3- Methodology
3.2 Similar topics methodologies
Lack of awareness among construction sector workers of the significance of incorporating sustainability factors into developing affordable housing projects and the objection of some developers to the idea due to financial reasons. Without ignoring the intellectual development of the sustainable building technologies and strategies that could be used in enhancing the performance of these housing units led appear several studies concentrated on creating sustainable, affordable housing units and their positive aspects. The investigation of the previous studies related to sustainable and affordable housing topics demonstrated the diversity of methodologies used to achieve these research aims and objectives.
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The investigation of sustainability in affordable housing was carried out either by a single methodology or the mixing methods. However, the most common methods were addressed literature review, survey, simulation and mixed approach.
3.2.1The literature reviews methodology
Regardless of the disciplines, the literature review is the initial process for any research where several previous studies were described and analyzed to address and assess the research area to establish the study aim and justify the study hypotheses and questions.
However, the authors used it as the main method to conduct the research when they want to assess theory or evidence in a particular area or to check a specific theory's validity or accuracy. Consequently, this methodology is essential for any research topic, either as an individual method or as a support method for other methodologies (Snyder, 2019). According to Maier (2013), The process of conducting a literature review research starts with designing the study by identifying the research purposes and setting the research questions and topic concerns. Then doing the review by studying and exploring relevant issues or similar questions. After that, carry out the evaluation and analysis method of the most pertinent studies in regard to objectives, method of work and results and compare them to extract the outcomes listed in the results section. Concluding with addressing and explaining the findings that either meet or dissent the research objectives and purposes, as shown in Fig (3.1).
Several studies adopted a literature review methodology to conduct sustainable, affordable housing mainly to provide definitions and to address the challenges and factors that impact the integration of sustainability and affordability in housing development.
As in Syed Jamaludin, Mahayuddin and Hamid (2018) study, where they conduct an
extensive literature review to explore the practices of the affordable and sustainable housing situation in the Malaysian construction industry. Starting with definitions of the main terms of the research as affordable housing, sustainable housing and the integration between them.
Figure 3.1: Conceptual illustration of literature review procedure source: Maier, 2013
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Also, they provided a review of sustainable, affordable statutes in developed and developing countries. Moreover, it presented a list of the critical challenges facing the implementation of sustainable, affordable housing in Malaysia, which is divided into four categories market, societal, professional and technological difficulties. Concluding with a list of
recommendations to enhance the awareness and knowledge of developers about the importance of combining sustainable and affordable housing. In addition to upgrading the country regulations and rules to establish sustainable affordable housing practices.
The literature review provides a piece of deep and extensive knowledge and background in terms of the research area. It also helps the author establish the research framework and clarify the path to conduct the research properly. But implementing this study in some research areas is inefficient due to lack of availability of information or difficulty accessing the data. Some investigations also require more than a literature review to extract useful outcomes that serve the study area. This method consumes lots of time and effort.
3.2.2 Survey methodology
The methodology of the survey can be defined as the mean of collecting quantitative information about a specific topic from a large sample of the population to investigate their responses and reactions. Generally, it can be used to either collect opinions, measure
satisfaction or assess the awareness level of the group of people. It could be conducted either as a web survey, personal interviews, mails survey and telephone surveys. This method is rarely found alone in sustainable, affordable housing studies (Dillman, Hox and Leeuw, n.d.).
Said et al., (2016) research adopted survey methodology of work, which aimed to investigate the best zone to construct sustainable, affordable housing units in Sabah state, Malaysia, through distributed questionnaires consisting of 26 criteria to inhabitants within the most popular and required six zones of the city. The questionnaire's purpose was to examine and elicit the opinions of respondents via evaluating their existing homes is related to the proposed standards that address sustainable housing affordability. The questionnaires' outcomes presented that all zones are suitable for sustainable, affordable housing projects with a slight disparity between them. This research could be used by property developers to find the appropriate locations to develop sustainable, affordable housing projects. Another study was conducted in Malaysia to explore the housing developers' insights on sustainable, affordable housing potential benefits. They used a cross-sectional hand delivery questionnaire survey, which including 23 sustainable, affordable housing benefits distributed among
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clients, developers and developer organizations. The survey results presented that the Malaysian housing industry isn't yet convinced of the importance of sustainable, affordable housing and its potential benefits. Therefore, the government needs to modify and upgrade its policies and regulations to support the combination of affordability and sustainability as well as decrease housing operation cost (Olanrewaju, Tan and Abdul-Aziz, 2018). However, survey methodology helps researchers collect data from a large sample of people and
examine their opinions, awareness, reactions, etc., with a low amount of expenses compared with other methodologies. However, this method doesn't provide sufficient information on some topics, especially on a controversial topic—moreover, it lacks accuracy due to the different respondents' cultural and social backgrounds.
