Research Methodology Framework

The process for conducting this study is divided into 5 main research stages. Figure 4.1 illustrates the Research Methodology Framework for the study, which demonstrates a layering of ‘grounded’ activities that takes place in the research process. Each stage of the research process will be discussed in the following sections.

(Component 2)

Figure 4.1: Diagram for the overall research framework

4.2.1 Literature Review (Stage 1)

In Stage 1 of the study, a literature review of journal articles, books, and legal documents as well as examination of selected international National Heritage programs provided an in-depth understanding on the issues pertaining to assessment of international cultural heritage for listing. This broadened the author’s knowledge base on the subject matter and assisted to facilitate critical thinking on the issues in relation to the Malaysian context. The literature review brought clarity and focus to possible research gaps that could be the focus of this study. The literature review is included in 2 different sections within the thesis. In Chapter 2, a review of National Heritage programs in 5 selected countries was presented; while in Chapter 3 provided a review on the Malaysia legislations related to the protection of immovable heritage and the National Heritage in the country. In addition, literature on the traditional Malay house and Chinese shophouse was also covered in Chapter 3.

4.2.2 Research Development (Stage 2)

Stage 2 of the study was the formulation of the aim, research questions, objectives and methods once the research gaps were clearly defined. The research aim, questions and objectives as mentioned in Chapter 1 guided the research from the outset to its completion.

4.2.3 Data Collection Stage (Stage 3)

Data collection for the study took place in Stage 3. Data was collected for 3 different research components which gathered the evidence to answer the research questions and objectives. The collected data, upon analysis, led to the formulation of draft principles for assessment of cultural significance. The methods in which data was collected in Stage 3 are explained in the following sections.

 Component 1: Critical comparative analysis of criteria for listing National Heritage and its applications between Malaysia and 5 selected countries to answer RO1

Comparative method that focused on the differences and similarities was used as the method to collect data in Component 1. The aforementioned comparison examined 5 aspects, as follows:

i. Definition of National Heritage ii. Criteria for National Heritage listing iii. Guidelines for National Heritage listing

iv. Statement of Significance for buildings listed as National Heritage v. Heritage values encompassed by the criteria for listing

The above aspects of 5 countries, namely the UK, Australia, US, Japan, and India, were compared with Malaysia to highlight the similarities and differences

from a global perspective. The outcome is particularly relevant and very important as it provided a holistic understanding for this study. As mentioned in Chapter 2, the selection of these 5 countries for comparison with Malaysia was due to their long-established practises in listing their cultural heritages.

 Component 2 (Phase 1): Formulating of guiding principles to facilitate assessment of immovable cultural heritage for National Heritage listing to answer RO2

Data was collected for this component through in-depth interviews with Malaysian heritage managers. The research instrument used to develop the questions for the interview was the criteria to list National Heritage. Seven of the 9 criteria were used as identified in the outcome of Component 1. The 7 criteria for listing that was used are as follows:

i. Criterion (b) Good design or aesthetic characteristics

ii. Criterion (c) Scientific or technological innovations or achievements iii. Criterion (d) Social or cultural associations

iv. Criterion (e) The potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigations in relation to Malaysian cultural heritage

v. Criterion (f) The importance of exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features

vi. Criterion (g) The rarity or uniqueness of the natural heritage, tangible or intangible cultural heritage or underwater cultural heritage

vii. Criterion (h) The representative nature of a site or object as part of a class or type of a site or object

 Component 3 (Phase 1): Establishing guiding principles which are specific to guide assessment of traditional Malay houses and the traditional Chinese shophouses for listing as National Heritage to answer RO3

In-depth interviews were used to collect data for Component 3. The interview for Component 3 was carried out simultaneously with the interviews for Component 2 and therefore used the same respondents and followed the same interview processes and protocols. Thus, this component utilised the 2 building typology samples, identified as the traditional Malay house and Chinese shophouse, as the research instruments to develop the interview questions.

The research techniques for data collection and analysis that were carried out for Stage 3 will be explained in Sections 4.3 and 4.4 respectively.

4.2.4 Refinement Stage (Stage 4)

Stage 4 is the refinement stage for the study. In this stage, draft principles of assessment that were formulated in Stage 3 were refined in 2 research components.

Upon refinement, the draft principles for assessment were developed into the final principles for assessment. The methods in which the draft principles were refined in Stage 4 are explained in the following sections.

 Component 2 (Phase 2): Refinement of the draft principles for assessment of cultural significance for 7 of the 9 criteria for listing

Draft principles for assessment were refined in this component with 2 groups of experts, comprising Malaysian experts in one and international experts in the other, using 2 methods. The 2 methods are as follows:

i. Semi-structured interview ii. Questionnaire survey

The semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey both pursued the following objectives:

i. To establish, though consensus of a wider audience, the draft principles for assessment of the National Heritage listing criteria

ii. To explore additional viewpoints on philosophies and values that emerged from the analysis of Component 2 (Phase 1) and Component 3 (Phase 1) which were perceived to require further clarifications

iii. To ascertain if there are any additional perspectives that were not brought up during the Data Collection Stage but which may be of relevance to the study, which is in line with the explorative traits of qualitative research

 Component 3 (Phase 2): Refinement of the draft guiding principles for assessment of the traditional Malay houses and Chinese shophouses

Component 3 (Phase 2) also used semi-structure interviews and questionnaire surveys to refine the draft principles for assessment of the traditional Malay houses and Chinese shophouses in this component. The interviews and questionnaire surveys happened together with those of Component 2 (Phase 2) and therefore followed the same interview processes and protocols.

The research techniques for the data collection will be explained in section 4.3 and the method of analysis explained in section 4.4.

4.2.5 Formulation Stage (Stage 5)

Formulation of the principles for assessment took place in Stage 5 of the study. This is the final stage of the research process and where the research outcomes were written up and disseminated.