SayPro Methodology Design

7. Methodology Design
   • Design and document the research methodologies that will be used to gather data and analyze economic impact.
   • Select appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods based on the research objectives (e.g., surveys, case studies, interviews, econometric modeling, cost-benefit analysis, GIS mapping).
   • Ensure the methodology is:
     • Ethically sound and inclusive.
     • Replicable and scalable for future studies.
     • Context-appropriate, especially when working in diverse socio-economic settings.
   • Collaborate with analysts to develop data collection tools and sampling frameworks.
   • Integrate community-based research approaches where relevant, to ensure local perspectives inform the findings.

SayPro April 2025: Monthly Research Objectives

🎯 Overall Focus:

To evaluate the economic and social impact of local informal markets in under-resourced areas, with specific focus on youth income generation, policy support structures, and barriers to business growth.

Objective 1: Policy Assessment

Assess the effectiveness of municipal support policies for informal traders in three target communities.

• Methodology Design:
  • Qualitative: Key informant interviews with municipal officials and trader association leaders.
  • Quantitative: Review of policy documentation and funding data; structured surveys with 150 informal traders across 3 areas.
• Analysis Framework:
  • Qualitative: Thematic coding of interview transcripts based on themes like “access to services,” “licensing barriers,” and “perceived fairness.”
  • Quantitative:
    • Frequency of access to municipal support (subsidies, training, space allocation)
    • Cross-tabulation with business size, location, and length of operation
    • Chi-square test for independence (e.g., does policy access vary by gender or age?)

Objective 2: Market Trends

Identify income trends and spending patterns among informal traders aged 18–35.

• Methodology Design:
  • Quantitative: Weekly income logs collected via mobile survey over 4 weeks (sample: 100 traders).
  • Qualitative: Focus group discussions with 5 youth trader groups to explore seasonal influences, pricing strategies, and competition.
• Analysis Framework:
  • Quantitative:
    • Time-series analysis of weekly income
    • Median income per sector (food, clothing, mobile services)
    • Correlation analysis (e.g., income vs. hours worked or number of dependents)
  • Qualitative:
    • Narrative analysis for coping strategies
    • Pattern coding to identify common economic stressors (e.g., inflation, transport costs)

Objective 3: Social Outcomes

Evaluate how participation in informal markets contributes to improved household resilience among young women.

• Methodology Design:
  • Mixed-Methods:
    • Household-level surveys with 75 female traders on income use, household food security, and decision-making power
    • Life history interviews with 10 selected participants
• Analysis Framework:
  • Quantitative:
    • Composite household resilience score (access to savings, food security, school attendance)
    • ANOVA test comparing resilience scores across areas
  • Qualitative:
    • Life history mapping to identify shifts in agency, income control, and family stability
    • Use of a grounded theory approach to extract emerging concepts