CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.3 Sampling
Even though this study aimed at interviewing women only, during field work the researcher found out that there were men involved in gardening projects as helpmates to their wives and project leaders. Only ten men were interviewed from wards A and B;
four helpmates in each ward and one male coordinator from each ward as well. Eleven (11) women from ward A and thirteen (13) women from ward B were selected for the study. This makes a total of thirty-four (34) research interviewees or respondents. Bless et al. (1995) argue that a sample population should be manageable and adequate to produce reliable results. They add that a good sample size for a full masters’ dissertation should have at least 30 units of study. The proposed sample consisted of thirty-six black unemployed rural women in wards A and B of Rushinga district. However, I ended up with less sample size based on the respondents I was able to reach and access from the field.
44 The people interviewed were aged from 20 to 50 years. This population was chosen because the district was a black community and women and men aged between 20 and 50 are the active population which participate in daily activities. I chose these wards because this is where most community gardening projects are implemented and run throughout the year in the district. During the research period, the researcher took advantage of the available men who were involved in the same projects and interviewed them. The sampling of women not involved in any gender mainstreaming project was to investigate how women respond to gender mainstreaming initiatives and the barriers to participation.
The sample population was selected using non-probability sampling method and this is when the probability of including each element of the population into the sample is unknown and cannot be determined (Bless et al. 1995). The non-probability sampling type used in this study was purposive sampling, which Bless et al. (1995) argues that it is when the choice of the sample population is influenced by the purpose of study To access the sample population, I worked under the Ministry of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development with Mr Nyamusimba a community development officer and the ward coordinators. I participated in monitoring and evaluation processes of community projects and also awareness campaigns held around the district by government. During my field work period, I lived in Chimhanda rural community which was central to the wards of research. Living in Chimhanda was part of my field work and it enabled to get information about women and the communities and to access the gardens on a regular basis rather than waiting for monitoring and evaluation period.
a. Population sample
Purposive non-probability sampling was used to select participants. The sample was obtained from the database of women in nutritional gardens under the supervision of MWAGCD funded by Caritas, DAPP and World Vision in Rushinga district. Some respondents were chosen from the selected wards due to their availability and willingness to participate in the study. Those respondents were participants and non-participants in gardening projects in both wards A and B. Following purposive sampling method, twenty-five respondents were selected under the following guidelines:
Women and men residing in wards A and B
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Women in gardening projects for at least two years
Women availability during the research period
Women and men aged between 20 and 50 years
Unemployed women and relying on gardening
Woman not participating in any women project
Ward coordinator of the research area
On the focus group discussion day, some women were absent after they had been chosen for sampling but their husbands were available and offered to respond on behalf of their wives. I included these men to get their views on the challenges faced by their wives that limit or hinder their participation in projects. Therefore, ten men were included in this sample.
Table 2 below provides the basic information about the respondents from ward A and their name, age, marital status and gender. The names of people provided in this study are partial (this is when one name is used either surname of first name (Bless et al. 1995). In this study, real first names are provided as per anonymity and confidentiality of information and as agreed with the respondents. This sample is made up of eleven women and five men.
(Table 2) Sample 1: Basic information about participants in ward A
Name Age Gender Marital status
1 Agnes 23 Female Married
2 Berita 50 Female Married
3 Caroline 38 Female Married
4 Epfania 50 Female Married
5 Francisca 45 Female Widowed
6 Kugotsi 45 Female Single
7 Lee 25 Female Married
8 Munei 24 Female Married
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9 Lucia 22 Female Married
10 Ottilia 42 Female Single
11 Tambudzai 28 Female Married
12 Admire 36 Male Married
13 Carrington 31 Male Married
14 Dexter 30 Male Married
15 Telekai 36 Male Married
16 Slavie 27 Male Married
(Table 3) Sample 2: Basic information about participants in ward B
Name Age Marital
Status
Gender
1 Beauty 50 Married Female
2 Bitty 48 Married Female
4 Bridget 34 Married Female
4 Constance 26 Married Female
5 Fadzai 20 Single Female
6 Grace 38 Married Female
7 Kanyama 31 Single Female
8 Make 47 Widowed Female
9 Mercy 41 Single Female
10 Muchaneta 29 Married Female
11 Olivia 33 Single Female
12 Shingirai 39 Widowed Female
13 Yeukai 45 Married Female
14 Cephas 50 Married Male
15 Leonard 36 Married Male
16 Moses 23 Married Male
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17 Phone 25 Married Male
18 Tavonga 30 Married Male
Shown in the Table 3 above is basic information about the sample population from ward B, i.e.
partial names, age, wards, marital status a gender. This sample was made up of thirteen women and five men. For confidentiality and the protection of the respondents, partial names were used in this sample and the pseudo names are assigned to each ward as presented in the table above.