3.1 Introduction
The focus of this research will investigate the factors influencing of local community participation in planning and management in ecotourism in Socotra Natural Reserve (SNR). Based on the research question that expresses the need to develop and interpret indicators for success, it is essential to management in ecotourism (SNR), which includes a variety of factors such as social economic, and environmental. The investigation focuses on what is meaningful to individuals and compares it to the industry.
A research entails the application of various methods and techniques to create knowledge through the use of scientific methods and procedures. Allison (1996) and Welman and Kruger (1999) define research as a systematic inquiry that is reported in a form that allowed the research methods and outcomes to be accessible to others. Research also involves seeking solutions to problem or answer to question. As stressed by Walman and Kruger (1999), research problem refers to some difficulty that the researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation.
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
For the purpose of this study the research will use both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This is deciding because tourism focuses on phenomena that occur in a real world setting, and because tourism as a field has many complex dimensions. Quantitative approach will apply via a survey conduct for local communities surrounding Socotra Natural Reserve. While qualitative approach will used mainly with government, NOGs and leader of community. Specifically, the study will apply the in structured interviews.
3.2.1 Qualitative approach
The qualitative approach is grounded the interpretive social sciences paradigm. Qualitative forms of investigation tend to be based on the recognition on the important of the objectives experiential live world of human beings. Such reflection is the frame of phenomenology reporting (Blanche & Durrheim, 1999). Gilbert (1993) notes that qualitative methodologies provide avenues that can lead to the discovery of these deeper levels of meaning. Easterby-Smith (1991) describes the task of the qualitative methodologies as to capture what people say and how they interpret the complexity of their world. It is an attempt specifically, Jennings (2001) notes that the qualitative methodology gathers information as text-based units, which represent the social reality, context and attributes of the phenomenon under study.
Within the context of tourism research, Walle (1996) explained that qualitative or inductive research commences in empirical real world settings where data about the tourism phenomenon are gathered analyzed and theoretical constructs are either generated or modified. Research that utilizes qualitative methodology normally draws on data collection methods such as participant observation in-depth interviews and/or focus group (Jenninges, 2001). As a consequence of its underlying paradigm qualitative research is subjective. It relies on the texts and discourses of participants and involves small number of participants in the research process as a result of the process of gathering in-depth information (Gunn, 1994). Moreover, because of the small number of participation qualitative research does not presume to represent the wider population.
Qualitative research enables researcher to present detailed snapshots, as it are, of the participants under study (Finn et al. 2000). Perhaps one of the major limitations of qualitative research and evaluation is the time required for data collection, analysis and interpretation. The research has to spend a considerable amount of time in the research setting in order to examine holistically and aggregately, the interactions, reactions and activities of subjects (Babbie, 1995).
The problem of adequate validity and reliability is often a criticism often leveled by quantitative researcher at qualitative methods. Because of the subjective nature of qualitative data and its origin in single contexts, it is difficult to apply conventional standards of reliability and validity. Contexts, situations, events, conditions and interactions cannot be replicated to any extent, nor can generalizations be made to a wider context than the one studied with any degree of confidence. In short, the richness, individual and subjective nature of a participant's perspective and understanding are not amenable to the usual scientific criteria. However, Neuman (1994) argues that this does not make such understanding any less real or valid for that participant. Quantitative researchers expect the qualitative researcher to demonstrate the validity and reliability of claims, to demonstrate the generality of feeling meeting the same criteria as quantitative research.
3.2.2 Quantitative approach
A quantitative research approach is grounded in the positivist social sciences paradigm, which primarily reflects the scientific method of the natural sciences (Jennings, 2001). This paradigm adopts a deductive approach to the research process. In the tourism context it commences with theories, hypotheses or research questions about a particular tourism phenomenon. The approach gathers data from real world settings and then analyses the data statistically to support or reject the hypotheses (Welman & Kruger, 1999). Researches who adopt a more deductive approach use theory to guide the design of the study and the interpretation of results (Neuman, 1994). The overall objective is to test or verify, rather than to develop one. Thus the theory offers a conceptual framework for the entire study, serving also as an organizing model for the research questions or hypotheses and for the entire data collection procedure (Veal, 1997).
