Qualitative data collection process

Research will be conducted within the qualitative research paradigm, an empirical type of research where the data is expressed in a non-numerical form. The main aim of qualitative research is to elicit participants’ perspectives (Clark et al., 2021) to collect the data, which tends to offer detailed information about the considered topics. Careful engagement with places and social actors is also required, whereas those actors may include individuals, communities, organisations, or institutions (Blaxter, Hughes and Tight, 2010; Clark et al., 2021).

 

Within the current research, primary qualitative data will be collected with the help of the following qualitative research methods:

1. the semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups, which will employ specific additional questions to collect data for qualitative comparative analysis so as to gather the expertise and competencies of high-level experts on the topic of EU grand strategies, in particular on EU strategy for innovations-based implementation of Agenda 2030, and its impact on international, national and regional levels;

2. participant observation, to be used in contexts when it will be particularly important to additionally explore the reality of Agenda 2030 implementation in a specific context.

 

Qualitative data will be collected on, first, European, macroregional, national, regional/local levels, and, secondly on the global level (in selected third countries). The first aspect is important due to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the European Union, which are in line with the principles of subsidiarity. The second is relevant due to the major contribution of the European Union to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, more generally, due to attempts of the European Union to make a positive contribution to the global agenda through its public diplomacy.

 

As far as the research method is particularly concerned, it is worth mentioning that semi-structured interviewing allows a more open nature of the discussion rather than other interview types: interviewers can ask additional or follow-up questions, change the order of the questions or exclude one or another question as the respondent might have already referred to it or answered it earlier. Therefore, it appears to be possible to explore unexpected relevant subtopics. In addition, the collection of qualitative data through semi-structured interviews enables the adjustment of data collection tools to the specific social settings in which data will be collected (Bryman 2012, 402).

 

The decision to conduct semi-structured interviews within the scope of ongoing research is deemed favourable also considering the aim of capturing individuals’ experiences and expertise. This also aligns with the chosen research approach, showcasing the complexity of social phenomena, particularly the complexity of a social field. 

 

The methodology will consider an alternative path to the data collection process with the help of the focus group, a qualitative research method of a focused discussion with several participants on a certain topic (Clark et al., 2021). The main benefit of performing focus groups is to observe the pattern of respondents’ behaviour and answers while discussing a topic in a group, but not individually. This also gives the possibility of collecting additional relevant reflections and comments that respondents have as reactions to other participants, reducing individual bias in the answer patterns while enriching the understanding of terms and concepts via consecutive commentaries (e.g. from the discussion emerging from the experts, their critical reflection and additions to previous comments, etc.) (Blaxter, Hughes and Tight, 2010).

 

Data collection will take place in:

• the EU institutions in Bruxelles (Belgium) (international level);

• Central Europe (Vienna, Austria), Danube Region (Budapest, Hungary) and Adriatic-Ionian (Bologna, Italy) (3 macroregional levels);

• 3 core developed EU Member States (Belgium, Germany, Ireland), 3 semi-peripheral (Hungary, Poland, Slovenia) and 3 peripheral countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia) (national and/or regional levels);

• 3 third countries from 3 continents with different economic, social and environmental circumstances (thus corresponding to the three dimensions of sustainable development) where the European Union has a representation as testing cases (United States, Ukraine/Russia (availability of the respondents in these regions will depend on the current situation on the spot), Thailand);

• United Nations (New York or Geneva) (international level).

 

The research population consists of the representatives/officials of the EU/UN/other relevant institutions (e.g. regional development agencies, regional EU offices) in the selected regions/countries. Thus, the research sample might be preliminary (but not exclusively) defined in the following way:

• Officials from specific EU and UN institutions (e.g. European Commission, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, Delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva, etc);

• Mid-level or senior-level officials or those with relevant expertise (e.g. policy advisors, representatives of regional development agencies, liaison officers, etc);

• Representatives based in specific countries or regional EU offices across selected member states;

• Officials working on specific policy areas considering the implementation of Agenda 2030;

• EU institution officials from various departments and locations in selected regions/countries.

 

The sampling method will follow the mechanisms of identifying key informants, experts, and relevant professionals on the topic of the implementation of the EU grand strategies. Inside the sample, while searching for the contact for the interviews/focus groups, it is also possible to use the snowball technique to build up the interviews/focus group list of respondents throughout the known contacts.

 

The number of interviews and/or focus groups should be determined depending on the region’s accessibility and the interviewees’ availability. It is presumed to have at least 1 interview with stakeholders in each mentioned region/country/institution. In addition, the number of focus groups generally depends on the research need and the data. So, the decision on whether to implement the focus group as a method will depend on how the research will proceed and also on key respondents found in a particular country/region/institution and their availability to participate in a discussion at a particular time and place. Regarding the composition of the focus group, certain authors presume that it should include from 4 to 6 participants (Clark et al., 2021).