3.2.3 Simulation and computer modeling methodology
Many papers in the sustainable, affordable housing field rely on simulation methodology to investigate the research objectives and conduct the study with consideration of real-world parameters and conditions. Simulation methodology is used to evaluate the performance of the model or system that either existed or proposed. Starting the projects or studies with simulation tools, especially in science, engineering, video games and economics fields will help predict outcomes, examine various parameters and minimize the clashes before
implementing the project in real life. The simulation could be used in various forms, either as equations, mathematical and computer software (Jaleesha and Ezhil, 2019). Generally, using computer simulation in sustainable, affordable housing field to measure various variables regards sustainability and assess factors that impact the life cycle cost.
Marzouk and Azab conducted their study through simulation methodology to develop a dynamic model in STELLA software. The developed model could clarify the interaction between systems of the building, costs and sustainable properties to assess the economic and environmental performance of low-income housing. The financial aspect is evaluated by life cycle cost, while the environmental performance of the material is determined by LEED credit that presented in five scenarios. The proposed evaluation outcomes revealed that eco- friendly materials recorded a better performance in terms of operational cost and LEED credit compared with conventional material (Marzouk and Azab, 2017).
Moreover, Alemi and Loge (2017) presented an affordable zero net energy prototype house developed by the UC Davis Solar Decathlon team in California, America, which aimed to provide comfort and better life quality for farmworkers that they can afford. The prototype
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house was developed at BEopt an energy modeling software and Microsoft Excel. The designers implemented several strategies and technologies to attain their goals. Such as implemented passive and active design strategies, used energy-efficient appliance, greywater heat recovery system and PV panels. Moreover, they adopted the in-line framing method used 10% less lumber than the conventional framing method. Both BEopt and Excel were used to investigate the energy performance of the prototype, which addressed a significant reduction in energy consumption compared with traditional homes.
Regardless of the simulation model function, the computer simulation is the best to predict the closest behaviors and reactions that could be happened in real life. It can investigate and solve complex cases and systems. Besides, this method can use a wide range of variables under controlled conditions, extending the research area. However, optimal outcomes and solutions are difficult to be produced by simulation approach according to unexpected circumstances. Also, it requires great caution in entering the data as it affects the validity and reliability of the simulation and sometimes simulation methodology-based studies demand significant expenses to use the software.
3.2.4 Mixed methodology
Several studies were conducted in sustainable, affordable housing based on mixed methods or multi-methodologies. Mainly mixed-method studies integrate into the same study quantitative and qualitative research or a series of processes in collecting data, investigating and
evaluating variables. For example, in Ali and Alzu'bi (2017) analysis, they used several methods to carry out their study, which is drawing review, field survey, personal interviews and computer simulation. To explore the situation of various affordable housing projects in Jordan and develop an affordable and sustainable housing model. Reviewing the "as-built"
drawings to collect the data regards building physical and operational characteristics. Both surveys and interviews were conducted with architects and decision-makers in the housing sector to obtain further information related to sustainable, affordable housing parameters that could be used in the hot and arid climate.
Furthermore, they used DesignBuilder simulation software to assess the energy consumption patterns of these housing and BRE Code Water Calculator to analyze the water efficiency.
The outcomes data of these investigations and assessments were utilized to develop a new model that combined affordability and sustainability, which was later compared to these
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housing. The analysis demonstrated that the proposed model provided a considerable reduction in energy and water consumption.
Other studies conducted on the same topic combined literature review and survey
methodologies as Chan and Adabre research. They run a study to address and categorize the critical success factors (CSC) required to bridge the gap between sustainable and affordable housing. Initiating a comprehensive review of the literature to identify the main (CSC) factors, followed by a questionnaire survey that sends to affordable housing experts.
Consequently, it concluded with 21 (CSC) factors classified into six groups. This research finding could be used as a guide for housing developers and governments for establishing sustainable housing projects (Chan and Adabre, 2019). Researchers usually prefer to use mixed methodologies to enhance the validity and accuracy of study results, introduce a greater variety of views, could help synthesize and combine theories and some studies used mixed methods to compete between them. However, lack of experience in one of the
methodologies could lead to consume more time and cost and increase the complexity of the research design (Ganiyu, 2016).