26 to avoid deducing the findings largely from already existing reports on refugees, the study draws extensively from the field findings. The study introduces a paradigm shift in the approach to refugee resettlement process(es) that focuses on the views of refugees as determinants of their successful repatriation.
27 a contemporary phenomenon within its real life context, especially when the boundaries between the phenomenon and the context are not clearly evident77‘.Assuming a deductive approach, I use elite theory to test hypotheses based on the in-depth information from the case findings.
Being qualitative research, the emphasis is upon the specific and rich findings from the case, rather than the number of cases. According to Denzin and Lincoln, a qualitative approach:
Implies an emphasis on the qualities of entities and on process and meanings that are not experimentally examined or measured (if measured at all) in terms of quantity, amount, intensity or frequency. Qualitative researchers stress the socially constructed nature of reality, the intimate relationship between researcher and what is studied, and the situational constraints that shape inquiry.78
In a case study, the researcher recognizes that s/he is not overly concerned with trends and consistencies for the purposes of generalization, but rather a detailed explanation understood through the eyes of the participants in their context. In a nutshell, a case study is an ideal form of qualitative research, whereby an in-depth study of an individual unit is used to gain in-depth understanding of the participants, focusing on the process
77K. Yin, Case Study Research Design and Methods (3rd Ed). London: Sage Publications,2003.p.14
78K. Denzin, &Y.Lincoln, Introduction: The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research, in N. K Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln, (eds.)The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 3rd Ed. Thousand Oak, CA: Sage Publications,2005, p. 10.
28 rather than outcome.79In such research, there is a focus upon experiential knowledge of the case and close attention is paid to the influence of its social, political and other contexts. Consequently, a case study is best suited in this study as it brings to light the dynamic social, political and economic contexts regarding the challenges associated with the permanent settlement of refugees.
While the natural sciences are looking for consistencies in the data in order to deduce
‗laws‘(nomothetic), the social sciences often deal with the actions of the individual(ideographic).As noted by Crotty,
Our interest in the social world tends to focus on exactly those aspects that are unique, individual and qualitative, whereas our interest in the natural world focuses on more abstract phenomena, that is, those exhibiting quantifiable, empirical regularities.80
In qualitative research, the researcher is prepared to sacrifice quantity for detail.81This helps the researcher to acquire detailed in-depth information within its social and political context, rather than shallow in-breadth information.
79J. Creswell, Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). California, Sage Publications, 2009
J. Gerring,Case study research: Principles and practices. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
R. Burns, Introduction to research methods (4th Ed).London: Sage Publications, 2000.
80M. Crotty, The Foundation of Social Research: Meaning and Perspectives in the Research Process. London, Sage, 1998, 68.
81 D. Silverman, Doing Qualitative Research 2nd, London, Sage, 2005
29 While inquiring about the subject matter of the permanent settlements of Somali refugees and the dynamics thereof, the researcher recognizes that since he is not interested in any trends and consistencies for purposes of generalization, but rather a detailed explanation from a few cases, it was prudent to employ the interpretive approach. This ensured the avoidance of a boring repetition from large samples and further that each individual case was analyzed intensively to an extent that it contributed significantly to the findings of the study. As such, the research, as a set of interpretive activities that privileged no single methodological practice over another as it utilized multiple interpretations, methods and techniques82In order to understand people‘s outlooks, perceptions and experiences, we must be close to groups and look at the world from their view points. While this may be deemed subjective (by non-interpretivists), subjectivity in qualitative research is not seen as a failure that needs to be eliminated, but as an essential element of understanding.83
Dadaab refugee camps comprise an enclosed settlement near the Kenyan frontier in Northeastern Kenya. As such, the key informants and participants that were interviewed are easily identifiable. Because case studies work with fewer participants in order to emphasize intensity rather than extensity, the researcher employed stratified purposive sampling alongside snowball sampling, targeting key informants in the government agency dealing with refugees, UNHCR, NGOs, refugees and ordinary Kenyan citizens.
The researcher engaged 25 key participants in extensive interviews (using semi-
82 J. Mason, Qualitative Researching (2nd Ed.) London, Sage Publications, 2002
83E. Stake, The Art of Case Study Research. London, Sage Publications, 1995
30 structured open-ended questions) and conducted focus group discussions. Purposive sampling targeted politically important cases (such as refugee leaders and local administrators). It also utilized homogenous sampling targeting participants in focus group discussions (such as officials of government, UNHCR and NGOs).
Having previously worked in the refugee camp for 3 years as a humanitarian worker, it was relatively easy to mobilize individuals who participated in this study on the basis of informed consent. They included refugees, Kenyans (in Dadaab but not affiliated to NGO‘s), NGO workers, security agencies (Kenyan Police and Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and UNHCR officials in Dadaab.
All the 25 respondents were individually interviewed and their responses transcribed.
They included: 15 refugees, 2 Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) officials, 1 police, 1 Kenya Defence Force officer, 2 Kenyan businessmen, 2 Kenyan teachers and 2 NGO staff (1 international and 1 national staff). After the interviews, 3 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted as follows: FGD 1 (5 refugees); FGD 2 ( 2 NGO staff and 3 refugees) and FGD 3 ( 1 DRA staff, 1 police, 1 national NGO staff, a teacher and businessman).
In keeping with a qualitative approach, a variety of methods were used during the design phase, including desk and field based research, a literature review, key informant interviews, and empirical analyses of existing data. The researcher also drew upon
31 international, Kenyan, and Somali legal documents and legislative acts on refugees and displaced people. Digital and print media reports were also reviewed as they contained the most recent reports and provided various case scenarios.
In analyzing the data from the field work, it was first transcribed from the audio recordings to script form. This generated a substantial amount of text (for example every hour generated several pages of raw data). The researcher then re-familiarized himself with the data to draw out the themes contained in the data. After re-familiarization with the data, the researcher coded (labeled) the chunk of data to form of headlines and categories. Because coding involves phases, the coding approach went through open, axial and selective coding respectively. In the open coding phase, the researcher is interested in distinctive issues and conceptualization. In the axial phase, the researcher merged similar or related codes, downgrading some while upgrading others in order to elicit themes and sub-themes. In the final phase of selective coding, the researcher related the themes with the corresponding research questions.
Ethical considerations were accorded high importance in the study. Participants‘ names were kept confidential and comments anonymous. Names of respondents (especially refugees) cited are pseudo names hence protecting their privacy.