What practical strategies for conservation can effectively combat poaching in Kahuzi-Biega National Park? This study uncovers the alarming rise in illegal activities from 2014 to 2018, revealing critical insights into the socio-economic drivers behind biodiversity loss and offering actionable recommendations for sustainable conservation efforts.
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
Research methodology is a process used to collect information and data for the purpose of making business decision. The methodology may include the publication research, interviews, surveys, and other research techniques, and could include both present and historical information. This section presents the methodologies used while conducting research study in order to achieve the objectives of the study or it describes the scientific methods that will be applied in collecting data.
This chapter explains the research design, data collection, research population, sample size, research instrument, Data gathering procedures, Data analysis and interpretation and the limitations of the study.
Research Design
Burns and Grove (2003) define a research design as “a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings”. Parahoo (1997) describes a research design as “a plan that describes how, when and where data are to be collected and analyzed”. Polit et al (2001) define a research design as “the researcher‟s overall for answering the research question or testing the research questions”.
This study focused on the assessment of poaching activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park. This involved the use of qualitative research design as it focused on the experiences of people as well as stressing uniqueness of the individual (Parahoo.; 1997). It followed also quantitative research design because of quantitative data which included the statistic about the study as well as incidences in how results have extended.
In addition to that, the study used primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained from the field where they directly were collected from park staff as well as some community based organizations using some tools such as questionnaires and interview while secondary data was consulted from different sources like internet, books, videos, park‟s data and other related study.
This research design is a systematic plan to study a scientific problem. Data were collected from the field in the interior designed sample from total population. Data collected were those which covered the period that started from April to June, 2019 and it is oriented in environmental management domain. Other data used are from the park administration from the period of 2014 to 2018.
In fact, after choosing the topic over which this research was carried out, the researcher processed to the documentation in different libraries and internet as electronic source for finding secondary data: this enabled the researcher to clearly set out the objectives of the study, research questions, and then questionnaire design. The questionnaires were dispatched by descending to the field to monitor and see how those questionnaires were being responded and they have been processed thereafter to the data analysis, organization, editing and interpretation of those results.
Quantitative method was used for measuring data collected on the field about the topic, a descriptive method helped more the researcher in characterizing the study area, the historical background of the study, defining key concepts and some of the results put in literature review. The researcher has also used sampling technique, the questionnaires, documentation and interview as a best manner of data retrieving and data collection instruments.
Research population
This study was conducted in Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Community-Based Organizations around were considered.
The study population is defined as all elements, individuals, or units that meet the selection criteria for a group to be studied, and from which a representative sample is taken for detailed examination. The total of all populations is called a universe (Walter, 2018).
Table 3. Description of research population
| Table 3. Description of research population | |
|---|---|
| Parameter/Criteria | Description/Value |
| Population | Kahuzi Biega National Park and surrounding Community-Based Organizations |
Source: Primary data, June 2019
Sampling procedure
In research study it is impossible to study the whole population for many reasons like limited time, financial barrier, and climate condition. That‟s why a researcher should make sure to use a sample to select research subjects (if they are inanimate or animals) or respondents (if they are humans/individuals) who would represent the whole research population. A sample is a subset of a population that is used to represent the entire group as a whole population (Cherry, 2018).
According to John Dudovskiy (2016) Sample size is the number of individuals from the sampling frame who will participate in the primary data collection process.
The researcher applied the Yamane‟s formula (cited by Clenn, 2009) to determine the sample of respondents from the total population:
n = 𝑁
1+𝑁 (𝑒)²
was used to get the sample.
Where: N: is the total population, e: stands for the standard error and in this study it is 10%; n: is the total sample size. So this formula permits the researcher to get the sample in the following ways:
𝒏 = 537
1+537(0.1)² 537
=
6.37
= 84 Respondents
In this study, the sample of respondents used was 84.
Sample stratification procedure
To get individual respondents from different groups of our research population, the researcher used the Javeau formula (1985), stated as follows: = 𝑁𝑖∗𝑛
𝑁
, where: ni: the sample size in the stratum, Ni: the size of the population in the stratum, n: the sample size of the study, N: the size of the target population.
The table below shows the sample of respondents for each group. The total sample calculated is 84.
