The research methodology and design section is important in that it assists the study to realise its purpose and objectives. The methodology and design entail the plan and approaches that are followed in the study. It is argued that the choice of a research approach is influenced by various facets. Creswell (2009) highlights that the problem under study, the experiences of the researcher and the envisaged recipients play a part in influencing the choice of the approach. In this regard, based on the experience of the researcher and the research problem presented, the study is exploratory, with an empirical bias. The approach chosen enabled the researcher to understand and explore legislative oversight as this area of scholarship particular its effects, is still understudied. Creswell (2009) argues that to explore is one of the reasons for the
157 choice of qualitative research. Bless, Higson-Smith and Kagee (2006:44) assert that
“exploratory research is to gain a broad understanding of a situation, phenomenon, community or person”. This is important as it also assists in the design of the study.
The research design of the study was flexible, allowing the study to arrive at its intended objectives as well as responding to the research problem. The primary design designated in this study is a case study. Nieuwenhuis (2007:75) argues that case study has been applicable for a number of years in varied disciplines to respond to
“how and why” questions, among others. These kinds of questions, according to Creswell (2009), are explorative in nature. Case study affords the researcher an opportunity to explore one case with unique characteristics or a number of cases (Leedy, 1997). The case study as a systematic inquiry describes and explains a phenomenon in its natural setting, utilising multiple sources of data. The main data sources to be utilised in the study take the form of participant observation, semi- structured in-depth personal interviews and use of document sources. The use of multiple sources is considered one of the strengths of a case study. The study examines the effects of oversight role of legislatures in South Africa with specific reference to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), which is alluded to be a unique case among South African legislatures. It is referred to as a centre of excellence within the global legislative community (20 Years Review Report of the GPL, 2015:7).
In addition, Brynard and Hanekom (2006) assert that it is upon the researcher to decide which research methods to apply in the study. In this study, a qualitative research method was employed, and was justified by the research problem investigated. Inductive logic was also utilised in the quest to derive meanings from the subjects. This is because qualitative research has its own strengths (Creswell, 2009), including flexibility to respond to explorative questions in the study. Amongst others, the main data collection tool would be the researcher. The researcher meaningfully participated in the observations and interviews as well as in the document analysis, which is one of the strengths of qualitative research. Mouton (2001) is of the view that a method of research entails the path of conducting research. It is referred to as the how part of doing research. This entails an action plan and strategy, which include in particular tools and materials needed in building towards the realisation of the objectives of the study.
158 Research methodology is an important part of the study and should be presented in a precise manner. As outlined by Brynard and Hanekom (2006), the researcher has to select data collection procedures guided by nature of the study; thus, population target, sampling design, data collection tools and data analysis. Furthermore, the study discusses the characteristics and strengths of qualitative research.
5.2.1 Qualitative research
Leedy (1997:105) asserts that “qualitative study is an inquiry process of understanding a social or human problem, based on building a complex, holistic picture, formed with words, reporting details of views of informants, and conducted in a natural setting”.
Marshall and Rossman (1999:57) argue that aspects such as the holistic picture, views of the participants and a natural setting are some of the characteristics and strengths of qualitative research. A natural setting in qualitative research is stressed; this is referred to as a naturalistic context (Leedy, 1997; Nieuwenhuis, 2007). The naturalistic context represents the description and understanding of a phenomenon in a natural setting, and seeks to derive meanings from the views of the participants. According to Bless et al. (2006:44), the nature of qualitative research affords the researcher with an opportunity to record human experiences where such experiences are taking place. In addition, Creswell (2009) identifies the following as characteristics of qualitative research, and further outlines what is meant by each characteristic.
• Natural setting – qualitative researchers tend to collect data in the field on site where participants experience the issue or problem under study.
• The researcher as a key instrument – qualitative researchers collect data themselves by examining documents, observing behaviour or interviewing participants.
• Multiple sources of data – qualitative researchers typically use multiple forms of data collection, such as interviews, observation and documents, rather than rely on a single data source.
• Inductive data analysis – qualitative researchers build patterns, because the researcher focuses on learning the meaning that the participants attach to the problem or issue, not the meaning that the researchers wish to bring to the research or which writers express in the literature.
