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Introduction
The research on food waste management in Qatar restaurants requires a decent methodology to achieve its objectives. The study is comprehensive and aims at acquiring data from various sources, both primary and secondary. The problem of waste management is a risk to the environment and to the infrastructure. Therefore, it is important to investigate the reasons behind the issue and the ways it is handled to identify which measures are effective and efficient. Therefore, the research employs a qualitative strategy that includes conducting a number of structured interviews about food waste management with managers of Qatar restaurants.
As the study identified multiple research objectives and questions, the survey was designed in a way to meet all of the areas of interest. In addition, the literature review provides a theoretical background to the study of food waste management strategies in Qatar restaurants. Hence, the primary source data obtained from interview transcripts will be analysed with several qualitative data analysis tools. These include discourse analysis, thematic analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The chapter provides an overview of the methodology of the research as well as the justification of its choice.
Research process
Since the research process is heavily focused on gathering and classifying insights into the food waste management measures in a specified region, the prime interest lies with interpretivism. This research philosophy is centred around the idea of investigative assessments and identifications, which implies a qualitative nature of the study. The research philosophy is primarily driven by human interest and curiosity in understanding the depth of the subject of interest without a direct focus on breadth. This is the key reason why the sample sizes of interpretivist studies are rather small compared to other philosophies (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019). The prime focus is to derive insights utilised to build foundational data units, which can be expanded further in more accurate and precise methods. In essence, interpretivism lays the groundwork and framework for a particular topic by deriving the conceptual information which was not known or analysed before (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019).
It is important to note that food waste management is a complex and intricate subject, where environmental or ecological concerns are not the only issues involved. There is an element of business profitability, sustainability, efficiency, and technological integration. Therefore, conducting a direct assessment of a specific metric without accounting for other measurements can create a skewed conclusion, which will be translated into an ineffective policy. Interpretivism, as research philosophy, offers a unique opportunity to fully capitalise on and maximise the qualitative strengths of research (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019). It is a critical position within the network of research methodologies, and their internal frameworks are shown in Figure 1 below.
As a result, further progress along the research onion layers will be made from interpretivism to monomethod qualitative research, which emphasises the use of a single research design. Because the emphasis will be on gathering in-depth insights from a small sample, the narrative inquiry will be the third layer of the research method (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019). The goal is not to account for time-related changes or fluctuations but rather to assess the dynamics within a section of research interest. Therefore, the final layer before data processing and collection must be cross-sectional (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019). In other words, the core elements of the research philosophy and its specific layer patterns have been identified in accordance with the key research interests and goals.
Defining the methodology and the justification
When conducting research, there are two methods available: qualitative and quantitative methods. Both methods have distinct advantages.For instance, qualitative methods are useful during the early stages of a study when the scholar may be unsure of what is to be studied or what they have to focus on (Mihas, 2019). With this method, a strict design plan is not required at the onset of the research and therefore gives the researcher the freedom to let the study unfold more naturally. In addition, qualitative data analysis methods provide detailed feedback in form of visual evidence or comprehensive written descriptions. It also looks into the social meaning and context and how it affects individuals (Smith and Fieldsend, 2021). On the other hand, quantitative research methods enable the researcher to measure and analyse the data in order to know the relationship between independent and dependent variables. It plays a significant role in testing hypotheses in experiments because of its ability to measure data using statistics.
The use of qualitative and quantitative approaches facilitates decision-making by providing the researcher with conceptual tools to process during the search. Qualitative and quantitative methods have advantages and disadvantages. Qualitative methods are often slow, labour-intensive, and useful when the topic being searched is not well conceptualised (Mihas, 2019). In other words, they are time-consuming because the researcher must interview each participant one by one, and when it comes to analysis, the researcher must revisit the obtained data numerous times to make a thorough analysis (Mihas, 2019). On the other hand, quantitative methods are relatively quick and often produce a large amount of data on a vast range of literature. It is always an appropriate method when a topic is already well conceptualised (Lester, Cho and Lochmiller, 2018). Qualitative methods are used in contrast to answer questions about experience, meaning, and perspective, which are most often from the standpoint of the participant.
