2017
The Research Method
Introduction
The research method is an essential part of the research design as it determines the framework in what type of data is collected and how it is utilized to address the central research problem and answer the research questions (Creswell, 2013). Therefore, effort is directed to evaluate what research method should be utilized in the case study so as to understand the impact of mining and quarrying activities in the Akamkpa mining region located in Nigeria (Creswell, 2013). Research methods are practical ways for conducting research and require that the research scope, problem and questions are addressed via data collection so that findings can be obtained which will advance the body of research (Schneider, 2014). Included in the research methods design is the research methodology which discusses the methods used to undertake the research, the nature of the case study and also which methods have been selected and why they are utilized (Schneider, 2014).
The research method involves the systematic undertaking of research in order to gain a greater understanding of culture, human activity and how society conducts itself (Creswell, 2013). Basic research can essentially establish facts pertaining to existing or new problems and therefore it is used to address and solve problem/s via new conceptual theories (Creswell, 2013). The main rationale behind basic research is to discover data and knowledge which can be interpreted to further expand existing knowledge and benefit the stakeholders associated with the research problem under investigation (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015). There are two primary research methodologies utilized in research which are the quantitative and qualitative approaches or alternatively the mixed methods approach in which both of these methodologies are utilized (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015).
Research Design
The quantitative approach utilized in the research design involves the collection of data and information which is numerical and can be used as statistical evidence to confirm past pattern and trends which relate to the research problem and can thereby provide inference pertaining to issues raised in the research problem and issues requiring answers as stated in the research questions (Nayak & Hazra, 2011). According to Leedy and Ormrod (2005) the quantitative approach is designed to provide an objective perspective of the research problem and used to confirm or deny the researcher’s pre-conceived theory.
The qualitative approach is constructed to investigate the research problem and answer the research questions via a more subjective construct and therefore in terms of the proposed case study a more in-depth understanding is sought (Heron & Reason, 1997; Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). This approach allows practical viewpoints and knowledge to be gained so as to inform the case study via an emerging discovery of data which provides practical insights into how theory can be interpreted into practical interventions and applications (Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). According to Park and Park (2016) and, Heron and Reason (1997), the quantitative methodology is primarily constructed to justify existing research theory and understanding whereas the qualitative methodology is more designed in order to enable the researcher to engage in a journey of self-discovery and seek new knowledge which can serve to address the research questions; such is ideally suited to the case study design as it explores deeper into problematic issues offered within the research problem. According to McCusker and Gunaydin (2015) the qualitative approach is designed to offer understanding concerning how, what or why the research problem exists rather than quantitatively investigate data which points to established numerical facts pertaining to the research problem.
The mixed methods approach utilizes both of the above noted methodologies and is designed to offer the researcher the benefits afforded by both of these research methodologies (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015). The utilization of both of these methodologies can enable the provision of practical advantages should research questions prove to be complex and difficult to answer using only one methodology (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015). The quantitative design offers a more detailed analysis of patterns which pertain to the research problem whereas the qualitative approach creates a greater understanding of responses found within the practical environment (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015).
It is proposed that the qualitative approach be the primary instrument used to conduct the case study into the problematic issues relating to the Akamkpa region in Nigeria (Creswell, 2013). This is so that insight can be gained relating to how quarrying and mining has affected the lives of those stakeholders who are directed impacted by these activities and also gaining understanding from the viewpoints of external personnel who may possess expertise which can potentially inform the case study (Creswell, 2013).
However, Smith (2015) maintained that the mixed methods approach allows the research to engage with all the current research techniques as a means to answer research questions and that this approach serves to prevent researcher bias against one research methodology which may disallow relevant data to inform the case study. Therefore, it is proposed that although the qualitative methodology is the primary approach to investigate existing secondary data and collect empirically constructed primary data, should quantitative data be relevant to the research problem and can potentially be used to answer the research questions it will not be ignored as a possible contribution to the case study (Smith, 2015).
