CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.5. Sampling methods and procedures
According to (Wilson & MacLean 2011:317;Bless et al 2013: 395) a sample is the group of elements drawn from the population that is considered to be representative of the population, and which is studied in order to acquire some knowledge about the entire population.
80 According to (Bless et al 2013: 395) sampling is the technique by which a sample is drawn from the population. Usually the populations that interest human behavioural scientists are so large that, from a practical point of view, it is simply impossible to conduct research on all of them. Consequently, researchers have to obtain data from only a sample of these populations and then extrapolate the findings out to the larger population. Before they draw a sample of the population for analysis, researchers should obtain clarity about the population, or units of analysis, to which their research topic apply (Welman et al 2001:47). The sample size in qualitative research is typically small (Babbie & Mouton 2011:279; Bless et al 2013:16).
In qualitative research a sample is considered to be adequate if it allows all possibilities or aspects of the researched phenomenon to be identified. When the researcher reaches the conclusion that collecting more data and increasing the sample does not bring any new information, which means that the data saturation has been achieved (Bless et al 2013: 164).
According to Babbie & Mouton (2011: 643) purposive sampling is a non-probability sample in which the units to be observed are selected on the basis of your own judgement about which ones will be the most useful or representative. It can also be called judgemental sampling. According to Wilson & MacLean (2011:163) non- probability sampling is techniques that do not specify how likely it is that any member of the population may be selected.
The probability of including each element of the population in a sample is unknown.
It is not possible to determine the likelihood of the inclusion of all representative elements of the population into the sample. Some of the elements might have the chance of being included (Bless et al 2013:166; Bouma, Ling & Wilkinson 2012:140).
Some elements might even have no chance of being included. It is difficult to estimate how well the sample represents the population and this makes generalisation highly questionable (Bless et al 2013:166). The main advantage of probability sampling is that it is always cheaper, faster and often adequate for homogenous populations (Bless et al 2013:166).
81 For the purpose of this study a list of all land reform projects that were done through land redistribution in the Vhembe District Municipality was drawn up. The total number of land redistribution projects came to seventeen projects which meant that the population was going to be derived from the seventeen projects. It was decided that three projects from the total of the population were going to be sampled.
Project 1: Mavungeni is a SLAG project. Mavungeni project is situated in Makhado Local Municipality. It is situated in Portion 1 of the farm Vleifontein 310 LS and it is 561.3880 hectares in extent (Property Enquiry Details: 2016:1). This project is the first and oldest land redistribution project in the district. It is the only SLAG project in Vhembe district. The project is owned by eight beneficiaries who are males and females heading households. It currently has a 40 000 carrying capacity poultry structure. They sell their broilers to Mikes Chicken as their main market.
The project received financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Rural Development.
Project 2: Balanganani is an LRAD project which is owned by three beneficiaries who are members of the Tshilande family. It is situated in Musina Local Municipality of the Vhembe District. It is situated in portion 5 of the farm Mondferland 51 MS and it is 119.5038in extent (Property Enquiry Details: 2016:1). The project is 8 years old.
The main enterprise in the project is small stock (goats). They are currently selling their goats to the hawkers and in auctions around Musina and Alldays.
Project 3: Mamusha Broedery is a PLAS project which was bought by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and is leased to Mr T.W.
Mathidi (male) as the beneficiary. It is situated in Makhado Local Municipality. It is situated in portion 0 of the farm Ne Plus Ultra 110 LS and it is 845.1111in extent (Property Enquiry Details: 2016:1). The project is 2 years old. The project is composed of one beneficiary who is a member of the Mathidi family. The main enterprises in the project are citrus, livestock and cash crops. They are currently selling their produce in Gauteng Province and the hawkers around Makhado and Waterpoort.
82 For the purpose of this study purposive sampling was used. A purposeful sample is one that provides a clear criterion or rationale for the selection of participants, or places to observe, or events, that relates to the research questions (Ezzy 2002:74;
Bless et al 2013:172; Wilson & MacLean 2011:165). Purposive sampling is based on the judgement of a researcher regarding the characteristics of a representative sample (Bless et al 2013:172; Babbie & Mouton 2011:166; Babbie 2013:128). A sample is chosen on the basis of what the researcher considers to be typical units.
Purposive sampling was based on a number of objective criteria such as:
i. Land occupied by a household was allocated as a result of the land redistribution programme under study. For the purpose of this study the evolving nature of the land redistribution programme will be considered e.g. SLAG, LRAD & PLAS.
ii. Current status of the farm (projects that are in production were considered)
iii. Willingness of the household head to participate in the study.
iv. Gender inclusivity (household heads can either be male or female). Priority will be given to the marginalised and to the needs of women in particular in other words households that are led by women will also be prioritised.
v. Project that received post settlement support (benefited financially) from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
vi. The land redistributed is currently used by the intended beneficiaries.
vii. Knowledge of the household head about land redistribution programme.
viii. Projects that were selected represented different commodities within the
Vhembe District, e.g. Broiler production, small stock, cash crops, citrus and livestock.
ix. Commitment by the beneficiaries on their projects all full time farmers in their projects.
The land redistribution projects identified for the study are characterised by people with a history of marginalization and they had access to little or no land; capital and were not trained until after their project had begun. These beneficiaries are poor and often live in marginal environments of the Limpopo Province.
The 3 projects were selected for the study; however they were not selected to be used for comparative study. The projects were selected based on the evolving
83 nature of the Land Redistribution Programme within the Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Due to the nature of the projects the number of households was less than ten in all the projects hence the need for the study to make meaningful contribution there was a need to have at least all the redistribution programmes that were implemented in the Vhembe District. The projects must represent all the sub programmes in land redistribution that was implemented in Vhembe District. The selection was based on whether the beneficiaries are still occupying the land that was redistributed to them, current status, willingness of the households to participate in the study, assistance from DRDLR and the commitment by beneficiaries. The projects were also representing some of the commodities that are currently available in the District, e.g. broiler production, goat production, livestock and citrus production. All the identified projects have received financial assistance from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform through the Recapitalisation and Development Programme.