Therefore, as the research objectives put emphasis on the existing practices of restaurant food waste management, the qualitative method is chosen. Through this method, the restaurant managers or owners in Qatar can describe how food waste is collected and managed as well as their opinions and attitudes towards the issue (Quinn, Castéra and Clément, 2016). The effectiveness of the chosen strategy is another vital point that should be identified by the study (Kalpokaite and Radivojevic, 2018). As a result, the research pursues one of the primary goals of any qualitative research which is an exploration of the topic.
In addition, the nature of the collected data does not allow any quantitative research methodology. Interviews are one of the most common data types of qualitative studies. Hence, by analysing the data obtained from the interviews, the topic of food waste management in Qatars restaurants is described (Nizza, Farr and Smith, 2021) and the research pursues its descriptive goal (Miller, Chan and Farmer, 2018). In fact, one definition of a scientific descriptions goal is to convey information with the detail and specificity required to accurately convey the experience.
Finally, interpretation is another necessary component of the qualitative method. It provides an opportunity to summarise and reflect on the data obtained from summaries. Hence, the interpretation part employs the most data analysis tools. It is necessary to learn about the existing food waste management strategies in Qatar restaurants and the justification of the choices by management, factors that affect the choice, correlations between them, and measure the efficiency of them (Mullet, 2018). As a result, the study aims at selecting the least and the most effective food waste management strategies in Qatar and developing recommendations for increasing efficiency.
The materials, sample, and sampling technique
To obtain the qualitative data necessary for the research, a series of structured interviews should be done. The interview questionnaire was developed based on the previous chapters. All the questions corresponded with the research goals and objectives and, for convenience, were categorised by the research questions. The data obtained from the interviews were recorded and then transcribed for analysis.
The sampling process was simple, as the choice of the interviewees had few parameters. First of all, it should be restaurant managers with several years of experience working in Qatar. Other factors, such as the size of restaurants, their location, average price, and the number of visitors, as well as cuisine, did not determine the sample selection. The sample size selected was within the range of 15 to 50 respondents. During the research, 55 restaurants were contacted, with 35 refusals for an interview and 20 approvals.
All of the interviews are done in person in order to meet the participants. The researcher had to make appointments ahead of time by contacting the head chef, supervisor, or captain who was on duty. The F&B operation department/manager in most high-end restaurants was contacted in the process. Hence, during negotiations for interviews and contact with various restaurant executives, certain insights were gained as well, which will be elaborated on in the consequent chapters.
The data collection process was based on interviews with restaurant managers. Prior to the meeting, the interviewer had to gain their trust, and appointments were usually scheduled by sending a request email with a questionnaire attachment so that they could familiarise themselves with the questionnaire and ensure that the procedures were followed. However, there were only six surveys where the interviewers walked into a familiar location, and they immediately agreed to sit with the researcher. Hence, the data collection process may have some limitations that are caused by the lack of trust from the restaurant managers. By seeing questionnaires prior to the interview, managers could prepare their answers, which could lead to data deterioration. On the other side, the answers that were provided were more well-thought and put together, which enhances the quality of the data.
Ethical considerations
The research adheres to ethical considerations associated with the interview process, data collection, and maintenance. First, the participants were informed about the objectives of the research, the procedures involved in it, as well as potential outcomes of its findings (Sileyew, 2019). After being informed, the participants filled out the written consent form to ensure that they were aware of the type of research and interview procedures.
Other ethical considerations that were prioritised during the research are listed below.
Obtaining informed consent
One of the pillars of research ethics is the concept of informed consent. In a nutshell, informed consent requires participants to understand why they are participating in research and what the research requires of them (Brittain et al., 2020). This information may include the researchs objective, procedures, potential outcomes, and the demands, discomforts, and dangers that participants may experience. Although it is difficult to foresee what information a respondent will or will not want to understand, no information must be left out. This includes information that can impact whether consent will or will not be provided.
The concept that respondents should be willing to participate and not be pressured or misled into engaging in a study is another aspect of informed consent. If one is unable to obtain participants informed permission, they must offer an account for why this is the situation (Brittain et al., 2020).
