Economic Effects of Sustainable Sanitation - SuSanA

5 Methods
Methods
Generally, methods are used in research as ―investigative techniques‖ to answer research
questions (cf. Winchester, 2005, p. 4). Methods in human geography can roughly be divided
in two factions – qualitative- and quantitative methods. Each method is used to ―answer
different research questions, employ different research methods, have different limitations,
and ensure rigour differently‖ (Bradshaw and Stratford, 2005, p. 69). Winchester (2005, p.
10) even considers the two as generally being ―in opposition or as conflicting methodologies‖.
He continues by citing Brannen (1992) stating that ―qualitative approaches view the world
through a wide lens and quantitative approaches through a narrow lens‖, meaning that
qualitative methods are more open, ―soft and subjective‖, whereas quantitative methods yield
to ―focused, objective and generalisable‖ outcomes (Winchester, 2005, p. 10; Reuber and
Pfaffenbach, 2005, p. 107). This is supported by Bradshaw and Stratford (2005, p. 69) on the
one hand considering qualitative methods as being utilised for eliciting how processes work in
particular cases, what are the motivations underlying a specific type of behaviour, and what
could be applied to trigger change? On the other hand, they characterise quantitative methods
as being used for identifying ―regularities, patterns, and distinguishing features of a
population‖ or field of interest, however involving the risk of lacking explanatory power
(Bradshaw and Stratford, 2005, p. 69).
Whilst the sample size is not meant to be representative in qualitative research and hence can
be confined to a couple of informative interviews as long as plausibility can be assured, it is
important to consider representativity in quantitative research which is designated for
statistical analysis and transferability to larger scales (cf. Bradshaw and Stratford, 2005, p.
72). Despite this dichotomous setting, the two factions have often been combined in research,
working hand in hand to increase the broad and at the same time in depth investigation of
certain issues from different perspectives (cf. Winchester, 2005, p. 12).
Qualitative research in geography mainly investigates two fundamental questions. One is
asking for social structures, the other for individual experiences and behaviour, whereas the
latter are less likely to be determined by the ―personal characteristics, but by the [individuals‘]
position in the social structure‖ (Winchester, 2005, p. 5). Qualitative research can be
separated in three main types: oral (e.g. interviews), textual and observational (Winchester,
2005, p. 7). The oral type is considered to be the most popular and widely used method in
human-geography. However, there are several subtypes within this class. The most individual
and qualitative methods are (auto-) biography and oral history. Moving towards the
quantitative end of the ‗qualitative-methodological spectrum‘ un-, semi- and structured
interviews and focus group discussions can be listed. The most ‗quantitative‘ methods in this
field of research are surveys and questionnaires (cf. Winchester, 2005, p. 7). The methods
applied in this thesis belong to the oral type and can be placed in the middle of that spectrum:
A mixture of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions was conducted.
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