Case Study: Qualitative Literature Assessment

4 METHODOLOGY:

4.1 STUDY DESIGN

The research approach that will be employed for this research study will be in a case study form. The researcher will make use of a qualitative literature assessment approach as it will enable the researcher to use relevant literature to review an existing- or suggest a new hypothesis (Kothari:2004). Research will be analytical and instrumental, using existing information and knowledge; as well as applied, in order to find a solution to the immediate problem.

4.2 CASE STUDY

The use of a case study method has been chosen by the researcher. According to Yin, (Yin: 2003a) the case study has the strength of being able to collect evidence from multiple sources citing that either qualitative data, quantitative data

Primary data collection will be accomplished through content analysis and by reviewing measures of economic variables and will endeavour to be collected through analysis of published data. The use of secondary data will be minimised. Kothari (2004:113). The use of multiple sources will allow the researcher to uncover convergent lines of enquiry or triangulation. This will ensure construct, external and internal validity and reliability. Comprehensive and systematic organisation of data by means of a database is of utmost importance to strengthen the study.

4.4 DATA ANALYSIS METHOD

Because case studies tend to be exploratory, most end with implications for further study. The researcher may be able to identify significant variables that emerged during the research and suggest studies related to these. Yin (2003a) maintains that data analysis consists of "examining, categorizing, tabulating, testing, or otherwise recombining both quantitative and qualitative evidence to address the initial propositions of a study" According to Yin there are the following analytic strategies for case studies: 1. Relying on theoretical

thinking about rival explanations;

3. and developing a case description.

The researcher will examine, assess, and interpret the data collected, identify relationships between variables, compare variables, identify the difference between variables and the subsequently generate a forecast generated from the data.

4.5 DATA VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY

According to Riege (Riege:1998) "tests to establish the validity and reliability of qualitative data are important to determine the stability and quality of the data obtained. However, there is no single, coherent set of validity and reliability tests for each research phase in case study research available in the literature. Following data analysis, the researcher could restate their research question, thereafter present findings and conclusions. A sound methodology requires not only a summary of the findings, but acknowledgement of any weaknesses in the study. According to Yin (2003b) to achieve construct validity, the case study researcher will make use of multiple sources, internal validity; use logic models and do explanation building and for external validity, the use of theory. He adds that reliability will depend on the ability to develop a database. The reliability can be tested by finding out such things about the said