research design
3.2 Research Design
Different research designs relate to philosophical assumptions and the research design is associated with a pragmatic paradigm (Creswell, 2013; Kothari, 2004). The research design associated with the pragmatic paradigm involves mixed methods (Creswell, 2012). The current study adopted a concurrent parallel design combining the survey design applied within a case study. The mixing of the two designs provided a better understanding of the research problem since it utilizes and is built upon the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data (Creswell, 2008; Saunders, et al., 2012).
3.2.1 Case Study Research Design
The case study is a method of study that focuses on in-depth rather than breadth. This research will use a case study design involving three health research institutes. The case study is a design in qualitative research an objective as well as a product of inquiry (Creswell, 2013). It is where the researcher explores real-life multiple bounded systems (cases) over time through detailed in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information in which inferences can be drawn (Creswell, 2013). The case study design will be a basis to explore how research data is managed, the level of RDM awareness and readiness, given why a slow response to adopting research data management practices to undertake data-intensive research (Ritchie, et al., 2013).
Research Design
This study will adopt a descriptive case study design, which will allow the research to focus on the contemporary phenomenon of environmental stewardship within the context of the Albertine region. A case study is an empirical inquiry that focuses on a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context (Yin 1994, in Roux & Cheryl, 2017). The main components of my research design are theological and ethical research that will be guided by interpretive research philosophy. This philosophy gives understanding of how people observe the world and the value that they allocate to a particular predicament (Mwenda, 2017). From these views, an assessment of the church of Uganda environmental stewardship in the Albertine Region will be done. This will be conducted as follows.
The theological Component of Research will be conducted qualitatively where hermeneutical approaches and phenomenological approaches to data collection, analysis and interpretation will be adopted. The theological themes concerning Christian stewardship will be explained and interrogated for further application in enforcing environmental stewardship. Under this component of research, the research will focus on establishing the theological approaches that the church can adopt to fulfill her mandate for environmental stewardship.
The ethical component of research will be done through a mixed survey that will collect both quantitative and qualitative data concerning Christian stewardship, the practices of the church concerning environmental stewardship, the current factors responsible for environmental degradation, the status of environmental stewardship in the Albertine region and the level of association between religious teachings and ethical behaviors regarding environmental stewardship. The emerging themes and findings will be used to establish how Christian stewardship contributes to environmental stewardship and so the ethical approaches that Church of Uganda can adopt to enforce environmental stewardship.
1.3.2 Research Approach
In this study, I will use a mixed method approach, where both quantitative and qualitative approaches will be followed, and their associated data collection methods and analysis criteria will be incorporated. The choice for the mixed method is based on the nature of the data that I seek to collect and the procedures for interpretation. As Roux & Cheryl (2017) asserts, a mixed method approach offers the researcher the opportunity to collect rich data which produces robust research results. The mixed method therefore increases the comprehensiveness of overall findings and the methodological rigor given that there is room for checking consistency.
research design
research design
research design
The ideal sample size for researchers as respondents was calculated using the Cochran formula at the desired level of precision, confidence level, and the estimated proportion of the attribute present in the population.
The Cochran formula is:
Where:
- e is the desired level of precision (i.e. the margin of error),
- p is the (estimated) proportion of the population that has the attribute in question,
- q is 1 – p.
- the z-value is found in a Z-table.
This gave a sample size of 212 Respondents. However, to allow a representative sample from each study site, Stratified sampling was used to generate an appropriate sample depending on the population of researchers available in each study site. Consequently, Cochran’s formula is modified to calculate a sample for small (Hypergeometric) populations, applied as shown below:
n=
Where:
n= Sample size
N= Population size
Z=z-score
e= Margin of error
P= Sample proportion (If unknown we use 0.5)
N=469, Z-score at 95% confidence level=1.96, e=5%, P=0.5
Substituting into the formula
n=
Sample size (n) = 212
For each stratum, a proportionate stratification shall be given by the formula below.
Where: =Strata sample size,
=Strata population size,
= strata
However, to attain a balance in response from each of the study sites, the sample for the respondent for the questionnaires shall be as here below derived from the calculation:
Sample for UCI ( ) = = 25
Sample for JCRC ( ) = = 16
Sample for UVRI ( ) = = 171
The sample size for key informants includes: Managers/Administrators of research, System Administrators/Data Officers, and Librarians/Medical Record Officers from each of the selected health institutes was one respondent per category per institute which makes the total of 9 Respondents. Thus the total sample size will be 221 Respondents for both questionnaire and interview.
