Chapter 9: Summary, Discussion, Theoretical Issues and Policy Directions
2. CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY 2 INTRODUCTION
2.2.4 Research design
Chih-Pei and Chang (2017) suggest that researchers must ask themselves concerning the knowledge claims and the theoretical perspectives they bring to any research. They aimed to establish the strategies they intend to use in their study, informing their methods and collecting and analysing information. This means that researchers are aware of any bias they may inevitably bring to the research investigation, how affected the choice of approach to be utilised, and the tools used to collect the data. Chih-Pei and Chang (2017) suggest that research designs are different types of inquiry, and this study used the case study descriptive research design. As Piekkari and Welch (2018) have suggested, the case study design helps to present the data on the mining industry situations and provide better insights into the complex behaviours of the mining companies. The study also works with multiple cases, as the results of numerous case studies are considered more persuasive, and the overall study is more robust (Piekkari & Welch, 2018).
Quantitative research Structured questionnaire Interview
Qualitative research Key informants interviews Seminars
General trends
Explanation of results
22
Relying on multiple case studies helped to evaluate CSR strategies employed by companies by recognising patterns of relationships among constructs within and across cases and their underlying (logical) arguments (Baskarada, 2014 in Gustafsson, 2017. By comparing multiple cases, the researcher provides the literature with important influences obtained through contrasts and similarities. This implies that the evidence obtained through a descriptive multiple case study is strong and can be considered reliable (Vannoni, 2015) in Gustafsson, 2017. Additional benefits with a multiple case study approach include enabling the researcher to analyse the data within and across the different categories among government-owned, locally owned, locally listed and internationally listed mining companies. By studying multiple cases, the researcher can understand the similarities and differences between the cases and thence provide the literature with valuable influences from the differences and similarities (Gustafsson, 2017).
This study adopts a combination of five views as a research typology: exploratory-descriptive- explanatory-interpretive-evaluative research typology. The exploratory-descriptive-explanatory- interpretive-evaluative typology was employed, and the strength of this approach is that it starts from the limited background knowledge of the study and develops a detailed understanding of the phenomenon under investigation and ends up interpreting and evaluating the results giving room for the researcher’s judgement and contribution. Figure 2.3 shows the sequencing of the different research approaches.
23
Research Typology Methods
Source: Own compilation 2.2.4.1 Exploratory Stage
The exploratory stage set to explore any data or phenomenon were used as points of reference.
Interviews with the selected stakeholders were carried out. At this stage, the literature on gold mines was reviewed. Such literature included newspaper cuttings, Acts of parliament, and articles on Zimbabwe gold mining. The purpose of the research was to determine the type of data needed and identify key stakeholders for further key informant interviews in the explanation stage of the research process.
2.2.4.2 Descriptive stage
While aware of Yin’s caution against taking the exploratory, descriptive, explanatory stages in research as they are considered to have a hierarchical relationship, in this study, the stages were developed in a logical sequence. After establishing the research sites and data requirements, the descriptive stage sought to provide a quantitative description of the phenomenon. The main objective of this stage was to establish the points of the phenomenon around which
Exploratory Research
Descriptive Research
Structured questionnaire Explanatory Research
Key informants interviews.
Departmental in-house seminars Empirical and theoretic Literature review
Interviews with mining Zimbabwe Chamber of mines, Ministry of mines and Literature review
Interpretive Research Evaluative Research
Figure 2.3: Research Typology
24
generalisations were formed. The descriptive stage emphasized quantitative measurements, and hence the researcher used a questionnaire to collect the data.
2.2.4.3 Explanatory stage
The explanatory stage examined the data closely to explain the phenomena in the data (Almalki, 2016). Key phrases were highlighted to establish the companies’ definitions of CSR and capture recurring thoughts. At this stage, the researcher sought explanations for emerging trends, convergences, and divergences in performances attributable to attributes such as the size of the company and/or governance systems, whether state-owned, multinational unlisted or listed companies and local private limited companies. At this stage, the researcher used interviews with knowledgeable key informants and validated research findings in an in-house seminar where results were presented.
2.2.4.4 Interpretive stage
In this stage, the researcher interpreted the data by developing conceptual categories, supporting or challenging assumptions.
2.2.4.5 Evaluative stage
In this stage, the researcher added her judgement to the phenomena found in the data.
RESEARCH TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTION 2.3.1 Establishing the context of CSR in Zimbabwe
The researcher reviewed the local legislations, government policies, and conference proceedings to establish the historical overview and the current context of the mining industry's legal, regulatory, and institutional environment in Zimbabwe. This literature also included but was not limited to the literature on economies with significant mining sectors, Government of Zimbabwe publications, and Zimbabwe media newspaper articles, Acts and statutory instruments and conference proceedings and other archival materials. The study also undertook a longitudinal review of the different selected companies' different policy regimes to understand the development of corporate social responsibility over time.
25
Interviews were held with key informants from Environmental Management Agent, Ministry of Mines and Mineral development, the Mining Industry Pension Fund, Rural District Councils where the mining operations are being carried out, community leaders. These were used to characterise the nature of the community and mining sector relationship in the broad context of CSR framework. These were interviewed on the developments, opportunities, and challenges in the mining sector.