Gráficas y curvas y análisis de los resultados

It explains the process and how the research was carried out, outlining the methods and approaches, as well as the strategy, data analysis and interpretation.

4.2.1 Research approach

This implies that the research methodology is informed by the inductive paradigms approach based on the context of social structures and values and their roles over their subjects. G.K.

Huysamen (2001:31) says, ‘that the chosen design should be able to answer the researcher’s question and thus serve the purpose for which the research was undertaken in the first place.’

The research approach is necessary to answer research questions, and provide an interpretive analysis of the historical perspective of the roles played by the Abiem traditional leadership.

The research methodolo gy chosen here is undertaken with a view to examin ing the major roles of traditional leaders and the ir impact that might have enhanced or impacted on the trends of the civil war waged by the SPLM/A. This highlights the necessity of applying content analysis to the participants in the research. On the other hand the content analysis helps to recognize the interpretive analysis of the data collected. This means that there must be a methodology in place in order to pave the way for achieving the final objective of the research.

4.2.2 Research design

G.K. Huysamen (2001:10) explains research design as ‘the plan or blueprint according to which data are to be collected to investigate the research hypothesis or question in the most economical

manner’. This basically relates to the actual and practical aspects of how the study is conducted in order to answer the questions this research seeks to address. As stated earlier, this research study uses the qualitative approach to make use of verstehende procedure by conducting inductive analysis in order to understand the actual situation in the field of research. This implies that close observation and correct reading of the situation in hand play an unprecedented role. In this context, the roles and impact of traditional leadership and how they contribute to local government and development represent empirical questions to be answered. Loaf land (1971:3 -4

&7) outlines four elements which are necessary in undertaking a qualitative study:

• Intensive immersion in a sector of social life to gain ‘intimate familiarity’ with the study;

• Focusing on and depicting the situation that scrutinizes actors whom you are dealing with;

• Focusing on international tactics and strategies employed by the participants;

• Assembling and analyzing rich qualitative data of the situation … actions and people in order to convey the reality of the events represented in its mundane aspects.

The qualitative research approach employs clear-cut means and methodological tools of study for the research. It presents aims and objective to gather data for the peculiar situation under examination, in this case, the impact and the role of traditional leadership which represent s an actual situation in a particular space and time. This aspect of the examination is stressed categorically by Weis (2004), that, ‘Qualitative research is not only adequate for evaluation and examination of the event, through various stages and actors, but gives a good account of the main variables interacting at each stage’. Mouton and Marais (1996:205) state that the qualitative method is implemented as follows: ‘To understand the complex processes that precipitate human interaction, it is necessary to obtain information that is relevant to various attitudin al, situational, and environmental factors in the world of those being investigated.’

As already mentioned, the qualitative approach has provided a fruitful paradigm and serves as a collective function concerning the empirical problem under examination. Furthermore it help s to identify facts for answering research questions and articulation of the concepts of the research

study based on the inductive paradigm approach. It has also provided an interpretive analysis and allowed the study of the Abiem social formation from a historical perspective.

4.2.3 Research strategy

The strategy of the research intends to explain the manner in which the research methodology was planned and executed, in other words, a plan to guide the methodology adopted. The use of the research strategy is therefore very important in order to serve the purpose for which the research was undertaken in the first place. This implies assurances for the validation of findings as well as identifying the weaknesses of one method and alternative use of the other method. It means that the research strategy from the onset of the research design, approach and data collection procedure must be systematic and sequential in order to arrive at a constructive data interpretation and analysis which at the end analysis achieve s the intended objective of the research study.

However, to take advantage of the use of a strategy in research of this study, the triangulation of Denzin (1978 :101-103) is seen as an appropriate methodology. This strategy allows the research to have a wider scope and maneuverability to use multiple methods that could incorporate alternatives. The diagram below illustrates the strategy adopted in this research study.

Figure 2. Triangulation case study

Documentary

material Questionnaires and

Interviews

Inductive analytical interpretation