Microsoft Word doctoral thesis final[1]. doc

4.4  DESIGN OF PRESENT STUDY 
 
This section describes the empirical methods used in the present study. 
 
 

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4.4.1  Introduction  
 
The study was, carried out within the framework of a cross-sectional survey research 
design employing both quantitative (the questionnaire), and qualitative data collection 
methods (the interview). A closed-ended questionnaire, including open-ended questions 
and a semi-structured focus group interview, was used to gather data from female 
academic HoDs drawn from four selected universities in South Africa and two 
universities in the UK. Two groups of HoDs participated in the study. The first group of 
twenty three participated in the survey and the second group of nine women participated 
in the interviews. Only one woman participated in both the survey and the interviews. 
The section which proceeds details the parameters and procedures of the present 
investigation.