CARBON CREDITS FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA - lumes

1.3 METHODS, MATERIALS AND SELECTIONWith the overall aim and research questions in mind this section will addressthe methodological approaches employed by this thesis.1.3.1 STUDY DESIGNOn the whole, this study can be categorized as qualitative research, as it hasserved to enhance comprehension of the complexity of a problem (Mikkelsen, 2005).The general research strategy employed by this study is a mix of qualitative andquantitative forms, a cross-sectional design, and a mix of text analysis, interviews,and questionnaire methods.The need to understand the relevant aspects of the carbon markets phenomenajustifies the adopted qualitative approach. The qualitative analysis is especiallyrelevant for this study, which aims not only to describe the current state of thevoluntary market-based mechanism, but also to explain future development of thecarbon finance options in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was considered suitable for thecurrent research as a strategy suggested for the exploration of the subject. Moreover itleaves room for interpretation of the studied phenomena from the perspective ofagents involved. One of the distinctive characteristics of qualitative research is that itis more concerned with words, or narratives, than numbers (Bryman, 2004). Itsepistemological position stresses understanding of social world through examining theinterpretation of the world by its participants (Bryman, 2004). Its ontological positionis described as constructionists, which implies that social properties are outcomes ofthe interaction between individuals. It views the studied phenomena as a socialnarrative and process, with an aim to show how it unfolds over time (Bryman, 2004).Hence, the application of qualitative research encouraged my ‘viewing world throughthe eyes’ of market agents and enhanced my perspective, by providing valuableinsights into the nature of studied phenomena (Silverman, 1999).The quantitative research consisted of collecting empirical data with relevanceto the subject of voluntary carbon market evolution in order to enhance understandingof the phenomena, to emphasize the role it plays and to be able to hypothesize aboutits future development.The analytical part of the thesis contains elements of discourse analysis. Inthat sense the study concentrates on details of the narratives adopted, such asdifferences in definitions of terms or differences in ways of addressing similar ideas(Gee, 2001; Punch, 1999; Wodak & Meyer, 2001) about sustainability in GHG ERsprojects by various actors or contextual meaning of the projects and standarddocuments. Assuming that the conceptualization defines the outcome or in the wordsof Gill (cited in Bryman, 2004) this study refers to sustainability concept as“something said as being a solution to the problem”. Thus, analysis of itsconceptualization provides insight into possible outcomes.5