DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTION

This section discusses data collection instruments utilised during the research process to answer the research question in order to realise the objectives of this study. These instruments are selected based on the research design and methodology approach employed by the researcher. It is also important to mention that the correct usage of the selected research instruments ensure information acceptability and consistency. In other words, research instruments appropriateness ensures reliable research results. A case study is no exception to this rule. According to Brink,

©University of South Africa 62 Van Der Walt and Van Rensburg (2009:110) researchers conducting case studies use a number of approaches to the collection and analysis of data. Popular approaches include various data collection instruments such as interviews, questionnaires, observations and written accounts by the subjects. However, Brink, Van Der Walt and Van Rensburg (2009:110) advise that the disadvantages of case studies are that they tend to be time-consuming and quite costly. Subject drop-out may also occur if the study is carried out over an extended period. In contrast, Brink, Van Der Walt and Van Rensburg (2009:110) admit that the advantage is the detailed level of analysis that results when research is confined to a small number of subjects. In the context of this study, it is suggested that governance practices information is not readily available and accessible to ordinary members of the community. Consequently, the size of the sample from which governance practices information was collected became smaller and only confined to politicians and administrative officials in the Oshana Region. Ordinary members of the community were more helpful in providing information regarding availability and accessibility to service delivery in their respective localities. Yet, as indicated earlier, the size of this category of respondents was also narrowed due to the big size of the research population and the geographical vastness of the constituencies in the Oshana Region.

Following is a detailed discussion and exposition of the sources of information and instruments used to collect data. In this regard, the researcher does not only start with collection of empirical evidence. In social sciences, interviews and observation may precede comprehensive review of literature. Literature includes published and unpublished sources of information. This allows general conceptualisation of issues concerned. Only then, interviews can be conducted in order to contextualise those issues. Naidoo (2004:51) states that, “an exploration of secondary resources can begin with a search of published data and the identification of unpublished data that is relevant to the topic or problem area. It is therefore essential to explore all the possibilities of secondary data sources before proceeding with the remaining steps of research process.”

Theoretically, there is abundance of secondary sources on governance, good governance and service delivery. Various institutions and organisations, as discussed in chapter three and four of this study, have published an abundance of information on governance and service delivery. These institutions include, but not limited to, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and New Partnership for African Development. These institutions also

©University of South Africa 63 provide suggestions and recommendations on how to improve governance practices and service delivery particularly in developing countries. Moreover, secondary data is available from textbooks, journals, academic thesis and dissertation as well as internet sources and newspapers. According to Matthews and Ross (2010:152) one of the first questions researchers need to address when thinking about how they are going to choose their data sources is how they will want to use the data when they have gathered it. Possibly, this is a central point in data collection and obviously influences the researcher’s decision on the types of data collected. Moreover, the collected data influenced the manner research results were presented and vice versa. In this regard, the researcher consulted various sources of information in order to collect not only sufficient but relevant data necessary to answer the research question and address the problem statement. Data collection was done in a manner discussed in the ensuing paragraphs.

Firstly, this study made use of secondary sources. In so doing, a comprehensive literature review was conducted in order to collect data to provide a broader overview of governance and service delivery. In the same vein, the study reviewed literature on governance practices and service delivery in Namibia in general and in the Oshana region in particular. That was done through desk study (library visits and internet search). The researcher has extensively reviewed and explored the following sources of information:

• Books on Public Administration, governance, good governance and service delivery available in libraries and resource centres, as well as website documents.

• Government gazetted legislations (Acts of Parliament, Government National Development Plan documents, Regional and Local Government by-laws, as well as Policy documents).

• Research theses and dissertations.

• Journals and other scientifically researched articles.

• Daily newspapers.

©University of South Africa 64 The above sources of information have provided useful data relevant to the research question of this study. It assisted the researcher to conceptualise and put into perspective governance and service delivery in Namibia, taking into cognisance the global governance viewpoint and the manner government services are delivered to people especially previously disadvantaged and marginalised communities at grassroots. Literature on governance and service delivery in the Southern African perspective has also been analysed and applied to Namibia’s situation.

Secondly, the researcher consulted and carefully analysed primary sources of information in order to obtain primary data. This data collection strategy includes the researcher’s personal interactions with respondents in the form of face-to-face interviews. Collecting primary data was crucial because it enabled the researcher to obtain first-hand information on governance practices and service delivery, thereby, analysed and interpreted such information to put into perspective and explain the current situation in the Oshana Region. Van Der Walt and Van Rensburg (2009:141-156) maintain that the research tools to be used to collect data, should be well planned and designed based on the research design and research question to be answered. According to Matthews and Ross (2010:181) the history of social research has included the development of a range of research tools to help social researchers to organise and manage the task of data collection. The researcher, therefore, utilised the data collection instruments as mentioned in the next paragraphs: These research instruments are appropriate to this study because they generate data necessary to conceptualise and put into context governance and service delivery in the Oshana region. The research instruments are as follows:

