Data collection process

The structured questionnaire used for the study was obtained from ARUP, the authors of the conceptual framework adopted for the study. The researcher together with the assistance of the promoter, Prof. Margaret Cullen, sought permission from ARUP to utilise their measuring instrument. Permission was granted in writing (Annexure D). The researcher thereafter made a presentation at the Nelson Mandela Bay Council to seek permission to conduct the study. Permission was granted from NMBM (Annexure E) and the researcher commenced the study. Based on the resolutions of approval, a dedicated office was allocated for the study and the researcher formally seconded to head the process. The researcher formed a joint inter-directorate team of representatives to provide input from their respective performance areas related to the study. The researcher convened all the representatives for a briefing session and

67 | P a g e

provided a detailed background and purpose of the study. Thereafter, with the assistance of the representatives, the researcher scheduled one on one session with each of the departments. An agenda (Annexure F) was distributed prior to the meeting with focus on the study. In these sessions, the researcher explained the concept of the study in detail and distributed the questionnaires. The questionnaires were printed in A4 format with an explanatory letter on the front page. The letter contained the title, purpose and instructions on how to complete the questionnaire. Assurance of anonymity was given and respondents informed that their participation was voluntary. Participants were requested to answer the questions accurately and put the completed questionnaires in a sealed box. Where needed, an explanation was given by the researcher before and during the distribution and completion of the questionnaires. The respondents were required to complete the questionnaires at the end of meeting and drop off the completed questionnaires in a sealed box. An alternative was provided for respondents to complete the questionnaires at a convenient time and drop off the completed questionnaires at designated points across the organisation. 200 hard copies were printed and distributed in the one on one sessions. The reminders 300 were hand delivered to individuals in their offices. To cover the full sample scope, the questionnaire was emailed to additional 100 staff members.

The researcher collected the sealed boxes containing the questionnaires together with the returned email questionnaires and personally captured the data manually on an excel document.

Strengths and Weakness of the data collection method The data collection method used has the following strengths:

 The standardised wording on the printed questionnaires eliminated the researcher’s influence on the subject responses.

 The strategy to use one on one sessions ensured the best return rate and quality of data since the researcher was available to clarify any misunderstandings. This approach also utilised minimal time thus the data collection process was done within the time allocated.

68 | P a g e

The data collection method used had the following weaknesses:

 The structure of a written questionnaire which increases reliability of subject responses also limited the researcher’s ability to probe subject responses.

 Questionnaire data are limited to the responses subjects choose to make.

 Some respondents opted to complete the questionnaires at their convenient time resulting in poor rate of return.

3.5 DATA ANALYSIS

Data alone cannot give the author answers to the research problem. According to Skilling and Sivia (2006), in order to see patterns and trends in the data, they must be analysed and interpreted. Guerrero (2010) adds that data analysis helps the researcher to determine the best course of action, and his/her decision is based on the interpretation of the information. In this study, data were analysed statistically with the use of Statistica version 13 and SPSS 23 software (StatSoft, 2014; Windows, 2014). The analyses were done in two phases namely; descriptive and inferential.

Descriptive analysis: these are methods that describe, show or summarize data in a meaningful way. The following descriptive analyses were done in the study:

a) Central tendency analysis. It looked at identifying a specific value that could be considered “representative” or “typical” of the entire distribution. In other words, it involved summarising the data using a single value. This was measured using the mean, median and mode. Each of these measures describes a different indication of the typical or central value in the distribution.

b) Dispersion analysis also called variability, scatter, or spread denotes how stretched or squeezed a distribution or set of data is. The method tries to measure the average distances between the values in the data set and the mean. The measure of dispersion method used in the study was standard deviation.

c) Percentage frequency distribution: A percentage frequency distribution is a display of data that specifies the percentage of observations that exist for each

69 | P a g e

data point or grouping of data points. It was a particularly useful method of expressing the relative frequency of survey responses and other data.

Inferential analysis. Inferential statistics makes inferences about a population using data drawn from the population. Inferential analysis enabled the author to make inferences from the data collected to more general conditions. The inferential statistics enabled the author to reach conclusions that extended beyond the immediate data. The following inferential statistics methods were used in the study:

a) single sample t-test was done to test whether the sample comes from a defined population which will assist the researcher to either accept or reject the null hypothesis;

b) Cohen’s d effect size statistics was then determined to measure the practical significance of the variables rating;

c) Correlation relationships in between the variables were examined using correlation analysis method to indicate the extent to which two or more variables associate together;

d) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) conducted for comparisons between the selected demographic information and the four main dimensions of resilience.

3.6 ETHICS CLEARANCE

The successful completion of a research project does not only require expertise and diligence but also requires honesty and integrity. A submission was tabled at the NMMU Faculty RTI Ethics Committee seeking approval to conduct research. The application was successful and ethics clearance granted. The ethics clearance number is H-15- BES-BS-015 (Annexure B). This process is essential and enforced to recognise and protect the rights of human subjects. The researcher ensured that the rights to self- determination, anonymity, confidentiality and the consent of all the participants were observed prior, during and after the project. The process of ensuring an ethically credible research process began with the acquisition of an ethics clearance certificate from the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences Research Committee of the university. This means the research was declared free of any possible ethical violations

70 | P a g e

on the participants. Secondly, prior to conducting the study, the researcher obtained authorisation from Top management of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Annexure E).

In addition, all respondents were given a detailed explanation of the purpose of the study before they could participate. Respondents were informed of their rights to voluntarily consent or decline to participate and to withdraw participation at any time without penalty. Finally, the researcher promised to respect the views of respondents who did not want to be identified in the study as well as those who did not want their opinions to be disclosed to anyone.