4.1. INTRODUCTION
This chapter on research methodology provides the techniques that were used in conducting the research. Firstly, a literature review was conducted in order to formulate the theoretical and conceptual framework of the study. This is regarded as a secondary source of data.
Secondly, research interviews were conducted in the field in order to obtain valid and reliable information pertaining to the research subject. It was necessary to draw upon empirical evidence to approvellink theory. The interviews are regarded as a primary source of data.
Moreover, other aspects of the research will also be provided, such as the detailed research process and time frame; and also the scope and limitations of the research.
4.2. SECONDARY SOURCES OF DATA
Msezana (1997), like Moser et al. (1985), points to the fact that it is no use hurrying into field research without first consulting relevant and necessary books, journals and other useful secondary material. In my research the assistance from the municipality in the Mount Ayliff district has been useful to elicit information. The municipality together with the district council (Alfred Nzo), that is the local government of the Eastern Region of the Eastern Cape, assisted me in this regard. The Mount Ayliff district is the part of the Eastern Region of the Eastern Cape where the branch headquarters of the Alfred Nzo District Council are located. The council is responsible for major developments within the Eastern Region. It became located in Mount Ayliff in the post-1994 period when major developments (such as infrastructure provision) were brought into the area.
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There were no interviews conducted with office bearers of the municipality and the district council. They only provided me with the Interim Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the municipal area. The information from the IDP was useful in assessing the background of the area. Moreover, in this regard other relevant sources from the library such as books, journals and theses were also consulted. These sources of data were useful in the formulation of my theoretical and conceptual framework. Msezana (1997) argues that the secondary sources of data are indispensable in developing a conceptual framework.
4.3. PRIMARY SOURCES OF DATA
My research is a "case study" focusing on the rural areas of the Mount Ayliff district in the former Transkei, as it was mentioned earlier. To gather information in the area, semi- structured in-depth interviews were conducted with members of different types of households within the area,who responded to face-to-face open-ended questions. These different types of households were assessed according to their responses to electrification, which is aimed at improving their way of living and the domestic activities of households.
This will in part be a comparative study because some of different types of households will be subject to comparison, regarding their respective responses to electrification. For example, in Table 4.1 below, as is clarified in Appendix I (Basis for Argument), can be noted that some of the households in the grid (i.e. Electrified households running a business and Unelectrified households running a business, and also Electrified households with schooling children and Unelectrified households with schooling children and so on) can be compared and contrasted.
The following table IS a grid, showing the different types of households that were interviewed:
TABLE4.1.HOUSEHOLD TYPES AND NUMBEROF INTERVIEWSPER GROUP
Electrified Unelectrified
A. Schooling children[I] School ingchildren[I]
B. l1Iiteratehousehold Il1iteratehousehold Members [2] Members [2]
C. RunningaBusiness [I ] Runninga Business[1]
D. Using electricity Usingalternative
Only [2] Sourcesofenergy[2]
E. Usingcomplementing
Sourcesof energy [2]
F. Single Female-headed
Households [2]
G. SingleMale-headed
Households[2]
H. UnemployedHousehold
Head [2]
4.4. RESEARCH PROCESS AND TIMEFRAME
Households that were interviewed are widely spread all over the Mount Ayliff district in distant local communities. Households within these local communities were randomly selected.Most importantly,these households were consulted by appointment in advance. In identifying the different types of households within the area the members of local communities were helpful. They are the ones who introduced me to these households. The researcher's knowledge about the area was also an advantage because he also lives in Mount Ayliff. Regarding the household types it was not a problem to identify the people pertaining to a particular group becausewhen looking for a household the researcher would just ask for assistance from the members of the local community, who in turn referred him to a relevant household needed. Since there were many households that were identified per group of household types the researcher then chose one household to be interviewed out of the large number that was identified. The illiterate peopleweredetermined by lookingat the education standard/level of the people. In this case, people who have not attended school were designated as illiterate and were intervieweesinthis study.
The interviews were conducted with household members as focus groups (including household heads together with other household members e.g. children and other people residing within the household) within their homes. These interviews were conducted in a
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partially informal manner, hence, monitored uncontrolled chatting was engaged on in order for the people not to feel confined. This, however, helped the researcher to get detailed information, as people were able to express their views. Interview questions are included at the end of the dissertation as an appendix (Appendix 2).
Approximately a two-month period (June-August, 2002) was spent in the study area gathering information from various households. A maximum time of 2-3 hours was spent with the household when conducting an interview. A total number of 20 interviews were conducted.
As shown above (Table 4.1), only two interviews were conducted per household type group except for interviews with schooling children and households running businesses, in which only one interview was conducted with these household type groups. In these groups, the researcher opted for a strategy more like a case study. For example, regarding schooling children, the scholars of a particular school in Mount Ayliff was selected. The children were grouped according to those who have access to electricity at home and those who do not have access to electricity. After identifying the two separate entities the researcher then asked questions to the children, who in turn supported each other in providing answers. Approximately twenty children were in each of these groups. In the case of households running businesses, only two households were selectedwith one interview per household type e.g. electrified household running a business and unelectrified household running a business.
The reason why the researcher conducted only a small number (20) interviews is that pilot research was performed before the actual research, where he assessed the relevance and validity of the information. In this pilot research, face-to-face conversation was employed, with the information jotted down on a paper for transcription (for use in the actual main study). During this stage, approximately 5 interviews were conducted per group of household types, with approximately one hour spent with a member (household head) belonging to a particular type of household. The information that was obtained from separate households of the same group was more similar. This resulted in the researcher making generalizations and assumptions that all households of the same type/group are similar in their way of living and also their way of doing things. With regard to detailed subsequent interviews the answers from the interviewees were also written down on the paper.
The author of the dissertation was also the sole researcher in this study. As mentioned earlier, the researcher was born in Mount Ayliff; hence, there was no problem in terms of the
language barrier. The researcher is also Xhosa speaking like the people of Mount Ayliff.
However, there was no problem with translation of the questions to the interviewees such as the illiterate people. Itwas even more convenient in dealing with the literate people because questions were asked in English, with translation into Xhosa an alternative if people failed to understand a question.
4.5. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This dissertation seeks to add to the debate of meeting basic needs, a rural development approach and improvement in the quality of life for development. The study only deals with the domestic sector, which is the everyday life of people and their activities within their households. Although it deals with households within the locality, it is limited in that the empirical analysis is based on a small number of households in a particular context. The scope of the study was further limited by time and budgetary constraints. In relation to the time limitation, it should be noted that some of the sources of secondary data (literature review) are old. This, however, resulted in the researcher using only the available material and resources at that particular time of conducting and completing the research.
4.6. CONCLUSION
It should be noted that the information that was collected is only qualitative in nature. The qualitative analysis has been employed in analysing data. It was also a viable idea to use statistics in some instances but this was avoided. The reason why the researcher abandoned this idea is because of the fact that he only opted for the synthesis and interpretation of qualitative data.
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