Data collection methods

In this stud y w e collected both primar y an d secondar y data . Primar y data include d those data collecte d i n the field throug h interview , focu s grou p discussion s an d observation. While secondar y dat a was collecte d through reviewin g different document s fro m variou s

office an d Librar y suc h a s report s o n th e organizatio n performance , files, books , an d internets.

Primary dat a 1.3.11.1 Interview

Interview a s a metho d o f dat a collectio n i s a fac e t o fac e conversatio n betwee n th e interviewer an d interviewee . Thi s metho d ha s bee n selecte d du e t o th e fac t that : i t wa s possible to appl y to educate d an d no n educated respondents , th e interviewe r was abl e t o make clarificatio n whe n the responden t coul d no t understand th e questio n asked and als o the interviewe r had a n opportunit y to observ e reactions , emotion s a s wel l a s listenin g to the opinion s of respondents .

The dat a wer e obtaine d b y interviewin g the beneficiarie s o f th e Umoj a saving s an d credit grou p throug h fac e t o fac e i n dept h interviewer s fro m usin g a focu s grou p checklist. Th e non-beneficiarie s als o wer e considere d t o se e i f ther e ar e awar e wit h savings strategie s employed . I n som e are a th e researche r use d th e guide d intervie w questions fo r discussio n i n orde r t o ge t deepe r understandin g o f th e phenomena . Th e questions wer e bot h open and close-ended. Th e instruments wer e selecte d t o ensur e tha t the informatio n obtained i s relevant to answer the researc h questions .

1.3.11.2. Focus group discussion

B y usin g participator y discussions , respondent s ha d enoug h tim e t o expres s thei r feelings an d it gave tim e to respondents t o get clarification o f the question , whic h wer e not clear , from th e interviewer and provide answers accordingly . Focus group discussion was als o applie d in data collection . A n d it was use d t o clarify som e o f the informatio n that wa s not clea r i n the questionnair e an d add more inpu t o n what wa s needed b y researcher. Th e focu s grou p discussio n enables th e researcher t o explore behavior s and attitudinal informatio n tha t affec t bot h positiv e an d negativit y o n improvemen t o f savings in the area .

1.3.11.3. Observation

Observation technique s ar e methods o f which, a n individual o r individuals gather firs t hand dat a o n programs, processe s o r behaviors bein g studied. The y provide a researche r with a n opportunity to collect data o n wide range o f behaviour, to capture grea t variety of interaction s an d openl y explor e th e topi c unde r study . I n thi s particula r study , observation wa s employed i n assessing th e respondent's behaviou r regardin g saving s mobilization an d how people behave withi n an d outside the group.

Secondary data

1.3.11.4. Documentary review

Through thi s metho d writte n material s wer e use d t o obtai n informatio n an d dat a pertinent t o thi s study . Th e literature revie w i s applie d t o obtai n secondar y dat a and

information o n lo w capital , institutionalizatio n strategie s requirement , lo w income , poverty, an d informatio n o n micr o financ e plannin g an d implementation . Als o th e internet an d variou s existin g reports ar e rea d t o giv e the researche r genera l overvie w of the situation . Th e dat a wer e als o obtaine d fro m Umoj a repor t (Minut e of the meetings , performance repor t an d constitution of the group .

According t o Levitisk y (1993 ) contend s tha t microfinanc e i s importan t t o loo k a t th e indicators o f the impac t assessment , th e curren t debat e o n microfinanc e interventio n i s weather i t reduce poverty , reaching the poores t o f the poor : Th e autho r advocat e tha t th e primary purpose s o f al l credi t programm e fo r smal l an d micr o enterprise s t o rais e th e living standard s o f the beneficiaries , their families and their communities

According t o Makomb e e t a l (1999 ) a n assessmen t o f th e impac t o f micr o credi t intervention depend s o n ho w povert y ha s bee n defined . Indicator s o f th e impac t o f microfinance interventio n includ e employmen t creation , busines s growth , an d standar d of living . Othe r indicator s ar e reducin g vulnerability , redistributing incomes , reducin g dependency o n powerful group s b y weaker one s an d restrictin g social politica l relation s in favo r o f the poor . Sugges t tha t communit y based project s ofte n fail s becaus e o f low participation fro m households . Makomb e went furthe r tha t a credit scheme migh t fail t o empower wome n dependin g o n ho w i t i s manage d an d it s componen t o r package . H e suggested tha t throug h observations , ther e i s n o amoun t o f credi t eve n a t th e mos t reasonable rate s that can accompany by other packages suc h as infrastructure .

Buckly (1996) , i n his stud y title d Jua kal i secto r i n Keny a argue s tha t N GO lending t o small busines s an d especiall y micro enterprise s hav e explode d sinc e th e Unite d State s agency o f internationa l Developmen t (USAID ) se t th e Keny a Rura l financin g Programme. Th e stud y indicate s tha t th e progra m focuse s o n busines s creatio n o r business expansio n rather than povert y alleviation . Th e Juhud i credi t schem e loa n fund s have attracte d impac t assessmen t studies . Th e schem e focuse s o n shantytow n dweller s that are essentiall y involved i n survival economi c

Misana (1995 , U R T / U N I C E F 1990 ) Wome n and poverty alleviatio n the issu e o f women and poverty requires specia l consideration because women and girl s of poor grou p bea r a disproportionably highe r share s o f th e burde n o f poverty . Th e autho r suggest s th e concern fo r wome n t o participat e i n poverty alleviatio n efforts i n Tanzania is importan t because wome n continu e t o b e th e mos t disadvantage s group . Pete r (1998 ) narrate d th e constraints face d b y compostin g group s i n Nairobi, suggestin g tha t th e futur e effort s i n improving th e viabilit y o f composing an d othe r viabl e Project s shoul d includ e buildin g strong communit y suppor t an d involvemen t an d developin g th e group s business , marketing skill s an d wher e possibl e credi t shoul d b e provide d t o suppor t th e grou p initiative.

Hulme e t a l (1986 ) Researche d o n th e impac t o f th e Federatio n o f Thrif t an d credi t cooperative know n th e Srilanke n acronym o f ( S A N A S A ) Th e stud y use d a sampl e o f 151 borrower s fro m tw o societie s Kurunegal a an d Moneragala , Th e finding s showe d

that househol d income s ros e b y 15 % i n rea l term s afte r takin g th e loa n whil e 25 % o f household belo w the officia l povert y lin e showed improve d incomes b y th e tim e o f th e field work . Cooperativ e credi t wa s als o see n a s a prim e caus e o f reduced dependencie s of informa l tie d credi t wit h cro p traders . I t i s als o foun d tha t almos t 30 % o f th e borrowers reporte d a diversification of income sources .

1.3.12. Psychometric characteristics