From interpretation to action; unique adequacy as a
common standard for the evaluation of research in the
built environment

Rooke, JA; Rooke, CN; Dainty, A

Abstract

The development of ethnographic work in construction management in recent years
has been associated with a growing challenge to the dominant positivist paradigm
within the subject area. Ethnography, with its emphasis on shared meaning and its
consequent problematisation of the author's’ point of view, presents particular
difficulties for the positivist project of a unitary scientific method. Few readers of this
book are likely to see the emergence of a broad range of alternative methodological
orientations, variously described as inter alia, qualitative, interpretative, or critical, as
anything other than a welcome sign of progress. Nevertheless, this proliferation of
approaches, combined with the necessary informality of ethnographic methods, raises
doubts among many in the subject area as to the rigour of these approaches. On the
other hand, both the rigour and relevance of positivist driven approaches have been
questioned.
In this chapter, we seek to develop an approach to rigour in ethnographic work in the
built environment which draws upon ideas from ethnomethodology and constructive
research. Building on previously published ethnomethodologically informed
contributions to built environment research, we argue that the unique adequacy (UA)
requirement of methods provides a more rigorous and universal standard for
management research than either positivist or accepted social constructionist criteria.
In particular, we propose that UA, by focusing attention on indigenous evaluation
(that is to say, the methods of evaluation made in specific settings, by members of
those settings) provides a vindication for ethnographic findings, particularly as they relate to important issues of organization, incentive, and value. It tends to be
overlooked in the literature that the weak UA requirement is proposed by Garfinkel as
a criterion for all ethnographic research, not simply ethnomethodology.
Recognising the nature of the design and management disciplines that predominate in
the built environment as applied disciplines, we address the need for research criteria
that address their particular needs. We draw on current research on wayfinding in
complex hospital settings to explore the relationships between ethnography, UA and
design.

Citation

built environment. In S. Pink, & D. Tutt (Eds.), Ethnographic Research in the Construction Industry (141-159). Abingdon: Routledge

• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Nov 26, 2013
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 141-159
• Series Title: Routledge Advances in Sociology
• Book Title: Ethnographic Research in the Construction Industry
• ISBN: 9780415603430
• Publisher URL: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ethnographic-Research-Construction-Routledge-Sociology/dp/0415603439/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385466560&sr=1-1&keywords=9780415603430
• Additional Information: Funders : Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)