Sekaran and Bougie (2016), state that the research design is the strategy or framework utilized for collecting, measuring and examining data in order to realize the research objectives and answer the research questions. There are numerous research designs available for researchers to use and the choice is dependent on the objectives of that specific research, the research questions and the constraints associated with that study (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). The research design is thus of key importance, in that it shapes and structures the research allowing the researcher to effectively address the research questions correctly, whilst also promoting transparency (Bowen, 2005).
Van Wyk (2012) identifies some of the common forms of research designs including descriptive research, exploratory research and explanatory research. Descriptive research merely describes the precise factors relevant to the phenomena or
52 research question, describing the situations or relationship that exist and is merely interested in searching for facts. However, this type of research does not provide answers as to why certain behaviours prevail. Exploratory studies on the other hand, are designed to explore concepts and gain understanding of the research to answer the research question appropriately. These are found to be useful in addressing research problems where existing research results are unclear or very limited. It is generally effective in addressing problems or subjects that are rarely understood and/or not much is known about them (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). Lastly, explanatory research is generally analytical focussing only on causal links between factors relating to the research problem (Van Wyk, 2012).
The study used exploratory research design in that it was considered useful and appropriate in addressing the research problem, to help gain management and researcher‟s perspectives regarding the research problem and further gain understanding of the perspectives on the extent of factors operational in these situations of uncertainty and where little understanding was prevalent. Thus, the use of exploratory research provided a platform for problems and opportunities to be identified whilst also establishing their significance. In general, three research approaches dominate the world, namely quantitative research, qualitative research and mixed method research. Figure 3.1, adapted from Creswell (2013), shows the design process in conducting research, highlighting the intersection of philosophy, strategies of inquiry, and the specific methods involved. These three intersections are then conceptualised to form the three different approaches to research or research designs.
53 Figure 3.1: A framework for design - the interconnection of worldviews, strategies, and research methods
Source: Adapted from Creswell (2013:5)
The three research designs are further translated to practice using the relevant design processes to research and can be summarized as follows.
3.3.1 Quantitative research
The quantitative approach is more deductive using quantifiable data to discover patterns. Data is usually tested with a hypothesis and its theory viewing behaviour as regular and predictable (Creswell, 2003; Creswell, 2013; Johnson & Christensen, 2011). The main characteristics are its ability to be generalizable, testable and replicable such that it pursues a more logical organized and rigorous method to address the research problem (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). Its research objectives are more oriented towards describing, explaining and predicting (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). The nature of observation tries to study behaviour under controlled conditions, with its analysis focused on identifying statistical analysis and presenting results of general findings (Creswell, 2003; Johnson & Christensen, 2011; Sekaran &
Bougie, 2016).
3.3.2 Qualitative research
The qualitative research approach is generally inductive and depends on the collection of qualitative data (Bowen, 2005; Bowen, 2008; Fossey, Harvey,
54 McDermott & Davidson, 2002; Johnson & Christensen, 2011). It utilizes real-life methods in order to understand occurrences in a context specific setting, whereby human behaviour is viewed as fluid, dynamic, situational, contextual and personal rather than generalizing (Creswell; 2003; Creswell, 2013; Johnson & Christensen, 2011). The common objectives can be descriptive, explorative and discovery, with data collection in the form of interviews, observation, field notes and open-ended questions (Creswell, 2013; Johnson & Christensen, 2011). Analysis of data allows the researcher to search for patterns, themes and complete features with results representative of the insider‟s viewpoint and multiple perspectives (Creswell, 2003;
Creswell, 2013; Johnson & Christensen, 2011). Hannabuss (1996), asserts that the qualitative research approach offers rich material for research, with emphases on understanding the research problem to address it accordingly. This allows management to make sense of the problems when managing their teams (Sekaran
& Bougie, 2016).
3.3.3 Mixed method research
The mixed method research uses both the qualitative and quantitative approaches and attempts to answer research questions that cannot be answered by just one approach (Creswell, 2003; Creswell, 2013; Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). It is both inductive and deductive, with its data collection focussed on collecting, analysing and mixing both quantitative and qualitative data. Thus, it is inclusive of both measurable (statistical) data and descriptive (text) data (Creswell, 2003; Johnson & Christensen, 2011; Sekaran & Bougie, 2016).
3.3.4 The study design
Research methods and approaches affect how a certain phenomenon of a study is understood, and as such, the use of a qualitative research approach offers a better understanding to help provide more insight on the specific study phenomena.
Bartunek and Seo (2002), advocate for qualitative research, arguing that, unlike quantitative research, this approach heightens understanding of local perceptions.
Therefore, the study pursued a qualitative research approach to provide a rich content based on experiences from LED facilitators. This was helpful in exploring the challenge of bridging the urban-rural gap in facilitating LED within uMgungundlovu District Municipality. This approach allowed for the exploration and discovery of comparatively new understandings about LED facilitating within the District and the
55 complexities that LED facilitators are faced with. Through exploring the research problem in detail, the research approach provided a deeper understanding of the study rather than generalizing to understand the problem from the perspectives of the LED facilitators.