Reducing the risk of harm
The other ethical aspect being considered during this research is preventing the participants risk of harm. Therefore, the researcher aimed to avoid possible harm done to the participants. There are various types of harm that participants can experience during the research (Brittain et al., 2020). Firstly, a subject may experience psychological stress and discomfort. To avoid this, the participants were informed about the purpose of the study and was given a consent form to sign prior to the interview. Secondly, the participants may experience social disadvantages. To counter this, the interviews were conducted in an environment where a participant was comfortable (Kiger and Varpio, 2020). Hence, the meetings for interviews were settled in a time and place that satisfies a participant and makes them feel comfortable. Therefore, this study made sure that all participants were not harmed.
Protecting confidentiality
Protection of study participants identities and anonymity is another practical component. People are more ready to share information if there is a confidentiality agreement in place, especially when it involves private or sensitive information (Brittain et al., 2020). When insensitive data gathering procedures are used, it is possible that respondents will be hurt. However, the danger of injury occurring after data collection is larger. This occurs when data is not stored, analysed, or published in a manner that maintains confidentiality. Therefore, the privacy and confidentiality of the data obtained was ensured. The real names and positions of the participants were codified to prevent third-party identification in the event of a data breach. Aliases were used to safeguard the identities of those taking part in the interview. In turn, this helped secure the participants identities especially when they do not wish to be identified as part of the research.
The participants have a right to withdraw
The researcher informed all the participants that they have the right to withdraw from the interview at any time and for any reason. Thus, all participants were given the option to withdraw from the study at any point along the process. The researcher made sure that if a participant decided to withdraw, they were not pressured or misled in any way to reconsider. The participants decision to withdraw was respected because they have the right to choose whether or not to participate in the study.
Data analysis techniques
Data analysis is an essential part of the qualitative study. In the case of food waste management in Qatar restaurants, the data obtained from the interviews could be analysed in several ways. Because the study required three research questions to be depicted in the questionnaire, selecting a single qualitative data analysis tool was challenging because there are several methods that could benefit the research. Hence, the research utilised a combination of three data analysis tools.
First, discourse analysis could provide insights into the correlation between factors like the managers experience, restaurant size, location, or category, and the responses that research participants gave and practices they applied. Second, the thematic analysis could provide insights into managers experiences, views, and opinions on food waste management in their restaurants, in general, and in the country (Castleberry and Nolen, 2018), which is also beneficial for the study. Third, the IPA could also provide insights into the personal experiences of managers when dealing with food waste. Although for this method, the data is scarce, the insights that could be gained from it are beneficial to the study.
The choice of these data analysis tools is further justified by the nature of data collected via interviews. The responses of participants are mostly short, which does not provide an opportunity to apply such tools as narrative analysis or qualitative content analysis. The grounded theory also does not suit the objectives of the research, as they are already well-defined in the previous chapters. In addition, the grounded theory would require additional surveys to be done, which is time- and resource-consuming.
It is vital to describe the selected data analysis tools and elaborate on the ways they are going to be used. Discourse analysis aims at analysing language within its social context (Kalpokaite and Radivojevic, 2018). In other words, this tool analyses the speech of participants within the culture and society. For example, the tool provides an opportunity to analyse the way different managers talk to their employees. Likewise, discourse analysis provides an opportunity to analyse the way managers speak about food waste in their restaurants. In addition, the background of the research participants is an essential element to ensure a proper understanding and insight is gained in the process.
Applied to the topic of food waste management in restaurants, the discourse analysis tool can provide several insights. Therefore, it connects the background factors such as the average number of visitors, location, price range, and the experience and education of the manager with the existing strategy in the place. For example, managers with more recent education and residing in a more developed area could have established more effective strategies for food waste management and have more positive attitudes towards the practice. Therefore, the way the topic is elaborated by managers will be analysed.
