In the previous chapter the relevant literature was extensively consulted in order to make meaning of the subject of this enquiry and to substantiate any claim that may arise as a result of this research. The research methodology controls this study, dictates the acquisition of the data and arranges it in logical relationships, sets up a means of refining the raw data, constructs an approach so that the meanings that underpin the data become manifested, and, finally, issues a conclusion or series of conclusions that lead to an expansion of the body of knowledge. The entire process of methodology is a unified effort as well as an appreciation of its component parts of the entire research process.
Further to that, it is the process of arriving at dependable solutions to a problem through the planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data.
The best research is that which is reliable, verifiable and exhaustive so that it provides information in which we have confidence. This chapter must, therefore, be understood as the specification of methods and procedures for acquiring the information needed for solving the problem. Decisions regarding what, where, when, how much, by what means concerning an inquiry or a research study constitute a research design.
3.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Although the main focus of this research was on the analysis of the impact of public participation in the Integrated Development Planning of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the objectives of this research were mainly to:
• Analyse the impact of the public participation process in the Integrated Development Planning of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.
• Assess whether there is ownership of the IDP by BCMM communities in the form of a strategic document.
• Provide recommendations on the best practices based on the findings of the research regarding the public participation process in the IDP.
45 3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN
The research design incorporates both the qualitative and quantitative research methods, more especially with regard to the data presentation and interpretation. Research design is the conceptual structure within which research will be conducted and its constitution will be the blue print for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. It is the specification of methods and procedures for acquiring the information needed for solving the problem. Decisions regarding what, where, when, how much, by what means concerning an inquiry or a research study constitute this research design.
3.3 POPULATION
According to Barbie (2010:55), the population is the total members of a defined class of people, objects, places or events selected because they are relevant to the research question. In any research study, the study population has to be clearly defined according to particular characteristics such as age, sex, residence.
3.4 THE SAMPLE
The sample population of this research consisted of 10 ward councillors, 10 community members and 10 ward committees out of 50 available wards in the municipality. This made the total number of my subjects to be 30 and above that process 20 questionnaires were distributed to 10 ward committee members, 10 sampled community members, and the total was 30 respondents of the questionnaires.
As stated before, the research method applied in this research is both qualitative and quantitative data collection. Mouton (2007:128) argues that quantitative research is associated with analytical research, and its purpose is to arrive at a universal statement. Bryman (2004:77) argues that the indispensable condition or qualification for qualitative methodology is commitment to seeing the world from the point of view of the actor or participant. Because of this commitment to see through the eyes of one’s subjects, close involvement is advocate.
46 3.5 DATA COLLECTION
The techniques used in this research were individual interviews, completion of questionnaires and observation. Van Niekerk (2001:165) states that observational techniques are used to determine how individuals or groups of persons react under specific circumstances, either natural or artificial. Research respondents were visited for questionnaires were accordingly forwarded to them and collected once completed. This process was used to ensure timely responses and accurate collection without missing any of them. The following questions were used for structured interviews; questionnaires were distributed to all selected respondents as follows;
3.6 DATA ANALYSIS
Information was captured in word format as well as tabulated in a spreadsheet and classified with the corresponding respondents for the purpose of analysis. An in-depth description was provided, emphasizing contextual factors which cause the leadership to behave in a particular way in the case of a metropolitan municipality.
According to Lofland et al. (2006), there are six ways of looking for patterns in a particular research, namely frequencies, magnitude, structures, processes, causes and consequences. The data was analysed using this approach.
According to Riege (1997:101), qualitative research can be judged by means of four criteria, namely: transferability, dependability, credibility and confirmability.
3.6.1 Transferability: Transferability refers to the degree to which the results of qualitative research can be generalised or transferred to other contexts or settings.
From a qualitative perspective, transferability is primarily the responsibility of the one doing the generalising. Herein the researcher has enhanced transferability by describing the research context and the assumptions that were central to the research.
3.6.2 Dependability: This is concerned with whether the same results would be obtained if one could observe the same thing twice. The idea of dependability
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emphasises the need for the researcher to account for the ever-changing context within which research occurs. The researcher is responsible for describing the changes that occur in the setting and how these changes affected the way the researcher approached the study.
3.6.3 Credibility: The credibility criteria involve establishing that the results of qualitative research are credible or believable from the perspective of the participant in the research. Since from this perspective the purpose of qualitative research is to describe or understand the phenomena of interest through the participants’ eyes, the participants are the only ones who can legitimately judge the credibility of the results.
3.6.4 Confirmability: Confirmability refers to the degree to which the results could be confirmed or corroborated by others. There are a number of strategies for enhancing confirmability.
3.7. CONCLUSION
The research unearths the passion and willingness to be capacitated on various matters that would bring improvement to the living conditions of the many, living conditions that have been neglected for a number of years by the previous apartheid government.
The fact is that the Integrated Development Plan and public participation are fairly new concepts at the grassroots level. They have a fundamental and very crucial role to play in the delivery of basic services and the eradication of poverty in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in particular. Thus the IDP approach is a more business-orientated process not aimed at running the Metropolitan Municipality like a profit-making institution but rather to ensure that scarce resources are properly allocated and spent effectively, and service delivery is enhanced. The next chapter (Chapter 4) will deal with data presentation, analysis and interpretation.
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CHAPTER FOUR: THE FINDINGS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RESULTS