Methodology

Abstract

Chapters 6 and 7 analyse the perceptions of actors in the policy-making process with regard to EMU. As was mentioned in Chapter 1, the data discussed in this study are mainly based on interviews, but supported by ‘official’ sources (for example annual reports, press releases) as well as by secondary sources including newspaper articles. Before discussing the data provided by the interviews in the next chapter, the present chapter addresses the methodological questions related to the choice of using interviews as the basis of the present study. This chapter is structured as follows. In Section 5.1 a brief justification is given as to why the research is carried out using a qualitative approach rather than a quantitative approach. Section 5.2 discusses the problems related to using interviews as a mode of data collection, and examines the question whether or not those problems distort the aim of the present study. In the last two sections the method used for the present study is described. Section 5.3 discusses the political context in the two periods in which the interviews were conducted. In addition it explains how the respondents were selected. Finally, in Section 5.4 the questionnaire that was used for the interviews with the respondents is provided and the aims of the questions are explained. A very short summary is provided in Section 5.5.