Data Collection

Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations

3.5 Data Collection

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These two sections constitute the quantitative data set. The third section provided open ended questions to address qualitative data to gain as much information as possible on the research topic.

The questionnaire combined data numerically and thematically. The numerical data was designed to test the relationship between the variables and the text is an inquiry process filling in the gaps to provide the whole picture.

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assistance of key volunteers to distribute and collect the questionnaires. Once distributed, a suitable time period was indicated to allow respondents to complete the detail in the comfort of their own time frames. The researcher allowed a period of seven days for respondents to complete the questionnaire before returning to collect them from the allocated venues. These collection intervals were negotiated with the respondents. Collecting the questionnaires, however, took from a few days to just over a month. The researcher endeavoured to have both students and staff engaged, in spite of the challenges of availability when the researcher returned on numerous occassions to collect the completed and outstanding questionnaires.

Participants were informed that the completed questionnaires would be collected a few days after distribution. The volunteer assistant and researcher arranged with a Residence Assistant (RA) and key staff members for permission to distribute the questionnaire. Assistance from the same individuals was enlisted with collection of some of the questionnaires that were not returned on time. The questionnaires were collected directly from the respondents themselves.

Some were handed to the Residence Assistant for collection by the researcher. The collected data was coded and classified as respondents replied with the completed information.

Qualitative

As previously mentioned, the questionnaire was the key data collection tool for both the quantitative and qualitative data. The third section of the questionnaire was made up of the open ended questions which was used to gain participants opinions around set areas (qualitative data). Individuals and groups that showed keen interest in the research were encouraged to express their views. Data was collected with the assurance of anonymity being maintained unless particular areas warranted being mentioned which was rarely the case.

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Qualitative data allowed the opportunity for examination of micro level internal processes to learn about agents of violence’s own understanding of their actions (Bryman, 2007, p. 126).

Both the closed and open ended detail related to the six research questions that were used to address the research objectives. The reality of violence requires a best fit which suits the mixed methods approach for triangulation of various data sources including observation, conversations, documentation and pictorial data - to better understand the research problem.

3.5.2 Qualitative Data collection

3.5.2.1 Written data

In addition to the open-ended questions in the questionnaire, to assist with secondary data collection, print material was considered the main relevant qualitative data source and was collected continuously and selectively over time. Records of previous protest situations provided qualitative information of the studied university and other universities in addressing the crisis of student protest. The review of relevant literature (local and global), media reports, communiques, historical data from risk management services, journal articles, periodicals, dissertations and books were browsed to contextualize the whole concept of why there is violence in student protest.

During the distribution of the questionnaires, potential participants were provided with an overview of the study, informed consent, confidentiality, the right to non-participation and participation in order to make an informed decision regarding study participation.

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Notes were used by the researcher to ensure accuracy of the detail. Secondary content was the opportunity for participants’ to express their opinions and experiences by answering open- ended questions. The researcher recorded comments by grouping the data that was similarly reported.

3.5.2.2 Pictorial data

Pictorial data can be defined as an expression of data in picture form, the collection of significant pictures that may have some relevance to the subject being studied. Pictorial is defined as something illustrated or expressed in pictures. The pictures tell a story. Pictorial representation in this instance was expressed as a visual representation by photography. During the exploring, with permission, photographs of key spaces in the university and on Westville campus that had been desecrated during the unrest period were collected from a range of sources. The photographic material was considered relevant when they appeared to signpost symbolism. This was confirmed during conversation with students and staff. Some photographs were taken personally and other relevant pictures were systematically sourced for their symbolic meaning (as explained by some protesters and interpreted by the researcher). Some pictures were sent to the researcher by people who were aware that the research was being conducted. Some were retrieved from social media postings in the public domain.

Observation template

The 5WH approach (who, what, where, when, why and how type template) was adopted when discussing or observing issues related to protest and violent behaviour. This was the simplest

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way to memorize the kind of information to gain evidence about the protests that took place when discontent was discussed at length.

Non-response rate

Of the 108 questionnaires handed out, 72 were received back. Worth noting was that the researcher did not anticipate that some participants would not complete all of the open ended questions.