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6.1 Introduction
CHAPTER SIX
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The previous chapter reviewed literature related to the study in the following
areas: Women's information and lCT needs; Gender, lCTs and sustainable
development; lCT impacts and challenges; Telecommunication and
Information services for the poor; Mobiles and poverty reduction; The role
and use of rural radio in Africa; How-to incorporate gender in projects;
Overcoming the gender digital divide; Gender equality and empowering
women in the Millennium Development Goals; leT impact and use in
women's empowerment and advancement and Participatory design.
This chapter discusses the overall research methodology endorsed in the
study. Research methods, design and techniques are described not only in
keeping with the objectives of the study, but also within the framework of
ICTs in rural development and amongst women. Subsequently, the chapter
is divided into three subsections. Section I covers: research paradigms;
research design and pilot survey. Section Il covers research methods used
during the field survey in both South Africa and in Kenya. This includes:
study areas and population, sample size, sampling, data collection
techniques, data analysis and instrument. Section III covers research
methods for case studies. This includes: study areas and population, sample
size, sampling, data collection techniques, data analysis and instrument.
Research methodology is defined by Nachmias and Nachmias (1996: 13) as a
scientific system of explicit rules and procedures upon which research is
based, and against which claims of knowledge are evaluated. According to
the authors, the system is neither unchangeable nor infallible. Rather, the
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