Interview Protocol and Pilot

Face-to-face interviews is designed and conducted with the senior and middle Management of PAAET who are the senior, decision-makers for applying OA policy initiatives. Interviews were also conducted with librarians and faculty. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as this type of interview allowed the researcher to ask different types of question.

• Structure of the Interview Protocol

The interviews used a semi-structured face-to-face strategy consisting of different numbers of questions depending on the participants’ individual specialty. This was in order to explore issues about OA policy implementation. It examined the current situation of OA trend and explored perceptions relating to OA and OA policy in PAAET, in addition, to the organizational structure and culture that are faced during policy implementation. The researcher took the following steps before conducting the case study interviews.

• Generating and determining the interview questions

The main purpose of the questions used in the interviews was to collect sufficient data and information to achieve the aim and objectives of this research. The literature review and previous studies were the main sources for forming the interview questions and organized according to the contextual factor from the theory. The interview questions were discussed with the supervisor. In this respect, Collis and Hussey (2009, p.126) suggest some useful techniques such as:

“... regarding what has been done in similar research studies, using a single focus and specifying the research site and using open-ended questions without reference to the literature or theory, unless otherwise dictated by the research design”. (Collis and Hussey, 2009, p.126)

In this step the researcher developed the interview questions after discussion with the supervisor and 4 members of the Open Access team at the University of Salford who are knowledgeable in the OA trend and OA policy. They checked the suitability of the interview questions for the participants, and checked if the questions were easy to understand and were clear for the participants in this study. Moreover, this development of the interview questions provided the researcher with excellent feedback about the suitability of the questions to be used in the real case study. This also tested the information dependability of the questions that were to be used in the interview (See Appendix 3).

An example of the edits that were made for the interview questions and how they were refined:

The questioned that was, e.g:

• What are the main specific problems and challenges in your opinion that inhibit the practice of open access policy and how do you think they can be overcome?

It was suggested to change the wording, since there is no previous practice of OA and the possibility of low awareness in the different aspects of OA in general. Therefore it was proposed to refine it to:

• In your opinion, what are the cultural challenges that could face the institution when implementing an Open Access Policy?

As by this question structure some organizational culture may be uncovered and it might show if PAAET has a unique organizational culture that may differ from others HE institutes.

• Translating the interview questions in Arabic

This study was conducted in Kuwait, and being an Arab country, the researcher translated the interview questions into Arabic. Also, in order to ensure the accuracy of the questions, the researcher relied on an English/Arabic translator from Kuwait.

• Conducting the Pilot Study

Before conducting the pilot study, ethical approval was obtained from the University of Salford. It is believed by many experts in the area of research methodology that the

interview questions should be subjected to preliminary testing which is known as a pilot study (Hussey and Hussey, 1997; Sekaran, 2003; Yin, 2009). In this study the researcher conducted a pilot study for the interview questions. After translating the interview questions into Arabic, the researcher generated and developed these questions by testing them on four of the librarians in PAAET. The research also used the pilot study to test and check the participants’ understanding of the research issue and their understanding of the field interview questions. Moreover, the pilot study provided the researcher with excellent feedback about the suitability of the questions to be used in the real case study. The pilot study method considered the information dependability of the questions, which were used in the interviews. This pilot study was undertaken during May 2011.

4.8.1.1 Interviews Sampling

The senior and middle management of PAAET play an important role in any planning and decision-making regarding OA policy, academic staff like librarians and faculty members also play an important role as they are the beneficiaries for such policies. Therefore, opinions toward the current situation concerning their perceptions on OA, together with their readiness to OA policy implementation, are important. Sixteen interviews were carried out with senior and middle management of PAAET, including faculty members and librarians as they are directly related to implementing OA initiatives (see Table 4.7).

1. PAAET Senior and Middle Management

Senior and middle managers are chosen because they are decision makers when it concerns to policies and strategies; they are also the budget holders for the plan of any new system implemented in the institution. The organisational structure in PAAET is very hierarchical and the decisions of higher management are mostly followed and implemented by others. This structure of structured organisational pyramid with clear command and control of an organisation makes it paramount for this research to gain views from senior decision makers. Therefore, they are involved in any policy making for PAAET. The interviews provided an in-depth approach into views and of senior managers towards the importance of Open Access policy and the use of Open Access system. Their

opinions concerning the role of Open Access will influence the process of its decision around its adoption, implementation and future sustainability.

