Data Generation

The cases for the data generation were the clan leaders. This study prefers to use the term data generation to reflect that the data resulted from a process rather than simple numerical

measurement. Data generation involved the use of an in-depth interview technique and probing techniques. The interviews and probing were guided by the leading questions, discussed below.

3.7.1 Unstructured in-depth interview

Interviews are the most utilized data collection method in qualitative research. Interview can be classified into three types - structured interviews, unstructured interviews, and semi-structured interviews (Oka & Shaw, 2000). This study adopted an unstructured or open-ended interview technique for data generation. The researcher and interviewee talk freely, but guided by the leading questions, that are open-ended and supported by probing for generating information on various aspects of the study (Table 3.2).

Every participants who participated in the interview was considered special. A good interview is like a good conversation. A good conversation is always a two-way affair. One person talks while the other listens, responds, and encourages. An in-depth interview is more than just an interview in that you are talking to another person in such a way that you understand a particular part of their life. This was the situation with the interviews in this study. It is during the interviews that the research data in the form of biographical narratives relating to the various aspects of LOC is generated.

3.7.2 Leading questions

Leading questions were used for interviewing participants to generate data for Phase 1 of the study. This was done in accordance with the dictates of GT, specifically the ‘Glaserian approach’. The leading questions sets in motion the process of data generation. The researcher asks the leading question, the participant responds, the researcher asks another question, the participants responds, and this goes on until the researcher is satisfied that all important information of interest or relevance to the study has been collected. This repetition of questioning-response, questioning-response and so forth is referred to as probing, a technique was used throughout all the interviews. The role of the researcher in the generation of data in this study was passive and that was consistent with the dictates of the ‘Glaserian approach’. Contained in Table 3.2 is the framework containing the leading questions and a list of topics or aspects of relevance for probing following the leading question. The use of a probing technique provided for the collection of invaluable data for Phase 1 of the study. While the researcher played a passive role in the generation of data, he also had the responsibility of ensuring that all the aspects of relevance to this study were thoroughly covered.

Table 3.2: Framework of leading questions and aspects of probing for data generation Broad subjects and leading questions Aspects for probing

Landowner group

What do you think about the group made up of landowners who collectively own the LOC?

Size; relationship, level of education Understanding about LOC business Other (topics from interview)

Organisation of LOC business

What do you think about the organisation of the LOC?

Membership, appointment of LOC executives Office space/permanent address

Business plan, business contract

Landowner representation in the management Others (topics from the interview)

Management of LOC business

What do you think about the management of your LOC?

Meetings, reports and consultations Landowner expectations, issues/problems Other (topics from the interview)

Support to LOC business

What do you think about the support of PNGFA to the LOC business?

Degree of support to landowners’ issues, concerns or problems

Others (topics from the interview) How do you see the relationship of the

logging company with your LOC business?

Working relationship with LOC executive Commitments to their responsibilities Others (topics from the interview)

This framework ensured that all information of relevance to this study was collected during the interviews. This included experiences, perceptions, opinions, feelings, and knowledge, as expressed by the participants.

During the interviews, reflections were made on the information provided by the participants to ensure that the researcher understood the main responses and interpretations that had been described. At the end of the interview, the participants were asked if there was anything else they thought was important in understanding the issue under discussion that had not been covered. Throughout the interviews, probing techniques were used to elicit more valuable information.

There were also a few cases where interviews were recorded using a digital voice recorder. Before each interview began, permission was asked of each participant to record the interview. The entire conversation was recorded (despite some stage when the conservation was not relevant to the study). Recording allowed greater attention to be given to what the research participants were saying. However, the major drawback was the longer time (one to two hours) required for transcribing.

Throughout the study, and on a daily basis after a few interviews, the contents of the interview were summarised in order to document any difficulties encountered which, in turn, helped me to improve the content and style of later interviews. These summaries also helped me to review and categorise themes and concepts that emerged during interviews while they were still ‘fresh’ in my mind. These field notes (written text) and the transcripts of the recorded verbal interviews served as the primary data for this study.

3.7.3 Data preparation

Data generated during the interviews were in the form of interview memos and digital recordings. As part of the process of data preparation, every interview memo were typed/transcribed into a written script that gave a narrative account of the interviews. All these written scripts will be used in the analysis; this is discussed in the next section.