Qualitative Methods of Data Collection

The cardinal methods of data collection used by the researcher under the qualitative methods are semi-structured interviews, participant observation and document analysis. In a

qualitative research process, the researcher gets into close contact with the people and the environment (setting). This makes the researcher to get a more understanding of the research area. In the case of participant observation, the researcher is able to link the behaviour of the people to the prevailing conditions/situations or context; the researcher also gets to observe the subjects of study in their state of nature (natural environment); and also see beyond verbal description (Bryman, 2008:466).

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On the other hand, interviewing in the qualitative research process affords the opportunity to the researcher to probe issues that are not opened up for observation; delve into issues that have much to do with retrospection and flashback; deal with issues attached to much privacy and need informed consent; and for the researcher to be more focused on the topics being studied (Bryman, 2008:466-468). The above reasons informed the choice of the above qualitative research methods, together with document analysis, for the collection of data.

4.6.1 Semi-Structured Interviews

Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the learners in the literacy classes, officials of the NFED, past learners, and non-participants of the NFLP. Different interview guides (see appendix) were used for each of the above groups. The researcher first

interviewed the NFED officials to get the general overview of the NFLP, their objectives, activities, their achievements and challenges over time in line with the objectives. This gave the researcher an in-depth understanding of the NFLP in general and shaped the context within which the researcher sets to unearth information. The Ho Municipal NFED officers and the supervisors and facilitators also gave clear and comprehensive contextual information together with the response of the learners and other interviewees that led to other concepts relevant to the study that were not hitherto covered. The interview process was flexible, and there were follow-ups and re-interviewing. The process gave space for the building of mutual confidence and strong interpersonal relationships.

4.6.2 Participant Observation

Participant observation is a qualitative data collection method where the researcher lives and works with the subjects in the latter’s community. The researcher takes active part in the activities carried out by the subjects and goes about the everyday life in the community as the subjects do. In the course of the study, the researcher keenly observes the behaviour of his/her subjects in their natural environment and asks questions that help to clarify behaviour. The participant observation method adopted by the researcher included working with the literacy classes during their IGA group projects, some of the community’s general development projects and the classroom sessions. Some of the IGAs that the researcher participated in included the preparation of palm oil, traditionally known as ‘dzomi’, and the preparation of weanimix, a nutrient-based food especially for children. The community development activities that the researcher took part in included digging of a public place of convenience, clearing overgrown bushes, laying of cement blocks for school building and chapel, and community cleaning exercises. The observation availed the researcher to the understanding of how the adult literacy groups learn in the classroom situation and outside the classroom, how the adult learners work on their individual and group IGAs, how they influence and participate in community development projects, interactions and

communication between learners in the realm of the NFLP and between the learners and their communities.

Some researchers and authorities express concern over the behavioural patterns of subjects under observation. They argue that when people realise that they are being observed, they tend to put up artificial behaviours, a change in behaviour that does not portray their naturalness. Such a concern is absolutely legitimate. But in the case of this research, the

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researcher had lived and worked in the Ho Municipality for several years prior to the research work, hence is known as one of the members of the community. This has allowed for the subjects to behave as normal as possible in their natural environment. Therefore, data

collected by the researcher through participant observation could be regarded as original to a fairly large extent.

4.6.3 Document Analysis

Bryman (2008) mentions several documents as sources of data for analysis by a qualitative researcher. These include personal documents such as diaries, letters, autobiographies and pictorial materials; official documents generated by the state such as official reports and parliamentary hansards; official documents from private sources such as general documents and annual reports of organisations, newsletters and manuals; mass-media outputs such as newspapers, films, documentaries, magazines and television programmes; and virtual documents such as the ones gotten from the internet (Bryman, 2008:515-525). Scott (1990) stated that in using documents as sources of data, researchers need to cross-check the quality of the document. He suggested that the documents needed to be checked for their

authenticity, credibility, representativeness and meaning (cited in Bryman, 2008:516). This means that the documents needed to be genuine, without errors and have clarity and

comprehensiveness.

The documents used in this research for the purpose of analysis were primarily documents from private sources such as works of other researchers in the subject area and reports from organisations with interest in the NFLP. The documents included NFED manuals, NFLP project appraisal documents, NFLP implementation plans, assessments of the NFLP and other general information on the NFLP activities.