A quantitative methodology abstracts data from the participants into statistical representations rather than textual pictures of the phenomenon. The entire research process is objectively constructed, and the findings are usually representative of the population being studied. The main strengths of the quantitative approach lie in precision and control of the methodology. Control is achieved through the sampling and design, and supported by a reliable quantitative measurement or testing that can be employed within the methodology. A further strength is that experimentation leads to statement about causation, since the systematic manipulation of one variable can be shown to have direct causal effect on another when other variables have been eliminated or controlled (Babbie, 19995). Furthermore, hypotheses are tested through a deductive approach, and the use quantitative data permits statistical analysis (Welman & Kruger, 1999). The method thus provides answers which have much firmer basis than a lay person's common sense, intuition or opinion. Other limitation of quantitative research reported by critics is that many researchers are concerned that the scientific quantitative approach denigrates human individuality and the ability to think (Jennings, 2001).
The research design for this investigation is a quantitative and qualitative study approach using a survey method. Anderson, Sweeney and Williams (2004) suggest that a quantitative research can reliably determine if one idea or concept is better than the alternatives. This method also enables researchers to measure and control variables. Leedy and Ormrod (2005) concur that quantitative research is used to answer questions about relationships among measured variables with the purpose of explaining, predicting, and controlling phenomena. Hence, the research design met the needs of this study, as the researcher sought to provide reliable and valid outcomes. The survey method uses one mechanism to collect data from the population. The literature review in chapter two provides the theoretical and empirical basis for the current study. The framework is based on the previous studies which emphasized these factors.
3.3 Population and Sample
As discussed before under the scope of the study, this research is confined to the local communities in the SNR in Yemen. Thus, the target populations from local community are those who live around SNR. According to RSCN official statistics, (2009) there are four villages located around SNR and the population of resident is 12,045 villagers. In terms of sample size, it was based on reviewing the research methodology literature. According to Kline (1998) the sample size must be at least 200 unite to consider being large. Further, Roscoe (1975) highlighted that the most appropriate number in most research should be larger than 30 and less than 500. Finally, Veal (2006) mentioned that when the populations are 10,000 the sample size should be at least 370 units, and for 500.00 populations and above the sample size should be 384 units. For the purpose of this study, and to choose a safe number of sample size, 400 units will be the sample study because the population is not widely dispersed, homogeneous and not significantly different in terms of sub groups size. The sampling also takes into consideration the reality that only those willing and able to participate can be taken as respondents for study with discounting the illiterate and the young.
3.4 Data collection
This study intends to investigate the relationship of social benefits, economic benefits and environment benefits with the level of community participation in ecotourism. The researcher will use a complimentary approach of using both secondary and primary data for this study.
The primary data in this study will be collected from the local communities' in addition governmental authorities, NGOs and leader of community.
A Likert scale questionnaire survey is the main instrument will use in gathering quantitative data from the local communities it is designed by the researcher. For this study, the researcher will take the time stress and responsibilities for the participants into account. In order to avoid these and difficulties, following steps would be taken: first the questionnaires will be dealt in confidentiality with participants to get more realistic, honest and candid responses. Second, the questionnaire will be translated into Arabic language to make them understood and more acceptable to the participants and third; the survey will be conducted personally by the researcher in order to achieve high level of responses.
Structured personal interviews will conduct with the governmental authorities, NGOs responsible for ecotourism in Yemen and leader of community. Both survey and interview data are triangulated to provide a clearer perspective on the issue being studied.
The secondary data are identified in previous studies, which including studies, articles, statistics, reports, conferences, books, maps, newspaper and other available resource.
3.5 Instrument Design
3.5.1 The Questionnaire
The questionnaire is a common instrument for observing data beyond the physical achievement of the observer (Leedy, 1997). Riley et al, (2000), states that in a questionnaire, there are may be open and closed question. A closed question is one where responses are restricted to a small set of responses that generate precise answers. Open-ended question do not impose restrictions on the possible answers, but are difficult to aggregate and computerize. However, the response is often of more value, and of more details. Jancowitz (2000) notes that a structure questions that possess an element of "steering" information from the respondent without any prompt from researcher. This is the method that will use in the questionnaire developed for this empirical study.
