108
Triangulation in a study is not only restricted to methods but goes well beyond this.
Triangulation also includes mixing of data sources, use of multiple theories to explain and interpret data, and even using multiple researchers to collect and analyse data (Sekaran and Bougie, 2010). All this is done not only to provide corroborating evidence (Creswell, 2013) but also to make use of different expertise as mixed methods is known to be a complex undertaking requiring a diversity of skills to accomplish (Delport and Fouche, 2011).
The present study made use of the concurrent triangulation design (methodological triangulation) whereby both quantitative and qualitative methods were accorded equal weighting. Data sets were also triangulated. In practice, quantitative data, collected through self-completion questionnaires administered to students and academic staff, and qualitative data, collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with the university/college librarians and ICT directors, were collected at the same time. Such type of data were integrated during analysis and interpretation of the results. The study also made use of theoretical triangulation whereby the UTAUT model and the TOE framework were used jointly to provide a theoretical lens to the study.
109
case studies adapt to a wide range of methodological frameworks such as life history, grounded theory, and phenomenology. However, other scholars (Creswell, 2013; Yin, 2009;
Denzin and Lincoln, 2005) hold a contrary opinion as they look at case study as a methodology on its own. This is a view that is shared by this researcher, and that is why the case study was chosen as a methodology that underpinned this study.
The case study method was deemed suitable for this study because it provides an opportunity for a problem to be studied in depth in its real life context, and also allows the use of multiple sources of evidence (Sekaran and Bougie, 2010; Pickard, 2007). It was hoped that a detailed examination of the issues being studied would lead to a detailed, descriptive and informative report whilst methodological triangulation would help bridge issues of validity and reliability (Bush, 2012).
As already indicated, investigations in case studies may involve a single case or multiple cases (Creswell, 2013). The present study was a multi-case investigation at five study sites.
These are:
Mzuzu University (MZUNI) which is located in Mzuzu City in Northern Malawi.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) located just outside the City of Lilongwe in Central Malawi.
Three constituent colleges of the University of Malawi (UNIMA) namely:
o Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) located within the City of Lilongwe in Central Malawi.
o The Polytechnic located within the City of Blantyre in Southern Malawi, and o College of Medicine (COM) located within the City of Blantyre in Southern
Malawi.
Although these cases were studied as separate units, it was hoped that results drawn from each of these cases would provide a basis for comparison with the other cases because they were generally similar in that they are funded by the government, and also have comparable administrative structures. It was, therefore, hoped that results drawn from this study could be similar in certain aspects.
110
The multi-case study design has been used by other previous researchers in various fields.
For instance, Naftali and Findlaterthe (2014) used this design to study mobile experiences of smartphone users with motor impairments in the USA. The study involved conducting an online survey involving 16 respondents, an in-depth interview, two weeks of diary entries, and a 3 hour contextual session that included neighbourhood activities. More importantly, the researchers also engaged in a detailed multi-case study involving four expert smartphone users. Similarly, Odero-Musakali and Mutula (2007) used the multi-case study design to examine Internet adoption and assimilation in Kenyan university libraries. In another study, Grøtnes (2009) used cases from the Android mobile operating system and the service platform developed by the Open Mobile Alliance to illustrate the differences in open innovation processes.
Whilst case study is considered a methodology on its own, there is overlap that exists among the different research methodologies (Christensen et al., 2011). Consequently, each of the different designs may also incorporate elements of the other design(s). Therefore, this study adopted a survey design within the case study. The rationale for using the survey within the case study was to help in gauging opinions and feelings of participants such as students and academic staff on issues of using mobile phone to offer libray and information services in public university libraries in Malawi.
Literature identifies several types of case studies. These include descriptive, explanatory, evaluative and multi case studies (Bassey, 2012; Fouche and Schurink, 2011). A descriptive case study is also referred to as an intrinsic case study, and it strives to describe, analyse and interpret a particular phenomenon (Yin, 2003). Descriptive case studies are conducted with the aim of producing a detailed description of a case. Explanatory case studies are also called instrumental case studies. The main purpose for carrying out this kind of study is both to develop and test a theory. Evaluative case studies are another form of case study which are undertaken to explore the worthwhileness of a particular program. Multi-case studies or collective case studies, on the other hand, are studies that focus on a particular situation or phenomenon but are extended to several cases. Although there are distinct categories of case studies, Fouche and Schurink (2011) argue that these designs tend to overlap. Moreover, researchers tend to use more than one design in a study. The study being undertaken, however, was an evaluative case study. This determination is made on the basis that the
111
information collected was meant to help in determining the eReadiness status of the libraries to offer library and information services through mobile phones.