Page 51 - Governing Congo Basin Forests in a Changing Climate • Olufunso Somorin

General Introduction and Research Setting
presented in the methodology section of the chapters. In a broad sense, the
thesis uses a combination of different methods. Four data collection methods 1 were prominent in this thesis, they include: (i) Qualitative in-depth interviews; (ii)
Primary quantitative data; (iii) Participation in policy events; and (iv) Literature
and policy document review. Studies by Bose (2012) and Ayana (2014) have
suggested the usefulness of combining different methods both to validate
the data and to collect comprehensive information about a complex process.
Methods for data analysis will be discussed along with the different methods
used for data collection below.
Qualitative in-depth interviews: Given the nature of the research subject which dwells on environmental governance and policy-making, in-depth interviews with a broad range of policy actors and stakeholders from government, civil society, development partners, the scientific community and the private sector, across national and levels, were conducted. According to Ritchie and Lewis (2003), the value of qualitative research lies in its ability to explore issues in depth and from the perspectives of different participants. Table1-4 presents a distribution of the categories of actors interviewed within each empirical chapter. Overall, 212 interviews3 were conducted within the period of four years (2009-2012) of the research project. A few actors were interviewed more than once given the importance of their roles in the policy processes for adaptation and REDD+. Government and civil society organizations account for 30% and 26%, respectively. This is quite understandable given that both actor-groups are the most engaged, at all levels, in the policy debates on adaptation and REDD+ strategies in Congo Basin.
3 It is important to mention that the 212 interviews for the research does not mean 212 different people interviewed. The interview data for the chapters were collected at different times within the four year period. A few individuals were interviewed more than once. For example, Cameroon’s focal person to the UNFCCC within the Ministry of Environment was interviewed for four of the chapters (except chapter 4).
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