, add other issues which had not been anticipated in advance, and respondents generally were allowed to provide more detail, depth and breadth on points of interest.

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The use of semi-structured interviews to carry out in-depth studies of a select number of local authorities was meant to use the qualitative findings to inform the follow on the questionnaire stage. The adoption of sequential approach, commencing with phenomenology and then survey study, was intended to provide an opportunity to verify and explain the interpretation of the deductive content analysis. Furthermore, the survey questionnaire gave an opportunity to integrate statistics with thematic data to answer the research question with validity, reliability and credibility thereby enhance the generalisability of the study (Jogulu and Pansiri, 2011).

A number of issues relating to good preparation, use of effective interview skills and progress monitoring need to be undertaken to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from the interview process (White, 2000; Denscombe, 2003, pp177-179). Table 6.8, provides a summary of the key issues that were taken into account to ensure good preparation, effective utilisation of interview skills and effective monitoring of progress during the interview process.

Table 6.8: Interview Preparation, Skills and Progress Monitoring

Good preparation Appropriate interview skills Effective monitoring of interview progress

 Proper justification of choice of interviewees

 Attentiveness  Identified the main points being made by the interviewee

 Questions were appropriately devised, structured and ordered

 Sensitivity to the feelings of the informants.

 Reading between the lines to identify what was really being said (or not being said)

 There was clarity and proper reasoning about the required information

 Tolerance of silences during the talk.

 Looked for inconsistencies in replies

 Piloting of the questions both for their quality and to time the future interviews

 Being adept at using prompts, including non- verbal language – to encourage interviewees to speak.

 Spotting where answers were boasting or simply trying to please and so were not accurate

 Predetermination of the decision how the information was to be analysed

 Being adept at using probes – to delve deeper into a topic.

 Looked for answers that tried to divert attention on to other issues

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non-threatening environment and free of distractions and interruptions

checks – to ensure that the information had been understood fully.

which answers were given

 Access to interviewees was sorted in advance

 Non-judgemental  Noted non-verbal cues (body language, lack of eye contact) that helped interpretation and analysis later

 The list of questions was sent to the interviewee in advance

 Checked the timing of the whole process

 Adherence to the time agreed with the interviewee for the interview

 The decision as to how information was to be recorded was decided in advance

Sources: White (1999 pp30–33); Denscombe (2003, pp177–179; 181)

6.7.4.2 Questionnaire Design

According to Tharenou et al., (2007 p164) a well-constructed and applied questionnaire should be able to gather data to enable the measurement of the relationship between variables. Three fundamental considerations need to be taken into account to have a properly designed and applied questionnaire. First, it should be clear what the scale (questionnaire) should measure. Secondly, the designing of the measuring instrument should be informed by the application of a theoretical basis to develop the items. Finally, the designed questionnaire should measure the developed model’s criteria as the mechanism for eliciting respondents’ views, beliefs and attitudes (Tharenou, et al., 2007).

An examination of the existing theory relating to the construct to be measured helps to establish what should be measured by a scale. In effect theories explain how and why variables provide an explanation of a phenomenon and are often a series of logical statements (Creswell, 2003). The development of the asset management conceptual framework (figure 5.4) described in section 5.3, is based on the logical connection between organisational management theory and asset management (sections 4.5), examination of

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existing frameworks (section 4.6) as well as review of literature on asset management practice ( sections 4.7).

The concepts and definitions (section 4.10) of the developed asset management framework formed the basis for the construction of the asset management improvement scales and their assembly into a measurement instrument (section 6.4.3.1). The survey questionnaires and semi-structured interview questions were developed based on the dimensions that comprise the processes behind asset management policy, and practice as well as asset management outcomes.

The scales with a number of questions had been targeted at various respondents within a local authority. The target respondents were asset managers, estate managers and facilities managers. Table 6.9 lists the proposed assignment of scales to questionnaires and how they were distributed within each local authority.

Table 6.9: Distribution of Scales within Each Local Authority Targeted Research Cases

Asset Manager Estate Manager Facilities Manager SECTION SCALE

A Background √ √ √

B Strategic Planning (Asset Management Policy)

√ √ √

C Asset Management Planning (Asset Management Practice)

√ √ √

D Asset Management Outcome _{√ √ √}

The purposes of the questionnaire including its various parts are discussed in section 6.4.3.1. In order to verify and improve the questionnaire design, a pilot survey of

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questionnaires and semi-structured interview questions were sent to professionals and academicians for a review (section 6.6). The objective of the questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview questions was to evaluate and analyse the criteria.

The fundamental considerations for a proper design and application of a questionnaire need to be supported by factors that actually guide the development of questions. The following factors, as proposed by Dillman (1983, pp359-378); Fowler, (1995, p.80); Rea and Parker (1997, p27); Schwartz et al., (1998, p152); Tourangeau (2000); and Synodinos (2003, p227) amongst others, guided the development of the specific questions that comprised the questionnaire used in this research investigation

(i) Questions asked information that respondents could access readily

(ii) Questions that requested confidential information and therefore lead to high item nonresponse were avoided

(iii) Questions were limited to those that the selected persons would be able to answer (iv) The questions were as clear and precise as possible so that all respondents could

interpret them as intended

(v) Specific questions were used rather than general ones (vi) Closed questions were preferred to open questions (vii) Respondents were offered a ‘no-opinion’ option

(viii) Questions were written to ensure that they reflected asset management theory (ix) Forced choice statements were used rather than ‘agree / disagree’ statements (x) In terms of question order, general questions preceded specific ones

(xi) Questions were clear and unambiguous (xii) Wherever possible simple language was used (xiii) Double-barrelled questions were avoided

Having decided on the criterion variables, Likert rating scales were adopted to help draw out appropriate ratings. The variables were ranked per their level of importance by the

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respondents (i.e. asset managers, estate managers, facilities managers) on a five point Likert rating scale with 1 = ‚Not Very Important‛, 2 = Not Important, 3 = Average Importance, 4 Important, and 5 ‚Extremely Important‛.

According to Tharenou, et al., (2007 p166) this is a most commonly used scale with this type of response format. Tharenou, et al., (2007 p166) cite Hinkin (1995) who states that the use of the Likert scale in generating questions is an important component of developing sound measures. Measures that are soundly developed will have content validity. If a measure has acceptable content validity it gives certainty that the measure will reflect the theoretical definition of the construct the scale purports to assess.