3.5.2 Sampling Techniques
Three sampling techniques will be used to select the respondents as here below explained
3.5.2.1 Stratified Sampling
Stratified sampling is where the population is divided into strata (or subgroups) and a random sample is taken from each subgroup. A subgroup is a natural set of items. Subgroups might be based on company size, gender, or occupation (to name but a few). Stratified sampling is often used where there is a great deal of variation within a population. Its purpose is to ensure that every stratum is adequately represented. A sample for each of the study sites as a stratum was calculated.
3.5.2.2 Random Sampling
At each institute, the respondents for questionnaires will be selected using random sampling. The researchers’ list shall be requested from the Human Resources Office in each institute. The entire population of the researchers at each institute will be given a number code and the numbers will be put together in a bag and randomly select one by one with replacement until all the required sample at each site is selected. All those selected will then be contacted with a request to participate in the study by answering a questionnaire.
3.5.2.3 Purposive Sampling
Purposive sampling known as judgmental sampling is defined as selecting a relatively small number of respondents who can provide valuable information related to the research questions under examination (Teddlie and Tashakkori, 2009). The rationale for purposive sampling is its ability to enable the selection of informed persons who possess vital information, comprehensive enough to gain a better insight into the problem under study. Purposive sampling will be used to select key informants. These include Managers/Administrators of research, System Administrators/Data Officers, and Librarians/Medical Record Officers from each of the selected health institutes. The office-bearers in the identified categories above are assumed to be information-rich on issues related to research data practices within institutes by virtual of their roles, training, and skills. A list of office holders in those categories will be identified with the help of the Human Resources Office at each institute. Where there is more than one person in each category, the most senior will be selected. The selected respondents will then be contacted requested for an interview.
3.6 Data collection methods and tools
Data will be collected using multiple data collection tools. The tools will include: questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews
3.6.1 Questionnaire
Questionnaires will be used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data for analyzing the RDM practices in health institutes. Questionnaires will be used to collect data from respondents who are currently enrolled as researchers at different professional levels at the institutes of study. These include senior researchers, middle and junior/Ph.D. student researchers. Researchers as respondents in this study are important since they play a critical role in the research data lifecycle. Questionnaires with options for selecting and measuring based on the Likert scale are considered appropriate for the study.
However, due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, questionnaires have been designed in several formats to allow wider distribution to researchers and as a strategy to reduce the risk and improve the response rates. Thus, a print copy will be available at the office of the person responsible for research at each study site. This will be accessible to identify researchers who may need a physical copy to fill. In addition, an electronic link will be sent via individual official electronic mail to all identified researchers with a request to answer the questionnaire prepared in Google form within a specified time of about 10 weeks with a weekly reminder if one has not already filled in the questionnaire. The questionnaire will be concurrently distributed to all study institutes. Thereafter all physically completed questionnaires shall be collected and input into the Google forms by the researcher and input into SPSS for analysis.
3.6.2 Interview
The interview is a data collection method in qualitative methods. It is where the respondents reply to questions asked by the interviewer verbal communicating and spoken narratives of insights constructing their social world (Ritchie, et al., 2013). This method will be used to collect verbal responses from respondents. Interviews will be conducted with Managers/Administrators of research, System Administrators/Data Officers, and Librarians/Medical Record Officers. Interviewing this category of respondents will reveal in-depth personal accounts and explore issues in detail about research data, its management, readiness, challenges experienced, and thereafter interviewees may make suggestions proposing a measure that could enhance adoption and uptake of RDM practices in health institutes and the readiness required to achieve this in compliance to funders and publishers requirement. Interviews shall be held at the respondents’ place of work or by telephone whatever is convenient to the interviewee. Interviews will be recorded on request and thereafter transcribed into textual data for analysis. The text will be assumed to be a replica of the verbal responses of the respondents.
research design
Written documents are a pervasive socially constructed representation of reality in institutions (Patton, 2002). However, documents pose challenges among which are access to official documents, understanding how and why they were produced, and difficulty to determine their accuracy. Nonetheless, as a data collection method, documents to be reviewed will include: legal and policy documents; strategic and annual plans; statistical and research-related reports of institutes understudy and collaborators, and oversight institutions’ reports. Despite the challenges, documents are an important source of data related to the institutional context that could be useful in understanding the RDM practices and readiness. Therefore, document review will provide evidence of what is taking place reservee what is documented. Identified documents will be requested from the respective institute Administrators for review.
research design