The qualitative approach is often associated with a constructivist worldview in which data and knowledge is used to interpret individual perspectives which can provide answers to the research questions and allows the researcher to establish a more in-depth and inductive form of understanding of the phenomena which relates to the case study (Creswell, 2013; Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). The empirical approach can be constructed via open-ended interview questions which allow the research participant to freely offer personal perspectives which are based on their practical experiences and perceptions (Creswell, 2013). This approach can allow the researcher to engage in observational research which is designed to not only gather empirical data but also to observe reactions and other indicators such as the participant’s body language and disposition during the interview/s (Creswell, 2013). This constructive approach enables subjective meanings to be gained via interaction between the researcher and the research participants (Berg, 2004; Creswell, 2013).
Population
In terms of a case study research project, Mbokane (2009) suggested that the research population refers to the total of the people and/or subjects who/which conform to pre-determined specifications. This case study primarily seeks to investigate firsthand a representative sample of the views of population groups who lives in or around the Akamkpa region. In terms of eligibility of the samples of these population groups, they will be empirically researched regardless of their ethnicity, culture and diversity (Creswell, 2013; Mbokane, 2009). Moreover, the eligibility of the second set of samples to be empirically researched will be those defined within the research community as possessing expertise in the area of mining and quarrying and its impact on local communities; such will be subjects collected from locations outside of the Akamkpa region regardless of their stance towards the research problem defined in this case study and regardless of their ethnicity or diverse background (Creswell, 2013; Mbokane, 2009).
Materials/Instrumentation
The triangulation research tool can be utilized by the inclusion of the qualitative approach to access existing peer reviewed literature and the gathering of empirical subjective perspectives; such can be combined with existing quantitative data (Creswell & Clark, 2007). Triangulation can capture and investigate different data sets offering different dimensions pertaining to the problem and questions common to the case study (Creswell & Clark, 2007). This research instrumentation is appropriate to qualitatively inquire into issues which pertain to the research problem and can offer insight into potential answers to the research question (Creswell & Clark, 2007).
The triangulation tool can be used to establish the credibility of different sets of primary and secondary data by comparing these data sets; such invariably compares existing researched data to more recent data captured from individuals located within the practical point of intervention (Creswell & Clark, 2007; Miles & Huberman, 1994). The material is viewed as data which is collected from peer reviewed existing literature and data which is qualitatively captured from online interviews constructed with open-ended questions which serve to allow understanding of issues currently experienced within the practical setting (Creswell & Clark, 2007; Kvale, 2007).
These open-ended questions will be designed to elicit data which can potentially be used to answer the research questions and further inform the case study (Creswell, 2013; Creswell & Clark, 2007). In addition, the open-ended construct of the interview questions will be designed to explore all possibilities of the impact derived from the mining and quarrying activities in the Akamkpa region and to evaluate what measures can be established which can serve to lessen the impact of such activities (Creswell, 2013; Creswell & Clark, 2007).
Conclusion
Ideally, according to Creswell (2013) theoretical concepts derived from research data should be used to construct explanations and understanding of issues raised in the research problem. The research methods framework can be structured so as to establish relationships between different data sets and used in a case study to explore possibilities from the sourced data which serve to further the knowledge pertaining to issues found in the problem statement (Creswell, 2013; Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). The qualitative approach is the primary methodology which can allow an inductive constructivist stance to be adopted which allows theory to emerge thereby increasing the researcher’s knowledge and understanding of the research problem and research questions (Creswell, 2013; Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). Although the two qualitative approaches directed at the sourced secondary data and the empirical interviews will form the primary methodology underpinning this case study, the more objective quantitative form of data will be selectively utilized as a third component of the triangular research tool should it be viewed as possessing an important and relevant impact on this case study (Creswell & Clark, 2007).
References
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Schneider, F. (2014). What’s in a methodology? The difference between method, methodology, and theory and how to get the balance right. Leiden University Publications.
