In Chapter 2 the theory emanating from the literature study of rural–urban migration and housing delivery was presented. This chapter focuses on the research methodology. It explains the difference between the qualitative and quantitative research methodology. It also indicates the method used in the study, and the reasons for choosing such a method. The role played by the researcher in the study is also explained. Attention is also paid to the concepts of validity and reliability of the research.
This chapter also provides an account of how the study was designed. The focus was on the theory of the various measuring instruments and the choice of the data collection instrument which is relevant to the research, the construction of the questionnaires, population and the interpretation of the collected data. The ethical issues and limitations of the study are further discussed in detail.
3.2. Objectives of the study
Objectives of this study were to:
analyse the context of rural - urban migration;
investigate the challenges associated with rural - urban migration in Clermont Township;
analyse the impact of rural - urban migration in the demand for housing; and assess the role of eThekwini Municipality in facilitating the Clermont Housing
Project.
The study has shed more light in the relationship between rural – urban migration and housing delivery in practical terms and provides useful information to the eThekwini Municipality in terms of housing delivery.
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3.3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Clermont Township is one of the areas which has an ongoing demand for housing in South Africa. In this area there is overcrowding and there are many people who only have shacks for shelter. The number of houses which have been built thus far has remained relatively low and does not meet the demand of housing needs.
Rural - urban migration appears to be one of the factors contributing to overcrowding and the ongoing increase in the number of people who need houses. Although low cost houses are being built through the government‟s housing programme, housing continues to fall short of the required number. Hence, the author decided to undertake a study in order to discover the relationship between rural – urban migration and housing delivery in Clermont Township.
3.3.2. The role of the researcher
According to Neuman (2003: 146), qualitative researchers see most areas and activities of social life as being essentially qualitative. To them qualitative data are not inaccurate or deficient; but are highly meaningful. Instead of trying to convert social life into variables or numbers, qualitative researchers borrow ideas from the people they study and place them within the context of a natural setting. Qualitative data are empirical. The researcher in this study has included documents of real events, recorded what people said and observed the specific behaviour of people where the research would be conducted. The researcher in the study interpreted data collected by giving meaning, translating data or making it understandable. The research has interpreted data by finding out how the people being studied see the world, how they define the situation, or what it means for them.
According to Maesor (1985: 57), in a qualitative research the researcher must strive to build a relationship of mutual trust and connection with his or her subjects. The quality of the data depends on this connection in so far at it increases the likelihood of participants sharing confidential information of their life-world with the researcher. It was important for a researcher to deal with the participants in a professional manner in order to be able to acquire the required information.
59 According to Glesne and Peshkin (1992: 36), the researcher is a learner, an inquisitive learner, who comes to learn from and with the research participants. Therefore the researcher should not come to the field as a specialist. The researcher is by no means a passive participant. He/she must enthusiastically interact with research participants in different ways. That is what was done by the researcher when conducting the study.
3.3.3. Data collection strategies
According to Patton (1990: 10), a qualitative method consists of three kinds of data collection. They are:
In-depth, open- ended interviews: the data from the interview consists of direct quotations from people about their experiences, opinions, feelings and knowledge.
Direct observation: the data from observations consists of detailed explanation of people‟s activities, behaviours, actions and the full range of interpersonal connections and organisational processes that are part of evident human experience.
Written documents: documents consisting of extracts, quotations, programme records, memoranda correspondence, official publications, reports and personal diaries.
According to Glesne and Peskin (1992: 24), the researcher should make sure that he/she chooses techniques that are likely to elicit data needed to gain understanding of the phenomenon in question, contribute different perspectives on the issue and make effective use of the time available for data collection. For the purpose of this study, questionnaires were chosen as an instrument for data collection.
3.3.4. Reasons for the choice of data collection strategy
The researcher chose the data collection strategy that enables her to be in close interaction with the participants.
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