The second qualitative data analysis tool used in the study is thematic analysis. This tool is used to focus on themes and patterns within the obtained data (Castleberry and Nolen, 2018). The dataset that is collected from the survey responses can be analysed to track the patterns of meaning regarding the topic relevant to the research. The most important topics for the study include the existing food waste management strategies in restaurants, managers attitudes towards governmental support of waste initiatives, their experience of interacting with infrastructure, and attitudes towards the issue. By identifying key themes of the research, more meaning, insights, and understanding of the topic could be derived. In addition, thematic analysis is a powerful tool for assessing peoples experiences and opinions (Castleberry and Nolen, 2018). Understanding these aspects are important for food waste management research in Qatar restaurants as it allows the development of further recommendations. The existing prejudice, reluctance, or, on the contrary, support by managers could be used as a foundation for new strategies.
The thematic analysis is another exploratory data analysis tool which is selected due to the following reasons. First, it correlates with the pre-existing research objectives and is able to fulfil them. Identification of themes in the obtained dataset enhances the understanding of the issue. In addition, in the process of exploration, the study may develop new research objectives, which is an acceptable practice for the thematic analysis (Kiger and Varpio, 2020). As some scholars view it as a disadvantage of the method, others encourage it as it broadens the scope of the study (Castleberry and Nolen, 2018). Therefore, the tools are utilised to identify key themes of the food waste management issues and tendencies in Qatar restaurants.
Finally, the third data analysis tool used in the study is an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). This tool is designed to enhance the researchers understanding of the personal experiences of the studys subject (Nizza, Farr and Smith, 2021). In the case of the food waste management practices in Qatar restaurants, the subjects in question are local managers (Nizza, Farr and Smith, 2021). Factors like excessive stress associated with a lack of infrastructure for handling food waste or strict governmental policies can affect the responses that subjects gave (Miller, Chan and Farmer, 2018). Therefore, personal experience is a valuable source of information for the issue, which may cause many restaurants to choose simpler food waste management strategies.
Moreover, using the IPA method, the attitudes of restaurant managers toward food waste management and the role of governmental policies will be considered the phenomena in the study. One of the advantages of the IPA method is the fact that it is subject-centred, which can be useful to identify the antecedents of food wastage management behaviour (Nair, 2021). This requires connecting the responses that managers give to their background as well as evaluating the available data about the facility they work for (Miller, Chan and Farmer, 2018). Hence, the coding of certain adjectives could be used to describe personal attitudes. Some of the limitations associated with the IPA method can be caused by the relatively small sample size (Nizza, Farr and Smith, 2021). This could prevent the researcher from making broad conclusions based on the data. However, such a method fits the research objectives, as a sample size of 20 subjects matches with opportunities provided by the method. Despite the fact that the findings made from the IPA cannot be generalised, they can provide insight into the particular food waste management strategies and attitudes in the restaurants that were selected for the interview.
Overall, the research study includes three qualitative data analysis tools, each providing distinct conclusions and findings on the topic. The combination of different tools can deepen the understanding of the topic of food waste management in Qatar restaurants. In addition, using different data analysis methods can help identify new issues associated with food waste management, and analyse the existing strategies and factors affecting them. The variety of insights may create a broader picture of the food waste management in Qatar restaurants and ways the country can achieve its economic, infrastructural and environmental Vision 2030. To work with the data obtained through discourse and thematic analysis, coding and descriptive techniques will be used.
Data collection activities, analysis and discussion
Introduction
The data collection, analysis, and discussion are some of the most significant parts of any research paper as they provide the essence of the study. This chapter describes and analyses the practical implications of the research. In the case of food waste management in Qatar restaurants, the topic of the data collection process should be elaborated on, identifying key issues and factors that affected the survey. The qualitative data were obtained from interviews with restaurant managers in Qatar, with each interview being recorded and transcribed. As was identified in the Methodology chapter, the qualitative data analysis tools will be used for further data processing. With the focus of the research goals and questions, the methods like thematic analysis, discourse analysis, and IPA will be used. This chapter will show how data is analysed comprehensively. The discussion of the results of the study will involve the reflection on how the findings of the study answer three main research questions and how they fit the research objectives.
Data collection process
There were several challenges met during the data collection process. Many of the managers who were interviewed without an appointment were reluctant to answer the questions. Some of the factors that influenced this include the fear of being reported for managing their food waste inappropriately. Therefore, the sampling strategy was modified to avoid suspicion and decrease the rate of refusals. In some cases, the entities that were contacted without an appointment replied that they were not the ones who were responsible for the food waste management in their restaurant; hence, the researcher was redirected to the branch manager.
