The evaluation framework was derived from theory. It identified the concepts in the complex phenomenon and showed their relationships. The framework explained the consolation scheme project design: The Olgulului predator consolation program was started in the year 2008 with the following objectives: payment for livestock losses; reduce killing of wild predators and improve human-predator relationship to minimize human-predator conflicts. Figure 2.1: Evaluation Framework
Source: Researcher’s evaluation model
The evaluation framework explained the Olgulului predator consolation project implementation processes where the relevant stakeholders mobilized finance and human resources to start up the program with the aim of addressing increasing human- predator conflict. The framework also highlighted the interplay between scheme outcomes and results (success, weakness, opportunities and threats).
Project design Olgulului Predator Consolation program- 2008 to date Challenges Best practices Lessons leant
Objectives Inputs Outcomes
(Minimized human predator conflict) Project implementation process Project results
This informed the intended or unintended results such as Olgulului consolation project effectiveness in addressing human-predator conflict, lesson leant and best practices that could be recommended for scaling up program to other affected areas, also to inform policy and minimize human-predator conflict in other areas.
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter contains the description of the methodology that was used to conduct the survey study. It includes study design, sources of data, methods and techniques of data collection, unit of analysis, sampling and data analysis technique.
3.2 Research Design
This study used descriptive evaluative design to assess the effectiveness of the Olgulului Predator consolation scheme in minimizing human-predator conflicts. The evaluative descriptive survey was best suited to assess if relationships between variables were strong enough that the researcher can conclude that independent variables caused the dependent variables. This evaluation survey design involved making a description of respondent view, actions, or opinions” and was used to discover possible enforcing factors of such perceptions towards Olgulului Predator consolation scheme and its effectiveness. (Gall, et al.1996).
3.3 Site Description
Olgulului group ranch is situated in Loitokitok District, Entonet Division, and Amboseli location in Kajiado County. The ranch was administratively stratified into three sub-locations, namely; Lengisim; Amboseli and Entonet. The ranch covered an area of 1233.53 km 2. It’s the closest group ranch to Amboseli National Park and maintained the largest number of wild animals per season. The rainfall distribution was bimodal, (Western, 1993) the relative
humidity is at average of 40 % in cold seasons and dropped to 20% in dry seasons the mean monthly temperatures was 340 C in February and drops to 200 C in June which was the coldest month of the year in the reserve ( Western, 1993).
The study area was purposively selected because of experienced high human - predator conflict compared to other locations in the Amboseli National Park ecosystem (KWS report;2008) conflict aroused from both the wild animal species that resided in the park all year around and those that follow the migrating animals in and out of the park. During the wet season, the wild predators move to meet the ecological needs and prey on livestock and in the dry season the move to the park as dry season refuge.
Figure 3.1 Study area map
3.4 Operationalization of Variables
For the purpose of this study, the independent variables were expected to explain the variations/or changes in human-predator conflict. This meant that independent variables were characteristics hypothesized to be the input variables, presumed to cause the dependent variable and are manipulated, measured (selected) prior to measuring the outcome. The dependent variables were characteristics hypothesized to be the outcome variable, its occurrence depended on intervening variables which preceded it in time. The following therefore were the two classifications which guided the research objectives:
3.4.1 Independent Variables
The following variables were studied: Demographic factors such as respondents’ sex, age, marital status, socio-economic factors such as levels of education, occupation, and household income and types, nature and the causes of human-predator conflicts; outcomes; effectiveness; challenges; and the interventions.
3.4.2 Dependent Variables
Dependent variables were: human-predator conflicts. 3.5 Unit Analysis
According to Kothari, (1985: 78) the unit of analysis is the general level of social phenomena that is the object of observation. He described the unit of analysis as the entity, which enables a researcher to seek facts to make generalizations. The primary unit of analysis for the study was the household heads living in the sampled villages.
3.6 Target Population
Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) define target population as a set of individuals, cases or objects with some common observable characteristics, from which a researcher wanted to generalize the results of the study.
There are ten villages in Olgulului group ranch which includes Lolaker/Oilalel; Nkitoo/Risa; Murtot/Entonet; Olchoro; Ilmarba; EngonguNarok/Esitati; Olgulului; Meshenani, Namelok/Osoit and Emaparinko. The group ranch has a population of 11,500 registered members and 1250 households’ Census report (2009).
3.6.1 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
In the inclusion criteria, the study targeted only household heads above 18 years old. In the Maasai cultures, the men are the household heads or in his absence, the first wife or the first son over 18 years of age in each of the 10 villages in the group ranch. The study also included those household heads that had been affected by human-predator conflict and had benefited or not benefited from the Olgulului Predator Consolation. Only those household heads willing to participate were interviewed. The exclusion criteria involved those under the age of 18 and not residents of the area.