The questionnaire instruction should ensure that all respondents are treated equally.
Two principles form the foundation for good instruction; clarity and courtesy.
Anonymity is also ensuring as the identity of the respondent will not required and an indication of the name of the organization is optional.
According to Finn et al, (2000), a questionnaire should not be too long and complicated. More pages with a clear and user-friendly layout are better than fewer pages with cramped and forbidding layout. All of the above principles are following in designing the questionnaire. In addition the draft questionnaire is pre-test in a pilot study.
In designing the questionnaire, a four point Likert-type scale will use. The Likert scale is the most widely used from of scaled items where the respondents chooses a point on a scale that best represents his/ her view (Allison, 1996). A four points Likert scale eliminates the natural or no opinion options thereby forcing the respondents to indicate clearly their opinion. For this research will utilize survey questionnaire in collecting the primary data from target population. The questionnaire will use four points Likert scale i.e. 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 agree and 4 strongly agree in order to have more effects in getting decisive answers from respondents. The questionnaire for local communities will be divided into 4 pages the first will include general information about the objectives of the study. The second page will be demographic information and information regarding SNR related issues. The remaining pages of the questionnaire consist of 40 items design to explore the attitudes of local communities and expectation towards ecotourism in SNR.
3.5.2 Personal Interview
The research will utilize survey interview in collecting the primary data from government, NGOs and leader of community via interviews. The interviews will be face to face in-depth and will conduct in the office of the interviewees. Interviews will record with the permission of each participant. Dialogue through interviews will provides detailed information about issues affecting them concerning the planning and management of SNR. The objective of the interview is to understand the role of government and NGOs in planning of SNR.
3.6. Pilot Test
Pilot test is the "procedure in which researcher makes change in an instrument based on feedback from small number of individuals who complete and evaluate the instrument" (Creswell, 2008). The questionnaire will be tested by distributing to the sample in target local community of this study. Participants constituting about 10% of the sample will receive 40 questionnaires. This questionnaire will be distributed in four villages in the Socotra Island to ensure good coverage of the whole target population.
The pilot test will provide feedback in the form of written comments to the researcher about the instrument directly by the participant. This will help modification in the instrument in order to make it more understandable and clear, which would allow the sample being capable of completing the questionnaire properly.
The reliability of the scale means that repeated use of the scale at different time under the same conditions will lead to the same results (Ryan, 2000). Hence, in this instance, reliability is related to whether the four dimensions will yield the same result each time if used to measure the same attitude repeatedly. If scale is not reliable, it cannot be valid, because it is not properly measuring anything at all, let alone measuring the right thing.
In current study, the researcher will conduct appropriate test for the reliability of the content of the instrument. Alpha coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) will be used assess the internal consistency of the instrument.
Validity implies that the researcher can draw meaningful and justifiable inferences from scores about a sample or population (Croswell, 2008). To ensure the instrument is useful and meaningful the researcher in current study will exhibit the instrument on the experienced academic in order to take their recommendation with regard to the validity of the instrument. It is worth mentioning the test will be done in two languages, the Arabic and English.
3.6. Data Analyses
The research is to investigate the influencing of social benefits, economic benefits and environment benefits on level of community participation in ecotourism.
This study is a causal research. Descriptive analysis will be use to summarize the characteristics of data such as mean, median and standard deviation.
The researcher will use factors analysis to determine the nature of the factors and to identify number of factors that may be used to represent the relations among variables.
This study will examine to explore the correlation between independent variables and dependent variables and also look for any possible multicollinearity among the independent variables. To examine the association between multiple independent variables and the single dependent variables, this study would use linear multiple regression analysis technique.
Hypotheses would be test to conclude about the model development in chapter 2.
3.7 Conclusion
In this chapter the researcher describes the research methodology that will be used to investigate the relationship between the independent variables (social benefits, economic benefits and environment benefits) and the dependent variable (community participation) to achieve the objective of the study. More specifically, this section described the quantitative and qualitative research design to be used including the determination of the sample, designing the instrument and analysis of the data.
