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Chapter Two Methodology and Sample

Qualitative Research - Rationale

2.1 A qualitative approach was adopted during this study. When the research objectives are such that the requirement is to explore, understand and identify, qualitative methodologies are particularly appropriate as they allow participants to frame their responses during discussion in their own language as opposed to being constrained by a rigid quantitative questionnaire.

2.3 The specific qualitative interviewing technique employed was governed by the audience and length of interview. For businesses the vast majority of the in-depth interviews were conducted face to face, the remainder by telephone. For Local Authority contacts semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone.

2.4 All participants in this study were recruited via contact lists identified and supplied by the Scottish Executive.

Businesses - Sample and Methodology

2.5 The qualitative methodology employed with the majority of this sample was face to face in-depth interviews. These interviews lasted approximately one hour in length and were conducted at the interviewee's place of work. Of the 24 business representatives interviewed, 2 were conducted over the telephone and 22 were conducted face to face.

2.6 Businesses the Scottish Executive considered currently engaged in DtS opportunities were interviewed. The Scottish Executive identified and supplied TNS System Three with the sample of contacts.

2.7 All businesses were contacted via letter prior to TNS System Three commencing recruitment procedures. There were approximately 40 businesses contacted, of which 24 were to be interviewed. The letter contained detail about the research and also provided businesses with the opportunity to opt out of the research if they decided that they did not wish to participate.

2.8 The Scottish Executive segmented the sample of business contacts into 2 main groups - ' DtS and before' and ' DtS only'. Both groups were currently engaged in enterprising opportunities with schools. The ' DtS and before' group were believed have been engaged in enterprising opportunities with schools since before the launch of the DtS strategy. The ' DtS only' group were thought to have been involved in EinE opportunities with schools since after the launch of the DtS strategy and not before. The sample of businesses was further segmented by sector (public / private) and location (Local Authority area). The businesses covered 10 Scottish Local Authority areas.

2.9 The sample structure is shown in table 2.1 below.

Table 2.1 Sample structure of businesses interviews

2.10 All fieldwork took place over the period 14 March - 24 April 2005 ⁶.

Local Authorities - Sample and Methodology

2.11 Local Authority post holders with specific responsibility for DtS strategy implementation were supplied to TNS System Three by the Scottish Executive.

2.12 The key benefit derived from speaking to this audience was that they could provide an update into the opportunities with businesses that their Local Authority had been engaged with since the launch of the DtS strategy.

2.13 The methodology selected was semi-structured telephone interviews. These interviews lasted around 10-25 minutes and were designed to be activity updates as opposed to exhaustive, in-depth interviews.

2.14 The 24 interviews with businesses were scheduled across 10 Local Authority areas. Therefore, 10 Local Authority interviews were conducted.

2.15 Contact details of appropriate organisations were supplied to TNS System Three by the Scottish Executive. TNS System Three wrote to each of the Local Authorities informing them of the research study prior to contact and arrangement of an interview time over the telephone.

2.16 All fieldwork took place 24 March - 14 April 2005 ⁷.

2.17 Table 2.2 below displays the Local Authorities interviewed.

Table 2.2 Sample structure of interviews with Local Authority DtS contacts

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