CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This section covers the research methodology used for the study. It elaborates the various aspects of the research, such as the design, target population, selection method and data collection tools.

3.1 Research Design

The study used a descriptive research design since the main interest was to explore the viable relationship and describe how the factors support matters on how climate change is impacting food security. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches to describe various characteristics of variables in the study and gathering in-depth data about the topic. Quantitative approach was used to quantify incidences in order to describe current conditions of climate change.

3.2 Study Population

The targeted study population of 327 individuals who included: (317) households, (5) sub county officials and (5) officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries and the line Departments.

3.3 Sample Size

The study used the Yamane formula of sample determination (1967:886) to determine the sample size as shown below. The research sample size was 176 households, 2 sub county officials and 2 officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries and the line Departments.

The sample size is determined using the following formula by Yamane (1967:886).

n =    N

1 + N (e²)

n=   327

1 + 327 (0.05²)

n=   327

1 + 327 (0.0025)

n= 180 respondents      if

Where;

n = Sample size

N= Population size

e = margin of error at 95% confidence level

e = Margin of error/0.05

Table 1 Population and Sample Size Distribution

Source: Primary data, 2024

3.3.1 Sampling Technique

A purposive sample was used to select respondents who possess similar characteristics to form a sample. The technique allowed the selection of certain units or cases based on a specific purpose rather than randomly (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 2003). Simple random sampling is a technique that is used to select respondents where each respondent is equally chanced to be selected to form a sample. The technique is unbiased and allows the generalizations of findings.

3.3 Data Collection Sources

3.3.1 Primary Data

The concept of primary data refers to information that the researcher collects from sources that are first-hand. The research gathered data that is reliable and provides the necessary information to evaluate the food security current situation.

3.3.2 Secondary Data

The research also collected secondary data through various sources, such as government reports, agriculture publications, academic articles and historical archives. These sources provided the necessary information to evaluate the food security current situation.

3.4 Data Collection Methods

3.4.1 Interview

According to Andrea (2024) interview method of data collection is a verbal conversation between two people with the objective of collecting relevant information for the purpose of research. This method was selected because it produces data based on information priorities, opinions and ideas focused on informants. Therefore, respondents had an opportunity to expand their ideas, express their views and also identify what they regard as crucial factors. The respondents shared their experiences, beliefs and/or motivations of individuals on specific matters especially on issues where participants may not want to talk about them in a group environment.

3.4.2 Survey Questionnaire Method

Data was collected using questionnaires by telephone and printed questionnaires delivered in person to respondents. The questionnaires contained structured items relating to each variable. A total of 180 questionnaires were used for data collection.

These were anchored on a five-point Likert scale including Strongly Disagree (1), Disagree (2), Not Sure (3) Agree (4), and Strongly Agree (5). An ordinal scale was used to assign numbers 1 up to 5, to these statements to reflect rank ordering on an attribute in each question.

3.4.3 Observation Method

The observation method for this study involved a combination of direct and participatory observation techniques to collect data. Direct observation entailed systematically watching and recording environmental conditions, agricultural practices and food availability in selected communities within Karamoja. This method enabled the collection of real-time data on the impacts of climate variability, such as changes in rainfall patterns, temperature fluctuations, and extreme weather events, and their effects on crop yields and food accessibility. Participatory observation involved actively engaging with local farmers, community leaders, and households to understand their experiences, coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies in response to climate change.

3.5 Data Collection Instruments

3.5.1 Interview Guide

For the Key Informant Interviews with local council chairpersons and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industries and Fisheries and the line Departments, face to face interviews were conducted especially for questions generally regarded as sensitive. Data was collected using structured and face to face interviews because they provide first-hand information; data was collected because it is less costly and has the ability to clarify questions. In this method, interview guides were drafted and questions were asked and then noted responses corresponding to the asked questions.

3.5.2 Self-administered Questionnaire

Structured questionnaires which contained predetermined alternative answers for the respondent to choose from in the process of responding to the questions were used. The questions in the questionnaire were constructed in the simplest language possible so as to enable participants respond to them with ease. The questionnaire was designed in such a way that specific questions were asked for each objective of the study.

