4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.4 Data sources
Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. In this section, secondary data sources will be presented first, followed by a discussion of primary data sources. The data that were collected and utilised were to test the research questions. The data obtained were analysed and interpreted, thus allowed for the drawing up of conclusions for the dissertation. The following section presents the secondary data sources.
87 4.4.1 Secondary data
The secondary data sources used in this research consisted of books, journal and theses.
Books were obtained from the university library and other sources. The various types of books were very effective since they assisted with regards to data collection regarding the research. Relevant topics or theories were comprehended, examined and included. The journals obtained from the library and through electronic sources were also used. These journals allowed for the assimilation of various papers from various countries that were valuable to the research. A few theses were also utilised to gather information from other research related to this dissertation. In addition, newspaper articles and documentary videos also consisted of secondary data. Furthermore, secondary data were used to frame the research topic, data collection methods and allow for the interpretation of the primary data.
Only a limited number of internet sites were used, due to their potential lack of credibility, since certain internet sites can not be trusted with regards to obtaining precise and correct information. The internet sites that were used pertained to the history and geography of the present state of the study area. Also government sites relating to the research problem (presence of informal settlements on the boundaries of Clare Estate), were utilised. Only credible internet sites were used in the research. The date that the Internet sites were accessed was also given.
A literature review was initiated in order to provide a framework for the collection and interpretation of data. The purpose of the literature review was to identify what research has already been undertaken with respect to this research, and more importantly to identify the gaps in this field that need to be researched. A comprehensive and concise literature review was undertaken to present the amalgamation of main theories and concepts from the above mentioned sources. This allowed for further understanding of the research topic.
A literature review was assembled with a variety of literature sources that pertained to the research. From this the theoretical framework was identified. Only appropriate theories that added credence to a research topic were utilised. The theories utilised allowed for the understanding of the research topic (Shields and Tajalli, 2006). Theory is the basis from which the research is formulated and the results analysed. The theories utilised were organised systems of accepted knowledge that incorporated facts, laws and tested hypotheses (Sayer, 1984; Johnston et al., 2000). Pryke (2003) denotes that theories are
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constantly changing and these ideas are what shape research. The conceptual or theoretical framework guided the research.
Documentary evidence was another form of secondary data that was utilised in this research. This section lists and examines the types of documentary data that were relevant to the research. Winchester (2005) states that texts can be grouped into three categories:
documentary sources, creative texts and landscape sources. Documentary data may be in the form of maps, planning documents, reports, videos and newspapers (Winchester, 2005). The research made use of one newspaper article which reported on the feelings of residents in formal housing towards residents in informal housing. Refer to Appendix A, which shows the newspaper article relating to the devaluation of property as a result of the informal settlement in Clare Estate. Winchester (2005) stated that creative texts are in the form of poems, books, film and music. Furthermore, a documentary video was also studied to give additional background information of the informal settlement in Clare Estate. The video emphasised the plight of the residents’ in informal housing with respect to inadequate housing. The newspaper article and the documentary video were used to examine the images and narrative that were portrayed in each of the roads (reasoning behind the selection of these roads is given in Section 4.6) studied in Clare Estate.
Documentary sources also included maps of the Clare Estate area (refer to Figure 3.2 and 3.3 in Chapter Three). The researcher collected these types of secondary sources. The following section discusses the primary data.
4.4.2 Primary Data
Primary data were the central type of data in the research. Primary data obtained through various qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, namely interviews and questionnaires. The primary data has been directly obtained from the formal residents of Clare Estate, municipal authorities and non-governmental organizations. Personal observations of the Clare Estate area where informal housing is evident were also undertaken. Photographs of the study area also form part of the primary data gathered.
From these personal visits to the study area, one is able to establish the intensity of the informal settlement in the Clare Estate area.
Both secondary and primary data sources were influential aspects in analysing the research at hand. The primary data sources were the dominant and most utilised source that was
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utilised in this research compared to the secondary data sources. The sampling of the primary data is discussed in the section following the data collection methods section.