Los postulados del posdesarrollo

Data collection is basically about getting answers to a set of questions from a chosen group of participants. In research, the process entails gathering data using selected research instruments to answer the pre-defined research questions of a study (Dulle 2014:120 cited Onyango 2002). While data collection methods are many, instruments chosen for this study were designed to satisfy the research objectives through the measurement of the independent and dependent variables of interest. This study addressed two research objectives:

1. To examine the development of the institutional repository at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

2. To investigate the extent of use of the institutional repository by academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

As the study falls within the mixed method research design, qualitative and quantitative methods were implemented for data collection. Questionnaires, interviews and document reviews were the instruments chosen for this study.

4.7.1. Questionnaires

The survey questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data on the use of the IR by academics. Questionnaires are a common and powerful method that has frequently been used in studies investigating user needs and evaluating services within library and information studies even here in South Africa (Hoskins 2009; Majyambere 2014; Muchaonyerwa 2015;

103 Sejane 2017). A semi-structured questionnaire containing open-ended and close-ended questions was developed to yield both qualitative and quantitative data. The questionnaire was chosen because of its ability to collect large amounts of data within a short period of time from scattered large populations. The sample size of this study was 260 respondents, dispersed in four campuses of the UKZN. Proportional distribution was applied guided by the size of samples in each college as follows:

 College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences 74;  College of Humanities 79;

 College of Health Sciences 65; and

 College of Law and Management Studies 42 respondents.

Administration of the questionnaire within each college was random; it was not guided by rank, gender or age of academics but the mere fact of belonging to a specific college. Initially, the researcher printed copies of the questionnaire and visited academics one by one. This proved to be a tedious and long process as UKZN has five campuses scattered in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. In addition, getting academics in their offices was a challenge as data collection commenced on 25 June 2018 when semester break had just commenced. The researcher decided to email the questionnaire to academics but received a very poor response rate. An alternative plan was reached to reformat the questionnaire using Google forms because it was more friendly, easier and faster to complete. A link to the online questionnaire was emailed to selected UKZN academics. Three email reminders were sent and data collection was stopped on 29 August 2018.

The questionnaire had seven sections (see Appendix 1). Section A contained demographic and background information. Demographic variables have been found to play significant roles in influencing technology use (Venkatesh et al. 2003:456). Section B comprised items on the development of the IR, in terms of academics’ awareness of the OA movement, and specifically the university’s IR. Awareness is measured as a form of development because when academics are knowledgeable about OA, they are clear of what is expected of them in growing the IR. Section C sought academic’s view on the role of the library regarding the development of the IR. Section D items were mapped towards the four UTAUT independent variables that are perceived to influence IR use, namely, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. Section E of the questionnaire contained items on the attitudes of academics towards the use of the IR. A five-point Likert scale with responses:

104 strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree and strongly agree, were used to measure items in section D and E as they contained close-ended questions. Section F of the questionnaire contained questions on challenges academics face in using the IR. Finally, section G sought information on strategies that could be employed to improve IR use. Except for sections D and E, where the Likert scale was applied, the rest of the questionnaire had both closed and open- ended questions aimed at gathering both quantitative and qualitative data.

4.7.2 Interviews

Interviews are a method of data collection conducted either face-to-face or over the telephone between the interviewer and the research participant (Babbie 2013:229). Verbal information is gathered through a conversation guided by a ‘mental agenda’ where the interviewer asks questions and records responses from respondents (Yin 2014:239). Semi-structured interviews, which are often associated with collecting qualitative data, were employed to gather data in this study. Questions designed for semi-structured interviews are open-ended, allowing the generation of considerable information, which may lead to reconceptualisation of the issues under study (Mutsvunguma 2013:50 cited Teddlie and Tashakkori 2009). This mode of interviewing allowed the researcher to develop and follow standard questions and still have the flexibility to probe for further views (Gray 2009:373; Leedy and Ormrod 2010:188). In doing this, an in-depth understanding and a clear picture on the development of the IR at UKZN was delineated. Although semi-structured interviews seem to be long and time consuming, they are an effective way of gathering detailed information, both verbal and non-verbal. Thus, deep qualitative information and perceptions are gathered (Thomas 2010:297 cited Lester 1999).

Three different interview schedules (see Appendices 2, 3 and 4) were prepared for the Library Director, the IR Librarian and DVC Research. Interviews were conducted and recorded personally by the researcher. Each interview schedule had six sections where section A gathered data on the progress made towards the growth of the university’s IR since its inception in 2009; section B had items on the role of the library; section C had items on usage of the IR by academics, section D inquired about academics’ attitude towards the IR, section E had items on challenges faced when conducting IR functions and section F sought for strategies to improve acceptance and use of the IR.

105 4.7.3 Documents

It is possible that some documented data, either print or electronic, collected by someone else for other purposes, can serve to satisfy the research requirements of a particular study (Babbie 2013:209; Mugwisi 2013:169 cited Rea and Parker 2005). Documents are reviewed and analysed in order to elicit meaning, gain understanding and develop empirical knowledge on the problem under study (Bowen 2009:27). Researchers are however cautioned to treat documents, not as necessarily precise, accurate, or complete, but should establish the meaning of the document and its contribution to the issues being explored (Bowen 2009:33). In the light of this, documents chosen for this study were incorporated to corroborate and augment evidence from interviews and the questionnaire so that a better understanding of the phenomenon of interest, and the context in which that phenomenon is occurring is developed (Yin 2003:87). Documents reviewed in this study included UKZN annual reports, library newsletters, library annual reviews, policies and other documented literature that assisted in addressing the research questions of the study. Documented statistical data from bibliometric database OpenDOAR, UKZN IR, and ResearchSpace were also used to complement the field data.