5.6.1. Case study research design
Yin (2012) defines a case study as “an empirical inquiry, which investigates a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within real-life contexts – and more importantly, when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not evidently clear”. A case study design was selected in this study because it would allow for up-close, in-depth research and produce first- hand information about what the study intended to investigate. The case study for this research was the eThekwini Municipality. A case study design is deemed relevant as it would provide detailed contextual analysis of the subject under study.
Yin (2009) points out the primary advantage of a case study and maintains that it “provides much more detailed information, as it allows for the use of a number of methods of data collection (i.e. surveys, interviews, document review and observation) and analysis in a variety of contexts, thereby providing a comprehensive view of the subject under study” (Yin 2009).
Cases examined in a case study research can be individuals, groups, organisations, movements, events, or geographic units. The data on these cases are comprehensive, diverse and broad, and can focus on a single point in time or a duration of time (Neuman, 2014). This study assessed an integrated human settlements strategy adopted in creating quality living environments within the eThekwini Municipality. It assessed the move from informal housing to formal housing in improving the quality of life of communities, and whether the integration was achieved through the provision of houses. Yin (2009) reaffirms the use of a case study as a research design method used by institutions to gather knowledge on individuals, groups, organisations, social, political and related phenomena (Yin 2009).
Political parties in South Africa use their given mandate to ensure that houses are delivered to the South African masses. Housing provision in South Africa has been associated with fulfilling the mandate enshrined in the Constitution to ensure the provision of adequate housing to the people. Stake, (as cited in Yin, 2009) observes that a case study is concerned with the density, and a particular, the nature of the case in question, or single community.
5.6.2. Characteristics of a case study
According to Hancock and Algozzine (2015), the following characteristics of a case study are identified.
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First, although a case study research sometimes focuses on an individual representative of a group. In most cases it addresses a phenomenon under study (Hancock & Algozzine, 2015).
The case study for this research focused in an area called Cornubia Flats, which is a sustainable, mixed use, mixed income development, established with the sole purpose of bringing communities closer to their places of employment and economic activities, social amenities, major services, and access to public transport (eThekwini Municipality, 2015).
Secondly, the phenomenon being researched is studied in its natural context, bounded by space and time (Hancock & Algozzine, 2015: 15). The housing backlogs that the eThekwini Municipality contends with include backyard informal dwellings and traditional homes that needed to be upgraded. Household formation in South Africa is growing at a rate of about 3%
annually. As a result, the municipality is experiencing a rapid influx of people moving from rural areas to urban areas, where a few of them has the means to build or buy formal houses in the city (IDP, 2015/16).
Thirdly, case study research is richly descriptive, because it is grounded in deep and varied sources of information (Hancock & Algozzine, 2015: 16). Thus, the researcher conducted interviews with people living in the area, officials from the eThekwini Municipality, and officials from the Provincial Department of Human Settlements. The reason for including the Provincial Department is because the mandate to provide housing has been given to provincial governments. As for the eThekwini Municipality, it has been accredited by the NDHS to provide housing on their behalf, due to the fact that it has the capacity to provide housing (IDP, 2015/2016).
Fox and Bayat (2011) postulate that three aspects should be considered when conducting a case study research:
a) The case should be defined or demarcated – which means that its boundaries should be determined. In this case, the target population for the study was the community of eThekwini Municipality, in the area called Cornubia. Cornubia Flats covers over 1 300 hectares of land, and the municipality has a plan to develop it over a period of between 15 to 20 years. As stated earlier, the project is a sustainable, mixed use, mixed income development, which brings communities closer to their places of employment, social amenities, major services, and public transportation routes (eThekwini, 2011).
b) With regards to techniques used to collect data, should not be on what is being observed, but on consistent regularities and recurring patterns. In the area under study, the
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population came from different areas – and some people have already had the opportunity to access the housing scheme, but because of some dissatisfaction, have gone back to living in shacks.
c) Triangulation should be used frequently. Since the study adopted a qualitative methodology, data were collected, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and semi- structured focus groups. The reason why the researcher used semi-structured focus groups was so that she could understand household dynamics, reflected from the group interviews (Messer
& Townsley, 2003: 46). Information collected from participants assisted the researcher in assessing an integrated strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in creating quality living environments.
5.6.3. When to adopt a case study approach?
According to Yin (2003), a case study approach should be considered when:
(a) The study focuses on answering the “how” and “why” questions. Asking such questions elicit more explanatory responses, and is likely to be relevant in case studies, history, or experimental studies as the preferred questioning method. Such questions lead with an operational link, which needs to be traced overtime (Yin, 2014). Yin (2014) further argues that the use of the “what”, “where”, “how” and “why” are associated with exploratory research.
These questions are used to develop pertinent hypotheses and propositions for further inquiry.
The research questions were developed for this study as indicated in Section 1.8.
(b) The behaviour of those involved in the study cannot be manipulated (Yin, 2009). Yin (2009) further attest that case studies are preferred when contemporary issues are being examined. At the same time, case studies should not manipulate relevant behaviours. Case study researchers prefer using historical methods in dealing with the dead past –more especially when observation of the events under study is not possible, or when there are no relevant persons to report on events that took place. The study relied on primary and secondary documents, as well as cultural and physical artefacts as the main source of evidence (Yin, 2014). The following evidence was used to convey essential data collection:
• supporting textbooks;
• documentation/policies;
• interviews;
• direct observations; and
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• participant observation.
(c) The study is aimed at uncovering contextual conditions because of their relevance to the phenomenon under study (Yin, 2009). The housing backlogs that the eThekwini Municipality contends with include backyard informal dwellings and traditional homes that need to be upgraded. Household formation in South Africa is growing at an alarming rate per annum, due to migration. As a result, the municipality is experiencing a rapid influx of people from rural areas to urban areas; and few has the means to build or buy formal houses in the city.
(d) The boundaries are not clear between the phenomenon and the context (Baxter & Jack, 2008 545). In Public Management case studies also permit the discovery of causal mechanisms with new phenomenon; and can also help in drawing attention to unexpected results (McNabb, 2010). In South Africa the increasing level of poor service delivery and corruption among public officials and politicians has also contributed to instability in communities in South Africa. The increased levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality are results of poor planning policies – which have resulted in less public engagements (engaging the recipients of the houses). Therefore, it was not clear as to whether the houses provided actually met their needs or not.