3.5.3 Observation Checklist

To supplement the observational data, document review was conducted using a detailed checklist. The key documents reviewed include: climate reports from the Climate Change Department and Uganda National Meteorological Authority in the Ministry of Water and Environment, and international organizations which provide historical and current data on climate trends and projections. Agricultural statistics were got from reports by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries and the local offices offered data on crop production, yield rates, and agricultural practices over the years. Community development plans and NGO reports were reviewed to understand the interventions implemented to enhance food security. Additionally, previous research studies and academic papers on climate change, agriculture, and food security in Karamoja provided a theoretical background and to inform the identification of gaps in the current knowledge.

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Research Instruments

3.6.1 Validity of the Instruments

The instruments in this study were first evaluated to determine their correctness in gathering accurate data. In addition, all the items included in the instruments of this study were built basing on earlier studies and reviewed by the supervisors before the data collection exercise took place. This helped to ensure their appropriateness in collecting accurate data. After, content validity was used on the basis of the extent to which questions signify the issue they are supposed to measure (Kumar, 2024). After, Content Validity Index (CVI) for every instrument was determined by summing up the number of items rated as valid by each expert judge divided by the total number of items in the instrument.

That is CVI =

According to Sekaran (2003) and Amin (2020) any instrument with a high CVI of close to 1 or 0.7 above is accepted as valid to collect intended data while any instrument with a CVI below 0.7 is considered poor or questions are not measuring the intended construct effectively hence it will be rejected.

3.6.2 Reliability

The study instruments were pre-tested with 12 participants. After a period of two weeks, the same instruments were given to the same group of respondents in order to ensure consistent results (Bond and Fox, 2001). According to Amin (2020) any instrument with a Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient of 0.7 and above is accepted as reliable in gathering data while any instrument with Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient below 0.7 indicates that the instrument may not be measuring the construct consistently or accurately and as such it is rejected

3.7 Data Analysis

Data was analyzed using the linear regression tools after making reference to the available literature so as to compare and contrast opinions presented to statistical analysis to generate descriptive statistics in order to draw conclusions and make recommendations. The data collected was presented and used in explaining the relationship between the two variables of the research study; climate change and food security. The findings were then qualitatively presented in a research report. The data was categorized into themes, which were used to write report.

3.8 Ethical Issues

The study looked for a supportive letter explaining the objectives of the research signed by the Dean of Science before distributing the self-administered questionnaires and interview guides to the respondents.

Ethical issues were considered during data collection and the rules as well as rights of the respondents being respected. This was done so as to ensure that the rights to privacy and protection of the respondents were not infringed on. Furthermore, in relation to ethics and confidentiality in research, the responsibility of ensuring that information about the subjects and their results remains confidential and that they are used for no purpose other than the research for which it was intended was observed.

3.9 Limitations

Limited Access to Data:

The study faced challenges in accessing accurate or up-to-date data on climate change and food security in Karamoja. This was due to the remoteness of the region, lack of proper documentation and limited access to government data.

High expectations by the respondents

The communities in Karamoja are used to handouts by the Government and development partners. This made it difficult for some of them not to respond on grounds that they were not given handouts.

Reliability of Respondent Information:

The study relied on perceptions from respondents, which introduced subjectivity. Since many findings were based on personal opinions, they may not accurately reflect the objective reality or wider trends.

Geographical Scope:

Karamoja is a vast and diverse region, and the study may not have captured the full range of experiences across different communities, especially if the sample size was small or concentrated in specific areas.

Climate Data Limitations:

Historical and predictive climate data specific to Karamoja may be limited, making it difficult to analyze long-term climate change trends and their direct impact on food security with precision.

Time Constraints:

The research may have been conducted over a short time frame, which might not allow for a comprehensive understanding of long-term climate patterns and their effects on food security.

Cultural and Language Barriers:

Given the diverse ethnic composition of the Karamoja region, language barriers and cultural differences impacted the collection and interpretation of data, particularly during interviews and focus group discussions.

Changing Policy and Economic Context:

Policies and economic conditions impacting food security can change rapidly, and findings related to these areas may be influenced by short-term shifts rather than long-term trends, which could limit the relevance of certain conclusions.

Focus on Climate Change:

While the research focuses on climate change, other factors (e.g., conflict, governance, market dynamics) also play a significant role in food security. The exclusion or limited analysis of these factors may provide an incomplete picture.

Generalizability:

The findings from Karamoja are area specific and may not be entirely generalizable to other regions in Uganda or Sub-Saharan Africa, as the region has unique climatic, socio-economic, and cultural characteristics.