La respuesta celular global a los compuestos aromáticos en bacterias.

Methodology according to Kitchin & Tate (2000, 6) basically refers to a “coherent set of rules and procedures which can be used to investigate a phenomenon or a situation”. It entails the gathering of data, making meaning out of the data or information gathered through analysis and indeed interpreting the analysed data (Creswell 2009). The acquisition of knowledge and the methods involved is a crucial and debatable enterprise. This is in cognizance of the fact that research methodology has grown and metamorphosed over time (Clifford & Valentine 2003; see also Henn et al. 2006). Basically, two main types of research can be envisaged; that is qualitative and quantitative. The distinction between the two hinges on the fact that whilst quantitative is numerical, qualitative research is non-numerical (Babbie 2005).

The choice of a method for any research it is noted borders on the appropriateness of it to carve out the knowledge that is being envisaged in contrast to its convenience and ease for the researcher (Kitchen & Tate 2000; Clifford & Valentine 2003). Creswell (1998) is of the contention that the adoption of a particular method of inquiry depends on what one wants to know or do. In this regard, this study uses qualitative methods to explore the livelihood impact as a result of the relocation of street hawkers in Accra by gathering the views, feelings, perceptions and concerns of both hawkers who have relocated to the Odawna Pedestrian Market and those still selling on the streets and pavements as well as officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and a cross section of the public. Bearing in mind that qualitative research methods (in- depth interview) facilitate a broader scope for the informants to be able to account and give insights into the experiences of their circumstances and lived worlds as noted by Gatrell & Elliot (2009); the qualitative method provided a platform for the soliciting of a wide range of information which was not known to the researcher hitherto the research.

3.1.1 Methodological Justification

Qualitative methodology was chosen for my research because qualitative data are richer in meaning and detail in comparison with quantitative data (Babbie 2005). This is borne out of the fact that the qualitative method of interviewing is ideal when it comes to flexibility and teasing out very sensitive information such as the relocation of the street hawkers with reference to their opinions, feelings, and views (Davis & Dwyer 2007; Babbie 2005; see also Saks & Allsop 2007). That is, it offers the researcher the freedom to modify his or her methods in response to the appropriateness of the data because of the flexible and reflexive properties that the qualitative methods possess (Ezzy 2002). This is indeed the case because of the fact that geographers in their humanistic approach recognize that human behaviour is not only subjective, but dynamic and complex. It is in this wise that human geographers draw on methods that would allow them to delve into the meanings, emotions, intentions and values that characterizes human behaviour (Ley 1974; Seamon 1979).

Against the backdrop that the whole relocation process of the hawkers had been met with resistance amidst destruction of temporary and unauthorized structures and the raiding of hawkers by AMA guards, adopting a qualitative methodology (in-depth interviews) will thus create the platform to bring out these feelings and sentiments. That is, highlighting their point of view, sentiments and experience with regards to the whole relocation process especially under the very circumstances that they found themselves (Kvale & Brinkmann 2009).

It is however noted that qualitative methodology has its problems and challenges and consequently its criticisms. For instance, even though qualitative research is credited with the issue of validity, it is found to be lagging when it comes to the issue of reliability with regards to findings (kvale & Brinkmann 2009). This is the case because of the influence of the perceptions of the researcher on the findings which might yield different results when a different researcher is studying the same phenomenon.

Further, concerns have been raised about the representativeness of qualitative research findings and hence its ‘generalizability’ (Babbie 2005). This is in reference to the fact that samples drawn for qualitative research are often small and hence concerns about generalizing findings from the small sample to the larger population. Indeed it is argued that, qualitative researchers do not find concepts like ‘representativeness’ and ‘reliability’ so relevant or interesting.

Lastly, another criticism is the fact that analyzing qualitative data is very tedious and laborious. Coding data and identifying themes is very cumbersome and may blur the occurrences of differences and similarities in the data which could be a recipe for bias. These criticisms notwithstanding, the qualitative method is ideal for the research considering the fact that the qualitative approach does not treat informants as objects but that its subjective approach appreciates them “as people whose experiences, beliefs, and feelings are to be respected and valued as legitimate sources of data” (Gatrell & Elliot 2009, 76). In fact, qualitative research draws its strength from the fact that its intent is not always to make generalizations but to have an in-depth understanding of the subject matter under study and as such relying on the voices and experiences of subjects more directly affected; hence its appropriateness for this study of street hawking in Accra.