DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES
Stage 2 Semi-structured interviews
Representatives of selected organisations from the governance network were used for the semi-structured interviews in Stage 2 of the data collection process. The purpose of the semi-structured interviews was to collect data on the role of the organisation in the network, perceptions of how the network developed and perceptions of how well the network operated. Organisations were asked to nominate the most appropriate person who was able to answer questions related to their respective organisation’s role in the network. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed that sought to gather qualitative data on each of these areas of inquiry. The interview schedule consisted of a series of general questions with prompts to remind the researcher to probe further on particular topics (see Appendix 1). All the interview questions are designed based on the key factors, proposed by the IORs or network scholars, which may affect the effectiveness of
organisational cooperation, such as the perspective of each interviewee about the function of other organisations, the distribution of resources, the number of participants, goal consensus and trust.
Each potential interviewee was contacted by telephone to explain the purpose and nature of the interview in relation to the study and to seek consent to be interviewed. All potential interviewees agreed to be interviewed. Interviews were conducted either via telephone or email and took approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete. The interview schedule was provided to the subjects in advance to facilitate timely and accurate collection of data. The telephone interviews were digitally recorded. Responses to each of the items on the interview schedule were recorded directly onto the interview schedule. A total of seven interviews were conducted during March and April 2008. The interviewees and their organisation are shown in Table 3.1
Table 3.1
The interviewees of each organisation
Organisation Interviewee SAC Officer in International Sports Affairs
CTOC 1.Secretary of General
2.Officer in Department of International Sports Affairs Underwater Sports
Federation Secretary of General KCC
Interviewee was selected on the basis of parliament record to find out which legislator is concerned about the 2009 World Games
KOC Secretary Officer, in charge of public relationships KCG Director in Department of Sports
The recursive model of interviewing was employed, where open-ended questions were asked to encourage a broad range of information from the respondent, and more specific questions subsequently asked as the interview progressed. For example, an interview would start with the question “What is the role of your organisation in relation to the 2009 World Games?” Subsequent questions would follow up the interviewee’s answer by seeking clarification if required, exploring issues about the role, or asking the interviewee to expand on an issue raised in their answer. This approach was supported by Eisenhardt (1989) who maintained that the aim of the researcher is to understand the case study in as much detail as possible.
Each interview was transcribed and coded before conducting the next interview as recommended by Miles and Huberman (1994). In this way the emergent themes assisted in the development and refinement of the interview questions. The data from the interviews were either digitally recorded and transcribed, or simply transferred to MS word documents from the email communication with those interviewees with whom it was not possible to interview by telephone. All transcripts were sent back to the interviewees to confirm the content. These files were then manually coded to facilitate the analysis of the data. Codes were established prior to data collection based on the conceptual framework, research questions and key variables of the study. As the interviews were undertaken, data transcribed and subsequently coded, additional codes were established that aided in the initial description of the data. It should be noted that the codes changed and developed as the collection and analysis of data progressed. Some codes accumulated too much data, which was a signal to break down the code into sub codes, aiding the interpretation of the data. Other codes did not attract data, in which case they were omitted as they did not assist the analysis. Codes that emerged during the analysis process assisted the researcher in adapting the provisional descriptive codes to fit the data rather than attempting to force the data into a rigid set of codes.
Consistent with the data treatment procedures recommended by Strauss (1987), the coding and analysis of the interview data by the researcher was undertaken in the following manner. Coding is the process where codes are assigned to the data – words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs – connected or unconnected to a specific setting, in order to dissect them meaningfully, while keeping the relations between the parts intact (Miles & Huberman, 1994). The focus of the coding process is not the words themselves but their meaning. As such, the context in which the words are stated is crucial to the analysis. The codes are used to retrieve and organise the various words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs into a system where they are clustered relating to a particular research question, construct or theme (Miles &
Huberman, 1994).
For this study, each transcript was first read to gain a familiarity with the contents, and dominant concepts, themes and issues relating to the research questions noted.
Paragraphs and sentences within each transcript were coded according to the provisional descriptive coding scheme, with additional codes being added if the data did not appear to fit the original codes.
Creating the codes to enable the data to be described and eventually explained can be undertaken in a number of ways. Codes can be ‘discovered’ as the data are collected through an inductive approach espoused by Strauss and Corbin (1990).
Alternatively, codes can also be established prior to fieldwork based on the conceptual framework, research questions and key variables of the study. Such an approach was adopted by this study. An example of the coding process used in the study appears in Figure 3.1.
Speaker Transcript Text Code JL What is the function of these other
organisations?
Intervie wee
Some of the NFs have some problems, but we have no idea. I learned a lesson from them before….that is why I seek for some help from KSC… Each federation has different
ability…some federations don’t have enough abilities”.
Trust
Figure 3.1 Excerpt from interview transcript
During the initial stage of coding, the informant’s response was coded as “trust” - a provisional descriptive code that described comments relating to trust. At the completion of all the interviews, the second stage of coding took place. This stage involved the examination of all the text within provisional codes and applying more explanatory coding categories to the data. In this way, the code “trust” was broken into sub codes that allowed more detailed analysis to occur. The code “trust” was broken into three emergent sub codes: (1) NFs, (2) CTOC, and (3) trust-KOC. An example of the coding used in the second stage appears in Figure 3.2.
Segments of individual transcripts that have been coded to ‘trust’
Coding applied in second stage KOC seems to replace the “experienced” staff in NFs
with the staff in local school. It is understandable for KOC to use existing resources, however, they still need to as for the help of NFs in organising process rather than do it by itself, for the staff in NFs have experience no matter in participating the game or hosting the games.
We are very concerned about Olympic formula, because CTOC signed the contract with IOC and we need to obey the contract. Now this formula has been implemented in other sports event.. but the host organisation.. now we are worried about how to make them understand this formula... this is the only task for CTOC in this event.. if there is something wrong, we have the obligation to take the responsibility , but we don’t have right to supervise KOC.
Trust - NFs
Trust - CTOC
Trust - KOC
NFs are recognised by IFs, so IFs will directly
communicate with them. KSC doesn’t have experience or abilities as the NFs do. Most of the TDs from IFs also demand the cooperation with NFs, so the communication still should through NFs...In other words, KOC should strengthen the ties with NFs and let NFs know how could they cooperate with KOC for the success of World Games 2009.
Figure 3.2 Excerpt from code “trust”
As suggested by Strauss (1987), the coding and recoding process was halted when no further codes were created and all the data had been sufficiently categorised.
The final stage of qualitative analysis involved analysing statements associated with each code by the position of the informant and their respective organisation in the governing network.
Summary
This chapter has explained the procedures that were used to explore the research questions. The chapter discussed and justified the sampling frame and selection of subjects, instrumentation, data collection procedures, and treatment of the data. The following chapters present and discuss the results obtained, draw conclusions, and explain implications for network governance theory and operation and future research.
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS
The purpose of this chapter is to present the results of the data analysis procedures used to address the three research questions investigated in this study:
1. How did the governance network responsible for organising the World Games 2009 develop?
2. What are the structural characteristics of the governance network responsible for organising the World Games 2009?, and
3. What are the perceptions held by network members of the performance of the governance network responsible for organising the World Games 2009?