The role of theory in construction management research: comment

Abstract

Seymour et al. claim that positivist research methods are unsuitable for research into construction management. On the contrary, mainstream methodology has been modified to deal with the special demands of such research and conventional research methods have been instrumental in substantial advances in science. Seymour et al.'s argument, ostensibly about research methods, is essentially anti-scientific, and, although it has been around for a long time, there are no positive achievements to suggest that we would benefit from adopting it. Contrary to Seymour et al.'s claims, positivist research methods are our best insurance against bad research.