159
• Emergent design – the research process for qualitative researchers is emergent.
• Theoretical lens – qualitative researchers often use lenses to view their studies, such as concepts of culture, ethnography gender or race.
• Interpretive – qualitative research is a form of interpretive inquiry in which researchers offer an interpretation of what they see, hear and understand.
• A holistic account – qualitative researchers try to develop a complex picture of the problem or issue under study (Creswell, 2009:175-176).
The above-mentioned characteristics identify qualitative research which assist in justifying the choice of the approach in this study. In qualitative research, the researcher often interacts face-to-face with the participants and may be in a position to appreciate what the participants experience daily in executing the oversight mandate. In fact, a qualitative researcher may be directly involved in the case under investigation and becomes part of the main research problem and solution-seeking surrounding the study. Creswell (2009) emphasises the role of the researcher in qualitative research, where the researcher is more involved in the study with the participants. In addition, although it has been long categorised under anthropology and sociology with related designs such as ethnography, fieldwork and participant observation, qualitative research is utilised in various social sciences disciplines and related designs (Nieuwenhuis, 2007). Furthermore, Creswell (2009:27) underscores the importance of literature and its use in qualitative research. Literature review is discussed in the next section.
5.2.2 Literature review
The review of existing literature forms an important part of research (Mouton, 2001), and is referred to as a point of departure in research (Majam & Theron, 2006). Bless et al. (2006), however, posit that before one takes steps of conducting a literature review, there is a need to consider the purpose and techniques of reviewing the literature as broad issues to guide the process. Hence, the purpose of the literature was to assist the study to recognise discrepancies and gaps that justified this research on legislative oversight. Majam and Theron (2006) elaborate that literature review is done for various reasons, including but not limited to, establishing a research and
160 theoretical context to base the study. This is what the literature review for this study was aimed at. Brynard and Hanekom (2006:31) argue that literature study, to some degree, should encompass pertinent documents, and more importantly, from experts in the field of study. To add to the discourse, experts in the field should be identified by, among others, the number of their publications in the field and the impact of such publications. Mouton (2001:87) states that not only pertinent, but most recent and reliable literature should form part of the review; and that reliability should be determined by the publication source of one’s work. This study took into consideration recent and relevant studies conducted with regard to the oversight role of legislatures, and noted the authority question in mind. This was determined by the availability and accessibility of literature in the area of study.
The literature reviewed in the previous chapters mostly entailed recent literature in the form of publications such as journal articles, conference proceedings, books and commissioned work, including studies, policy briefs and reports. Yet, this did not exclude old relevant literature sources that might add value to the study. Henning in Braynard and Hanekom (2006:31) maintains that in compiling a literature review, any relevant document should be included in the literature survey. Wellington in Majam and Theron (2006:605-606) is of the opinion that the aspects mentioned below are part of the purpose of literature review:
• identifying gaps in knowledge and developing a research problem;
• identifying a theoretical framework upon which to base research;
• identifying issues and variables related to the topic; and
• identifying methodologies.
Furthermore, Welman et al. (2005:38) assert that “literature review sets the scene for the clear formulation of the research problem”. This alludes to the purpose of literature review, and at the same time, highlights what the literature is used for in a study.
Creswell (2009) supports that reviewing the existing literature is important in order to frame the problem of the study, and this takes place in the beginning of the research, that is, either during the proposal phase or in the introductory chapter of the study. The author also writes that literature is used in the literature review chapter, which is a separate chapter in the study, and in the final chapter wherein literature is used to compare and contrast findings, particularly of the qualitative study (Creswell, 2009:27).
161 The use of literature is dominant in all types of qualitative designs, and is an important feature which formed part of this study (See Chapter 2, 3 & 4). Furthermore, Bless et al. (2006:25) assert that one of the purposes may include “to study definitions used in previous works as well as the characteristics of the populations investigated, with the aim of adopting them for the new research”. In this study, the literature review assisted in demarcating the study area and the target population by identifying gaps and weaknesses of previous studies on the subject of the oversight role of legislatures, in particular within the South African context.