For instance: For Law Enforcement Department:
𝑖 = 254𝑋84 = 40 Respondents
537
Then researcher followed the above formula to calculate the number of respondents in each department.
Table 4. Sample stratification
| Table 4. Sample stratification | |
|---|---|
| Parameter/Criteria | Description/Value |
| Law Enforcement Department | 40 Respondents |
Source: Primary data, 2019
Research instrument
In this study, there are varieties of research instruments that have been used for collecting data. These include the questionnaire, Interview guide, and observations checklist, and documentation.
Observation
This involves the systematic seeing and recording of events, behaviors and objects and also organisms in the social setting chosen for the study (Marshall and Rossman, 2006). Observation is a method of data collection in which researchers observe within a specific research field to examine people in natural settings or naturally occurring situations.
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Questionnaire is a form prepared and distributed to secure responses to certain questions. Questionnaires consisted mainly of open questions, closed questions which require a “Yes” or “No” answer, and multiple choice.
Interview
An interview is a method of data collection in which an interviewer (someone who is in charge of asking questions) asks questions from the interviewee/a respondent (the one who is in charge of responding the questions), interviews are conducted either face-to-face or by telephone (Polit, 1991). Also, interview is the primary technique for collecting information during the systems analysis phases of a development project. It is a skill which must be learnt by every analyst. The interviewing skills of the analyst determine what information is collected, and the quality and depth of that information.
So in this study a researcher used face-face interview through visiting the park management as well as leaders of Community-Based Organizations.
Documentation
This is any communicable material that is used to describe, explain or instruct regarding some attributes of an object, system or procedure, such as its parts, assembly, installation, and maintenance. It is a set of documents provided on paper, or online. In this study, the researcher consulted different academic sources of information including: books, journals, reports conference papers, research thesis and internet with the view of enriching the undertaken study.
Data gathering procedures
Data gathering is the process of collecting and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer specified research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. This research was conducted in order to assess the impacts of poaching activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park. During the study, direct and structured observation, recording observed data, editing to remove errors was taken into consideration.
This study used different methods of data collection then it involved both qualitative and quantitative data. The study required collaboration with the Kahuzi Biega National Park staff, and Community Based Organizations working around the park.
- Data analysis and interpretation
Data analysis is the systematic organization and synthesis of the research data and the testing of research questions by using those data (Polit, 1991). It also requires categorizing, ordering, manipulating and summarizing the data and describing them in meaningful terms (Brink, 1996). Data was analyzed qualitatively using thematic data analysis where subjects and initial designs were analyzed. All data collected was analyzed by using Microsoft excel and interpreted to decide about the assessment of poaching activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park. In this study data were presented using graphs, tables and percentages.
Limitations of the study
Due to the nature of the terrain, it was not easy to collect data on the size of the chosen population. To this end, my study was limited to time, transportation, money and size chosen for local communities.
- Time factor
During my research, the time was running out because it was not easy to go to all the ranger posts in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in three months and report at the same time, especially in the Kasese areas. in Maniema, Itebero in North Kivu, Lulingu, Nkuku, Mumbili and Nzovu, all four in South Kivu but far away. Outside these areas, there are also patrol posts in the Tshivanga area.
- Transport factor
In my research, I needed transportation to get to the place easily but to no avail. Some sectors required the means of air or road travel to get there as in areas so high cities but it was not easy due to lack of resources. That’s why it was one of the problems that prevented me from doing my research as easily.
- Money factor
Because money is the root that makes everything possible and I did not have any, I was forced to travel long distances when collecting data in my research. To do this, to make the ground with the agents of the programs according to that it was indicated in my schedule of training was not also possible for the same cause, to procure material for the ground like the notebook, the pens, the papers for printing of the draft or the final report, e
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Frequently Asked Questions
What research design was used in the assessment of poaching activities in Kahuzi-Biega National Park?
This study focused on the assessment of poaching activities in Kahuzi Biega National Park using both qualitative and quantitative research designs.
How was data collected for the study on illegal activities in Kahuzi-Biega National Park?
Data was collected using primary data from park staff and community-based organizations through questionnaires and interviews, as well as secondary data from various sources like the internet, books, and park data.
What were the key contributors to poaching identified in the study?
The study identified poverty, ignorance, and armed conflict as significant contributors to poaching activities in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.