• Personal interviews were conducted with the Governor of the Oshana Region, and the Chief Regional Officers of the Oshana Region: 7 Constituency Councillors, 8 Local Authority Councillors, 2 Chief Executive Officers of Oshakati and Ondangwa Town Councils respectively, 17 administrative officials (11 officials from nine constituencies in the Oshana Region, 6 local authority officials in the Department of Local Economic Development as well as Department of Town Planning in the Oshakati and Ondangwa Town Councils respectively) and, 270 ordinary members of the community (27 from each constituency). The researcher also interviewed 20 traditional leaders (2 from each of the ten constituencies) and 3 officials from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Oshana Region. This brings the total number of interviewees to 329 respondents. These respondents were selected using the non-probability sampling methods.

©University of South Africa 65 It should be pointed out the interview questions are divided into three sections. This is because interviewer targeted two categories of respondents whose knowledge and understanding regarding governance practices and service delivery are not on the same level (Read section 2.6

in this regard). It must be cleared here that although structured questions were prepared, as indicated above some actual face-to-face interviews were reduced to semi-structured and unstructured sort-of conversations, depending on respondents and the situation. For example, respondents, particularly ordinary community members, who were not comfortable to meet the interviewer at their respective homesteads, were interviewed by using unstructured interviews. This ensured that necessary information is obtained. It also means that some interviews took place at places where respondents were found. For example, community water points, informal business centres, and other places of gathering. In the case where the respondent found it uncomfortable to engage into direct face-to-face interview, interview was reduced to informal discussions. Yet, this method has also produced important data as this technique allowed ordinary members of the community to freely discuss and share information. According to Bernard and Ryan (2010:28) unstructured interviews provided a wealth of information, and in some cases it is the only realistic tool available for gathering information. In that regard, informal interviews (unstructured) can occur everywhere - in homes, in bars, on street corners. Thus, to supplement unstructured interviews and create an easy atmosphere for some members of society to freely engage in conversations with the researcher. Informal discussions were also held with respondents in this category.

Respondents were drawn from governance institutions and communities in the Oshana Region respectively. As explained in the previous sections, these are lawmakers who make decisions on governance and service delivery and ordinary members of the community who are directly affected and benefit from services being provided by Oshana Regional Council and Local Authority Council respectively. These categories of respondents are assumed to possess a wealth of information necessarily for the purpose of this study. Consequently, the researcher was convinced that by interviewing these respondents, it provides an opportunity for probing questions in order for them to clarify certain issues related to governance and service delivery in the Oshana Region.

©University of South Africa 66 Additionally, the researcher has reviewed and analysed government documents that contain primary information on policy interventions and directives. These sources include the following:

• State of the Nation Address speeches by the President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

• Speeches by political figures such as Regional Governor and Regional Councillors when addressing various platforms and community gatherings respectively.

• The researcher has also utilised observation method, and took comprehensive field notes, or the so-called ‘jottings’ (Bachman and Schutt, 2011:267), was done. Data gathered through observation method or field notes are explained in details in chapter five. In this regard, the researcher has visited community centres, food-for-work projects, community water points, and draught relief distribution centres. These are places where community members gather to discuss issues affecting their respective communities, collect clean water for both human and animal consumption, and receive draught relief food to sustain their livelihoods. Therefore, these visitations provided good opportunity for the researcher to observe and collect data necessary to answer the research question and achieve research objectives.

According to Heigham and Crocker (2009:17) observation allows the researcher to collect information about participants’ external behaviour which can be further explored casually in conversation or more formally in interviews with questions about participants’ inner ideas, believes and values. Nevertheless, the researcher was aware of the disadvantages that the observation method held, such as biased reporting, and the behaviour of the participants if they are aware that they were being observed. These shortcomings were addressed through double- checking (validating) the information with responses provided through interviews. For example, in an event where the researcher has observed that some community members travel long distances to access certain services, a convenience approach was utilised to talk to them through informal discussions. This was made to verify and confirm what has been observed. Likewise, information obtained through studying government reports, researched documents as well as data provided by public officials and members of the community were correctly examined and validated to ensure accuracy. In other words, double-checking was done to ensure correlations and relevance of information.

©University of South Africa 67 2.6 DATA ANALYSIS, VALIDATION AND REPORTING

This section explains the methods and techniques used for analysing and interpreting data collected from the case study. Explaining and discussing these techniques is essential because it enables correct integration of empirical data with reviewed literature to arrive at research findings and to make appropriate recommendations. This section also explains how data was double-checked and validated to ensure that the written report is, to a certain extent, and objectively based on accurate information.

