Data types

As discussed above, multiple sourced evidence is essential for a case study of a qualitative and exploratory type (see Neuman, 2009, p. 13). This research acquired data from multiple sources based on both primary and secondary evidence. Primary sources included interviews, observational data; secondary sources included artefacts, documents and media publications.

Interviews

Interviews served as the main source of information for this research. In recognition of the rich nature of qualitative research data, Yin (2009) and N. Newton (2010) note that interviews are essential and provide remarkably detailed information. To achieve this, I conducted in-depth and semi-structured interviews. In-depth interviews focused on details of the VNCDF network and the ACCA programme’s housing component. These interviews were conducted at the initial stage with key informants of the national project team in order to explore their opinions of the overall network and the case studies. Information from in-depth interviews was useful in suggesting further inquiries in subsequent interviews. Semi-structured interviews were mainly conducted with other

stakeholders directly involved in the housing project, including experts, local government and residents of the housing projects. The semi-structured interviews used open-ended questions prepared in the interview guides.

Interview guides (see appendix C) were designed for the different groups of participants, but covered similar basic sections. Based on the study’s confirmatory and exploratory purposes, the interview guides served as a checklist of topics to be discussed in the interviews. Specifically, the interviews, as discussed above, followed preliminary insights into social capital theory and the ACCA housing projects, but simultaneously, allowed “sufficient flexibility” and “grounded implication”, borrowing the words of Noor (2008). Drawing from the suggestion of Babbie (2007, p. 306), questions asked in the interviews were not standardised, but rather open-ended to capture emerging details from the field.

Interviewee

A total of 52 interviews were conducted over the more than four months of data collection.

Interviewees included: (1) members of the VNCDF network management team at regional, national and city level (17 interviews); (2) ACVN’s international and domestic partners (7 interviews); (3) urban experts (3 interviews); and (4) residents of the two project neighbourhoods (25 interviews, including 12 for case 1 and 9 for case 2). Participants at national and city level were identified through document reviews and consultation with project informants. The number of interviews with

neighbourhood residents was settled based on the suggestion by Mitlin (2008) that interviews with about half of the households were sufficiently helpful for in-depth qualitative analysis of small neighbourhoods.

Interview process

The research interviews were conducted in a way that enabled participants to demonstrate their insights into the open-ended questions. As noted by Creswell (2013, p.8), the success and validity of an interview rests on the extent to which respondents’ opinions were truly reflected by their voice and attitude. To do this, I listened carefully to the answers and used probing questions like: “Would you give me an example? How was it? Can you explain more? Is there anything else? What could have been better?” to seek out additional constructive information. Figure 3.2 illustrates an interview with a resident.

There were some occasions when I interviewed a group of two people. During the interview, while directing attention to one of the people who was talking, I still respected the other’s equivalent role and involved him/her in the discussion when possible. During this process, I played the role of a moderator, trying to induce all members to express their opinions but with minimum direction, as guided by Yin (2011, p.141).

Interviews lasted 30 to 60 minutes and were done either in a formal (city hall, ministry office, or ACVN office) or informal setting (dinner time, cafés, and residential areas). In most cases, the

interviews progressed into friendly conversations in which the respondents’ emotions were naturally expressed. Most interviews were recorded, including those with government officials and project staff. Notes were taken during interviews when participants did not feel comfortable being

recorded. At the end of all interviews, I expressed my appreciation and asked for the respondents’ future support to clarify information if necessary. During data analysis, information from some of the interviews was supplemented through phone calls to or skype with the respondent.

Figure 3.2: Interview with a project neighbourhood resident (Original)

Observational studies: direct observation and participant-observation

Direct observation provided another important information source for the research. This technique is recommended to enable case study researchers to understand events, activities and interactions in a natural social system (Yin, 2013). I did this both formally and informally. Formal observation occurred when I was researching at the ACVN office or when I attended important project events. Examples are the observed relations among the national network’s staff members or between them with those coming from overseas and other localities. Informal observation took place on the project sites. For example, I could observe the shared house structure8 _{and recycled materials, the residents}

gathering in the common space, and the ancient temple where the communities organised their communal meetings.

Participant observation, also known as ‘unstructured observation’ (Thomas, 2015, p. 165), happens when the researchers immerse themselves in the events as a participant or attend a fruitful

discussion constructed on the participants’ own terms. Four settings of participant observations emerged during the fieldwork. First, I joined several project events in the role of a note-taker, a translator and an invited participant. Secondly, I joined a number of group chats or gatherings for meals (in- and outside the office) with the project staff. Thirdly, I joined in the neighbourhood’s gatherings in the Binh Dong 1 neighbourhood (Figure 3.3). Fourthly, I joined a chat with some residents in the Friendship neighbourhood. Though the observations in project events were formal, the chats or meals with project staff and the neighbourhood gatherings were informal. To illustrate one example, the gathering with the Binh Dong 1 neighbourhood was unplanned and happened on my arrival night. Some residents were gathering around a table when I arrived. After introductions, people continued with their chatting. I participated as a member of the group, observing and asking probing questions when people were talking about the project. Some information was noted after

8 _{Houses in Friendship neighbourhood project were built with common detached walls and foundations.} Participant’s

face is hidden for ethical

the discussion, which significantly helped me prompt questions in the following interviews (Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: Participant observation in community discussion (Original)

Secondary sources: Artefacts, document, media

Secondary sources were of two types: artefacts and documents. The first comprised ‘things’ collected/shown by the local communities, for example, the approved house plans, the residents’ letters to the provincial government, written poems, the monthly loan repayment list and the construction diary. These materials did not function as documents to provide me textual data, but equipped me with proof of what had happened and how participants interacted with each other during the process. They provided me with more in-depth perspectives about the events than I was able to observe. These insights, nevertheless, did not serve as the study’s definitive findings, but were carefully compared with information from interviews and observations.

Another secondary source were project documents developed by organizations like ACHR, ACVN, World Bank and UN-Habitat, and city governments. They included newsletters, journal publications and project reports, independent evaluations, Vietnamese urbanization profiles, Vietnamese housing profiles, Vietnamese urban upgrading programme reports, conference handouts, pictures and multimedia clips. Because of the likelihood of organizational bias, these documents largely functioned as background sources to guide the research design and to prompt interview questions. In addition, they provided some factual sources for the case studies, including time lines,

terminologies and other information in terms of the historical, political, cultural and social contexts. Inputs based on these secondary sources conjointly served to corroborate and augment evidence from primary sources like interviews and observations. A specific example is the World Bank’s

Participants’ faces are hidden for ethical reasons

evaluation report of the ACCA upgrading approach9. _{Information from this document was compared}

with regional and national project documents, city reports and the project staff’s mission notes. To ensure the effective and efficient use of all these materials, I adopted a systematic searching and reviewing plan throughout the study’s phases.