Is Functional Contextualism the Appropriate Methodology for Examining the Management of Conflict of Interest in the Real Estate Valuation Process in the Irish Property Profession?

In examining the research question of the best practice for managing conflict of interest in the real estate valuation process within Ireland a number of research methodologies were considered. Review of literature in the field supports a pragmatic approach to the central issues of the formation of an individual’s ethical viewpoint and behaviours, the nature of the ethical challenges faced within the real estate valuation process and the possible frameworks that may influence an individual’s behaviour going forward. Within the pragmatic realm a more focused lens of Functional Contextualism is considered. Functional contextualists seek to predict and influence events using empirically-based concepts and rules (Biglan & Hayes, 1996; Hayes, 1993b; Gifford & Hayes, 1999). This paper examines the suitability of functional contextualism as the primary research methodology for researching conflict of interest in the real estate valuation process within Ireland. Emphasis is placed on highlighting the areas of the approach that fit and also those that require omission due to their lack of suitability to the subject research problem. Keywords: conflict of interest, real estate, pragmatism, functional contextualism.