symbols, and descriptions of things (Berg, 2001: 35-36). Qualitative research involves an interpretive, naturalistic approach to the world and study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or to interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them (Snape and Spencer, 2003).
61 research methods within a single study. Applying a combination of research methods in food security study is believed to be imperative, as it is the most appropriate way to explore the complex and multi-dimensional nature of rural livelihoods, vulnerability to food insecurity, climate variability/change and households response to the predicaments. Creswell (2003) and Slee et al. (2006) noted that mixed4 research approach minimizes some of the limitations of using single method because quantitative or qualitative research methods are not sufficient to address the complex social phenomena when they are treated independently. In other words, qualitative methods suffer from the limitations of generalizing the results beyond the specific research area and go through subjectivity during data collection and analysis. The quantitative method on the other hand, always fails to capture an in-depth understanding of intra and inter-household dynamics especially when the household head is in a position to speak on behalf of his family and/or neighbors (Tsegaye, 2012). Hence, using the epistemology of mixed research approach in a case study research design helps to address the research questions and to check the validity of results (Habtemariam, 2003). When quantitative and qualitative research methods are used in combination in one study, they complement to each other and allow for a more complete analysis of the research problem (Migiro and Magangi, 2011).
As discussed in the following sections, the study employed survey questionnaire, in- depth interview, focus group discussion, life history narratives and direct observation. For that reason, the best philosophy for this study could be pragmatism. This sis due to the fact that regardless of any circumstances both quantitative and qualitative research methods can be used in a single study (Creswell, 2009; Migiro and Magangi, 2011). Migiro and Magangi (2011) indicated that pragmatism is considered the best philosophical basis of mixed method research; and justifies the combination of multiple methods in a single study. Degefa (2006) also suggested that pragmatism rejects the either/or choices associated with the paradigm tension, and instead advocates the
4 Mixed method research is in which the researcher uses the qualitative research paradigm for one phase of
a study and the quantitative research paradigm for another in order to understand a research problem more completely (Creswell 2005 cited in Migiro and Maganggi, 2011: 3757).
62 application of mixed research method. This study, therefore, followed the pragmatism mixed research philosophy, as it is the best method to validate the results. In relation to this, Migiro and Magangi (2011) noted that the choice of the research approach depends on the researcher‟s philosophical orientation (positivism, constructivism or pragmatism), the type of knowledge sought and the methods and strategies used to obtain this knowledge. The present study employed concurrent mixed research methods for the reason that both quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously and the results were embedded during the analysis.
Even though the use of mixed methods is vital to triangulate the results, it is highly influenced by the purpose of the study, available time, available resources and familiarity of the researcher in the areas of quantitative and qualitative research methods (Tsegaye, 2012). Degefa (2006) added that research costs, contradictory findings arising from the use of multiple methods, the demanding of sufficient skills in quantitative and qualitative methods and balanced use of the two methods are some of the limitations in the use of mixed research methods. Some of these issues raised were also the concerns of the present study but they were not influential factors to carry out the multi-dimensions of food security at household level.
Few empirical studies were reviewed to recognize the importance of mixed methods in food security studies. A study made by Markos (1997) in drought-prone areas of northern Ethiopia employed structured questionnaire as well as formal and informal discussions with elders, community leaders, development agents and governmental and/or non- governmental officials and found out that the methods were imperative to collect complex issues related to food security. Similarly, Devereux et al. (2003) used qualitative and quantitative research methods in their destitution study of Wollo and they found out that the methods used were vital to capture the major variables related to destitution and poverty in one of the most drought-prone northeastern highlands of the ANRS. Dersolegn (2012), a study made in Addis Ababa, related to urban poverty indicated that in addressing the problems of poverty and food insecurity which include vulnerability, food
63 insecurity and marginalization, the use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods were important means in understanding wider social problems. More specifically, Degefa (2005) in his case study of Ernessa and Garbi Communities in Oromiya Zone in ANRS investigated that food security at household level can be best examined through mixed research design due to the fact that food security and poverty issues have multiple dimensions that cannot be handled easily through a single method. In general, to investigate factors affecting household food security in drought-prone district of Lay Gaint, both primary and secondary data sources were employed. Extensive literature review, sample household survey, in-depth interview, focus group discussion, analysis of statistical data and textual analysis of qualitative data were the methods used in this study.
4.2. Field Work for the Study
The fieldwork for the study was started in December 2011. From December to January 2011, some preliminary survey was made to have general information about the situation of food security in the district. The issues considered were socio-economic activities of the local people, perception about rainfall variability, trends of crop production over the last 20 years, severity of land degradation, water and energy sources, food availability, livestock and problems of grazing, environmental conservation schemes, etc. Opinions of agricultural experts, food security experts, rural kebele administration (RKA5) officials and some prominent individuals were interviewed to have general information about the food security problems in the district. The actual survey began at the mid of March 2011 and continued up to the end of April 2011. These months were selected purposely because the researcher and enumerators could move through the area easily crossing river valleys, which would be problems during the rainy season. Secondly, this period was convenient for the farmers to respond to the questionnaires; there are little agricultural activities during this time of the year.
64 4.3. Selection of Sample Sites and Sample Households
Lay Gaint district was selected purposely as a case for the study. The factors that motivated the selection of the study area include the following. Firstly, it is one of the 64 food insecure districts in the ANRS and the majority of the population in the district are either seasonally or chronically food insecure. As Guinand (2001) pointed out among the nine districts in South Gondar Administrative Zone, five of them including Lay Gaint district are characterized by widespread poverty and persistent food insecurity. Secondly, there are many studies on food security issues in Ethiopia (e.g. Sen, 1981; Desalegn, 1991; Webb and Braun, 1994; Markos, 1997; Devereux, 2000; Devereux et al., 2003; Sorensen et al., 2004; Degefa, 2005). However, in most of these studies coverage of the ANRS was limited to the famine-prone belt of North Shewa, and North and South Wollo. Thirdly, the study area has diverse agro-ecological zones ranging from hot (Kolla) to cool (Dega) temperature zones, which will represent much of the economic, demographic and physical features of the ANRS. Fourthly, the researcher is familiar to the area; hence, there was not communication barrier with survey participants.
The specific RKAs were selected in a cluster sampling approach where all the RKAs in the district were first clustered into three major agro-ecological zones (Kolla, lowland; Woina-Dega, mid-highland and Dega, highland, with respective elevations of 500-1500, 1500-2300 and above 2300 m asl) (Figure 4.1). Then three RKAs were selected, one each from the three zones, in a random sampling procedure. The assumption was, in an agro- ecological zone, households share similar opportunities to secure livelihoods. The RKAs selected for this study were Akabet (Dega), Safda Giorgis (Kolla) and Mesqench (Woina- Dega) (Figure 4.1). Households in each RKA were further stratified6 into wealth groups based on information obtained from focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants (KIs), authors prior knowledge and secondary sources. In relation to this, Barrett (2002) pointed out that adverse shocks to an economy rarely affect all persons equally, that is, certain individuals are more vulnerable to shocks than others; because of their differences