The question is what is data analysis all about? One also needs to know, why qualitative research design is selected and how it suits the chosen data analysis techniques? It is also imperative to understand why the data collection instruments were used in relations to data analysis methods. In research, collected data is meaningless until it is analysed and interpreted. Similarly, Mello (2007:9) states that “data has no meaning unless it is analysed and interpreted”. The process of categorising and making data meaningful is referred to as data analysis. The manner data is analysed, interpreted and reported also depends on the research design utilised. In the context of this study, empirical data was collected. Thus, proper analysis was done. Matthews and Ross (2010:345) describes “data analysis as a process of working with the data to summarise, describe, and explain the data in terms of the research questions”. Specifically on qualitative data, Bernard and Ryan (2010:4) claim that analysis is ‘mischievously ambiguous’. It can mean, ‘the analysis of qualitative data’ or it can mean, ‘the qualitative analysis of data’. What this means is that data analysis does not always assume the same approach.

Data can be analysed to understand general trends, for example, social issues, or to make meaning out of it in order to write a well-informed research report. In this regard, Bernard and Ryan (2010:4) advise that this confusion can be eliminated by distinguishing clearly between data and analysis. Data analysis is the technique of looking for patterns that can assist to clarify the reason why they are there and what they represent. It must be noted that analysis begins prior to data collection. More often than not, data analysis and collection happen concurrently. Even Fox and Bayat (2011:105) agree that the process of data collection and analysis may run concomitantly. Bernard and Ryan (2010:109), therefore, caution that researchers need to have prior knowledge about what you are studying. This must continue all the way through the research process. Moreover, Bernard and Ryan argue that “as you develop ideas, you test them

©University of South Africa 68 against your observations; your observations may then modify your ideas, which then need to be tested again, and so on”. The researcher started by ‘re-familiarising’ (Matthews and Ross, 2010:323) himself with the data by reading through and made notes. The purpose was to make sure that the researcher understood the collected data. This analysis enabled the researcher to categorise data that is related (Matthews and Ross, 2010:334). Through analysis of data, a systematic analysis approach was used to analyse each piece of data (Matthews and Ross, 2010:317). As it is explained earlier in this section, the content of the text documents (Matthews and Ross, 2010:395) was analysed to find meanings and context of information to enable the researcher to write and report such in the context it was provided by respondents without necessarily distorting such information. This process of ‘sorting and writing’ (Matthews and Ross, 2010:402) was scientifically applied to ensure that information collected through case study approach is reported in a scientific manner and in the context respondents have put such information. Marczyk, DeMatteo and Festinger (2005:208) state that if the “study has been conducted in a scientifically rigorous manner the data will hold the clues necessary to address the researchers’ questions”. The nature of this study required that the researcher collect data, analyse, validate and report the findings. This is essential in order to elucidate the existing governance practices and service delivery situation in the Oshana Region. Whereas, the goal and intention of government are to deliver services to all citizens in a fair and uncompromised manner, the practical reality may portray a different picture.

Data collected from the case study was analysed and interpreted and discussed using what Bachman and Schutt (2011:282) phrase as a “flow model”. The model suits qualitative data analysis. In this regard, flow model implies a systematic way of data analysis and interpretation. This model involves techniques researchers use to analyse, interpret and present data. It allows deductive approach to create clear and meaningful information. Deductive implies careful analysis of data to make it suit the explanation necessary to understand the issues under study. Bachman and Schutt (2011:282) identify some of the characteristics of the flow model techniques as follow:

• Documentation of the data and the process of data collection. It entails proper recording of data during research process. This allows better organisation of data during interpretation phase.

• Organisation or categorisation of the data into concepts. Data is categorised in order to find proper meaning and understanding of concepts. It is only when the meaning is clear

©University of South Africa 69 that the researcher would be able to put it into context. In social sciences, one of the purposes of research is to investigate social problems and attach meaning to those problems in order to provide proper recommendations. Thus, this can only be done once data are well organised and categorised.

• Connection of the data to show how one concept may influence another. In other words, grouping of data is necessary to ensure relationship among concepts.

• Corroboration or legitimisation, by evaluating alternative explanations, disconfirming evidence, and searching for negative cases. Basically, disconfirming of evidence is usually done to ensure that contradictory evidence provided by respondents is cautiously analysed and validated before included them in the research report. It should be noted that collected data, once categorised, may carry different meanings, which need to be carefully analysed before included in the research report. In this regard, matching and testing such data is important before a final draft is written. In short, this implies that all necessary steps must be taken by the researcher to ensure correctness, relevance and reliability of information.

• Representing the account, in other words, reporting the findings.

Against the backdrop of the aforementioned exposition, in this study, data analysis and interpretation techniques such as documenting, conceptualising and categorising (Flick, 2009:206-209) were utilised. This process of grouping, regrouping and relinking of data was necessary in order to consolidate meaning and explanation of data. It also presented an opportunity to the researcher to analyse data right at the time such information was collected. Patton (2002:4) notes that the data for qualitative analysis typically come from fieldwork.