Qualitative Research Methodology Essay

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“Not Everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted” (A. Einstein)

3.1. Introduction
The essence of this research is in addressing the two research questions posed by the study. It intends to examine the relationship between the value chain and production, and how the value chain can enhance global competitiveness for the Nigeria oil palm market situation. This it does by providing a concrete description of the research methodology along with the theoretical framework and literature. The research methodology benefits from a qualitative approach which is descriptive and explorative in its data collection. The chapter is structured to provide insights into the research method, samples selected and sampling method employed, also the data collection and analysis method, ethical considerations and the limitations faced by the research.

3.2. Research Method
This study adopts the qualitative method, which is aimed at answering the questions of “Why” and “How”. It is highly appreciated in this study, since its purpose is to drive into the heart of the oil palm industry by evaluating chain holders in the value chain. Although qualitative data is very demanding and rigorous to measure and quantify, one of its strengths lies in the valuable and intuitive perspectives it brings to research to make it rich and concrete, which of course is absent in quantitative research. Qualitative research has an explorative and descriptive character which is derived by the dialogue bonding of the interviewer and interviewee and it can easily be understood by users and readers of the information. Qualitative research involves field work which is carried out without a pre-purpose categorization of analysis; this qua...

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... are inclusive of quotes, observations, note taking, focus group discussions, In-depth interviews and so forth. Marshall and Rossman, (1999) noted that in qualitative research, data collection methods can be grouped into Four (4) types; “Participation in the setting, direct observation, In-depth interviews, and document analysis”. Data is usually not derived from only one method of collection, it makes use of two or more methods, and its range of theoretical and literature frameworks available to it. Thus, in this research work the use of In-depth Interviews and Document Analysis is in use. Before the interviews were carried out, interviewees were sought after; phone calls were made, after which, introductory letters (see appendix) accompanied by consent forms (see appendix) were sent out to the interviewees. Thereafter, dates and time of interviews were scheduled.

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