ALlTY
CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The research task of evaluating the implementation of water supply and sanitation services to an in-situ upgrade housing project is to be explored by evaluating the peri-urban settlement of Newtown as a case study. The aim of this section is to describe the data gathering methods and methods of analysis that will be used as well as the limitations and problems that may be experienced during data collection. A range of data sources and research methods will be employed to undertake this project.
4.2 METHODOLOGY
4.2.1 Case study
The main aim of a case study is to try and understand a person, an institution or an event by studying a single case for a period of time. In other words, as explained by Bouma (1996:89), a case study is aimed at answering the question of 'what is going on?' The important factor in a case study is that it focuses on one group without making comparisons with any other group (Pratt& Loizos 1992). Results of a case study may then be tested against a hypothesis or even the results of other case studies. This research project will use evaluation criteria obtained from the literature review, to assess the sustainability of the water and sanitation project established in the chosen case study.
4.2.2 Research method
Data will be collected from the case study area using qualitative research techniques.
Quantitative data will be utilised where such data is available should it be found to enhance the research project. Mouton & Marais (1994) describe the qualitative research approach as an approach in which the procedures are not strictly formalised, while the scope is more likely to be undefined and a more philosophical/intuitive mode of operation is adopted and tends to the subjective. Whereas quantitative data collection tends to be rather restrictive, the danger with qualitative data collection is that it tends to produce vast amounts of information, which requires the researcher to summarize (Bouma 1996). Qualitative research, as maintained by Mouton et al. (1994), allows the researcher to continually reflect on the research in progress, alter the research if needed and allows for more
interaction with participants. Quantitative research on the other hand, is explained by Bouma (1996) as essentially designed to give numerical results, which are usually reported in tables, graphs and charts telling the number of something, the proportion of something, or what the trends are.
4.2.3 Data collection
Secondary data sources will be used extensively in this project to collect data on the development of the Newtown settlement and the implementation of the water supply and sanitation system. Far too often new research is carried out without first checking on what information is already available. As described by Stewart and Kamins (1993), it is not important whether information is obtained from a primary or secondary source, so long as the information is reliable and answers the question at hand. Data will be collected from sources such as government records, both provincial and local, unpublished consultants reports, archived data sets, journals and published research, both national and international.
Such data will be reviewed in order to properly understand the dynamics of the case study.
Primary data, which Stewart et al. (1993) describe as data collected by the researcher for the purpose of the investigation at hand, will be collected by way of semi structured key informant interviews. These interviews will involve using a checklist of questions and issues, rather than questionnaire. Open-ended questions will be asked to allow for expansion on ideas and debate. Interviews will be carried out in a flexible and informal manner.
4.3 FIELD TRIPS
In carrying out the research, a number of visits will be made to the study area. These visits will entail site observations of the installation and use of the low-pressure ground tank water supply system and sanitation service. The first of these field trips has already been undertaken under the guidance of the two housing project monitors from the Department of Housing. As the project was a PHB funded project, Departmental "project monitors" were assigned to the project from the outset. The second field trip will be under the guidance of the town planner from the former DDA who was involved in the initial planning and development of the settlement, and who later, as an official of the Natal Provincial Administration, also became involved in the provincial development project. The third 60
field trip will be undertaken with officials from the Msunduzi Municipality's Water and Sanitation component, and accompanied by the councilor for the area.
4.4 LIMITATIONS
Given the time and resource constraints (the research must be conducted within a two- month period), it will not be possible for this study to include detailed surveys and investigations into the success of the implementation of water supply and sanitation services to the Newtown settlement. Formal interviews, in the form of questionnaires may elicit additional information on the success of the implementation of the low-pressure ground tank water supply system and ventilated improved pit latrines (VIP's), however, secondary data sources, semi structured key informantinterviews and site observations will be sufficient in meeting the objectives of the study.
Certain key informant interviews will not be able to be conducted. No representative from the previous Newtown Development Committee can be located. However, minutes of the initial meetings held between the old Committee and the Developer, as well as other related correspondence, have already been obtained,which will negate the need to pursue such an interview.
It is envisaged that some key informant interviewee's may not be willing to divulge all information at their disposal, lest it implicates individuals or groups of individuals.
Obtaining certain sensitive data from consultants and the municipality may not readily be made available.
This broad aim of the research project will be pursued with the realization that the research period is very limited. For this reason this study can only be regarded as exploratory and results emanating from the study should be viewed with this in mind.