2. Faculty Members

Faculty members engage in research and part of their responsibilities depends largely on new developments in their field and their contribution towards research, thereby, they are the main beneficiaries in the implantation of OA policy. The interviews will provide an in- depth approach into their views towards OA and their needs of OA policy type and the use of OA system (IR). Their opinions concerning the need of Open Access will influence the process of its implementation and sustainability in the future.

3. Librarians

Librarians have an important role to play in the growing information environment. There are 19 libraries across PAAET supported by librarians under the deanship of libraries; they provide services to faculty and students with information and references to support their

academic needs. The interviews will provide an in-depth approach into their views towards

OA and OA policy implementation. Their opinions concerning the need of OA policy will influence the process of its implementation and its long sustainability.

Participant Position Code Interview Date

Interview 1 Senior Management HM 1 27/07/2011

Interview 2 Senior Management HM 2 27/07/2011

Interview 3 Senior Management HM 3 07/08/2011

Interview 4 Senior Management HM 4 09/08/2011

Interview 5 Middle Management D 1 12/07/2011

Interview 6 Middle Management D 2 14/07/2011

Interview 7 Middle Management D3 30/07/2012

Interview 8 Middle Management D4 07/08/2012

Interview 9 Librarian L 1 11/08/2011

Interview 10 Librarian L 2 14/08/2011

Interview 11 Librarian L 3 17/08/2011

Interview 12 Librarian L4 07/08/2012

Interview 13 Faculty Member F 1 07/08/2011

Interview 14 Faculty Member F 2 29/07/2012 Interview 15 Faculty Member F 3 02/08/2012

Interview 16 Faculty Member F4 06/08 2012

Table 5: PAAET’s Interviews Sample

In the face-to-face interviews the researcher used semi-structured questions; the interviews involved 16 key members of staff of the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET), as shown in Table (4.7) below. The interviewees included the senior Management (HM1, HM2, HM3, HM4) and middle management (D1, D2, D3, D4) of PAAET who are the senior, decision-makers for applying policy

initiatives. Interviews were also conducted with librarians (L1, L2, L3, L3) and faculty (F1, F2, F3, F4). These interviews were conducted between July 2011 and August 2012.

• Conducting the actual interviews

All the interviews were conducted in the Arabic language (the mother tongue of the interviewees and the interviewer).   This allowed participants to feel relaxed and comfortable when giving their responses. However, they were not relaxed to allow the researcher to tape-record the interviews, therefore, the researcher had to take notes. The researcher began the interviews by describing the importance of their contribution to this study, with regard to the fact that they are the key stakeholders for promoting any strategies regarding an OA policy. The views of 16 interviewees regarding some of the aspects of introducing OA to PAAET/ Kuwait in terms of the current situation, the main problems and obstacles it might face, and the potential solutions for its implementation. In the interviews, the perceptions of interviewees towards OA and its need in their institute specifically, is crucial in identifying any plans or strategies to promote OA policy across PAAET. The other main issue that was explored in the interviews was their readiness towards OA policy implementation in the institution (See Appendix 3). The following research objective was addressed: “to explore the perception of Kuwaiti HE institution PAAET stakeholders towards OA” (objective 2), and “to identify the factors that affect the readiness of OA policy implementation in PAAET” (objective 3).

Notes from the interviews were later converted into Microsoft Word documents on the same day. After each interview the researcher gave the opportunity to the interviewees to add any further comments and then thanked them for their contributions and participation. Each interview took approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

4.8.2 Questionnaire Design and Pilot

This method is suitable for collecting data when what is required will be measured and known in advance. In other words, when the questionnaire data in this study are not being used to determine reasons or meanings but to compare between responses and to compare results with the qualitative analysis to enhance the transparency of analysis. The questionnaire in this study will focus on the perception of Kuwaiti Higher Education