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Economic analysis: Shaanxi waste recycling

2.2. Data sources multiple professions on a specific issue, the advantages
To ensure that participants possessed sufficient industry of these methods become particularly pronounced. 23
experience and knowledge to address the interview This study followed four main steps to analyze the
questions, they were required to be currently engaged qualitative data, as shown in Figure 1. First, all online
in construction waste management within Shaanxi and interviews were transcribed verbatim into textual
have at least 15 years of relevant experience. A sample format, followed by repeated close reading to ensure
size of 4 – 30 participants is generally sufficient to meet thorough immersion in the data. At the same time,
the research objectives in a case study with comparative key interview excerpts were organized and included
analysis. Thus, this study included a total of 12 in Appendix B. Subsequently, systematic coding was
20
participants and divided into three groups based on applied to the transcripts, focusing specifically on
occupation, with four individuals in each group. economic performance, challenges, and participant
Potential participants were invited through email roles across the three distinct stakeholder groups. Third,
or phone. Once identified, they were provided with preliminary codes were then categorized into coherent
the interview outline to familiarize themselves with themes, ensuring internal consistency while deliberately
the content, facilitating a smoother interview process. highlighting connections and divergent perspectives
Participants were also informed about the confidentiality among respondents. Finally, a comparative analysis of
of the interviews and that the content would be used inter-group contradictions regarding shared economic
solely for academic research purposes. The interviews themes in construction waste recycling was conducted,
were conducted online between December 2024 and yielding deeper insights into the economic dimensions
January 2025, with the responses recorded in textual of the process.
format.
3. Results and discussion
2.3. Interview design
Given the distinct roles of the interviewees in 3.1. Respondents’ information
construction waste recycling, resource utilization of The information regarding the interviewees is
construction waste, and policy design, the interview summarized in Table 1. All 12 participants have
content was tailored to reflect their professional over 15 years of work experience. Among the four
attributes, aiming to uncover their specific economic participants from the construction units, two have
performances. The full set of interview questions is prior experience working in design firms. The four
provided in Appendix A. For the construction units, the participants from the recycling units specialized in
questions mainly focused on three aspects, including different types of waste recovery and processing. Finally,
cost control processes, their impact on the economic all four government officials representing various
performance of the project, and the overall economic administrative departments are involved in construction
benefits. For the recycling units, the questions centered waste management. This diverse and experienced group
on market development for recycled materials and of participants ensured a comprehensive coverage of
the economic performance throughout the recycling the various aspects of construction waste management.
process. For government departments, the focus was on Their insights provided robust support for subsequent
the resources or technical support provided and plans to research and policy-making in this domain.
enhance construction waste utilization.
3.2. Perspectives of construction units
2.4. Data analysis In this section, the questions were designed to gain
After organizing the content of the interviews into a insight into cost control and economic benefits from
textual format, the data were subjected to thematic the perspective of project managers involved in waste
categorization and comparative analysis. Previous reduction and recycling participation. By exploring
research shows that thematic categorization and the feasibility reflected in the economic aspect of these
comparative analysis are commonly employed for processes, the findings can inform the formulation of
summarizing and analyzing interview data. 21,22 These economic subsidies and incentive policies, thereby
methods effectively integrate interview content by guiding future directions. Based on the responses from
categories, uncover underlying issues, and provide the four interviewees, four key themes were identified,
multi-perspective solutions to address them. As Neale and the corresponding theme-coding table is presented
highlighted, when investigating the perspectives of in Table 2.

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 97 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025120080