Research strategy

Four studies of different types (on-station, cross-sectional questionnaire survey, longitudinal monitoring, and cross-section questionnaire survey) were thus conducted.

As already mentioned, informal talks were often held with farmers during the longitudinal monitoring visits to collect data, and this provided valuable additional information of a qualitative nature. An extra activity 'Information gathering' is thus included in the flow chart. The questionnaire developed for 'Evaluating impact' also provided an opportunity to collect retrospective data that had not been perceived to be necessary when the longitudinal study was planned.

The research process often works like this. A researcher can only see a certain distance ahead and must be prepared for plans to deviate from those anticipated at the outset.