The core findings located in the course of the data collection and its further analysis can be linked to the information identified in the course of the literature review. Specifically, the significance of adjusting the key elements of the industry to meet the sustainability requirements have been identified. Specifically, the role of waste management as a critical part of improving sustainability and the introduction of innovative technology for encouraging new solutions to waste management have been identified. Namely, the role of zero waste approaches has been proven in the process. Managers of different branches reported concerns about the interview as they were not sure if they were the right people to answer these kinds of questions. In addition, during the data collection process, it was discovered that many restaurants have their own rules and policies to deal with such matters as interviews. Although the participants were warned about the procedure and ethical principles of confidentiality and anonymity that are ensured by the study, many of the subjects felt uncomfortable.
As a result, from 55 restaurants that were contacted, only 20 (36%) provided an agreement for the interview, and 35 refused (64%) as shown in Figure 2 below.
This shows that generally, the restaurant managers are reluctant to speak about their practices to third parties, even when anonymity and confidentiality are guaranteed, and the interviews are taken for research purposes. Six out of the 35 refusals did not reject the interview directly but were told to return later and then found new excuses when the researcher did come back.
Precisely, some excuses mentioned by the managers involved phrases like we dont have specific food waste handling, so we cant help you . In addition, some refusals were also received during the interview process after certain questions. Some managers were concerned about the question of the awareness of the government programs concerning restaurant food waste management (Nair, 2021). Here, certain respondents preferred to give short answers to speed up the interview process, and others raised suspicion that the researcher was an agent of the inspection department as shown in Table 1 below. As a result, to receive more data from the interview, some of the problematic questions were paraphrased or asked in different ways.
Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the suspicion of the majority of contacted managers signals the hazardous environment in Qatar, where restaurants avoid speaking about their practices due to fear of penalty. On the other side, the topic of food waste management may seem intimidating for managers, as they may be aware of the environmental impact of the issue, not applying any food waste management practices.
Table 1: Response types
The interview process was an important part of the data collection success. The surveys were done in person in the area and time that is comfortable to the subjects. More managers agreed to the interviews when contacted prior via email, and the terms and appointments were negotiated. The people who responded to the emails were not always managers but the people responsible for answering emails during the shift. For example, head chefs, supervisors, or captains on duty (Co_kun and Özbük, 2020). This tendency also suggests that each restaurant has its own policies in terms of regulating public contacts. Whereas some restaurants may have employees that have to combine answering calls and emails with their other responsibilities, there were cases where others delegate these tasks solely to managers. This may be explained by the fact that restaurant managers are rarely interviewed and mostly remain unknown to the public.
Yet, some of the restaurants exhibited openness and preparedness for doing an interview with a researcher. As such, six of the surveys were collected instantly at the facility. In the locations familiar to the researcher, the managers agreed to have an interview immediately after asking. Yet, mostly, restaurant managers preferred set appointments and often requested a questionnaire to familiarise themselves with the interview they would be giving. There were no cases of refusal after seeing the questionnaire.
The selection of the locations was also important for the research. One of the areas of interest of the research involves the way the city and its infrastructure affect the food waste management strategies in restaurants. As the services offered by waste collectors may vary depending on the location, it was important to have a variety of areas where the restaurants functioned (Ben Hassen, El Bilali and Allahyari, 2020). As a result, the research used interviews with managers of restaurants located in Doha in areas of Al Lagtafiya Park, West Bay, Azizya, Muaither, Gharaffa, and the Old Airport. Those locations represent different socioeconomic areas of the town (Balakrishnan, Harish and Al-Kuwari, 2019). Not all of its areas are aimed at premium class tourists, with outskirts like Azizya being much more low-cost.
Finally, it is important to elaborate on the formal procedure of the interview. On average, each survey took about 45 minutes to complete; however, 5-6 surveys exceeded an hour and ended in 1.25 hours (1 hour 15 minutes) where the lengthy discussion occurred. As reported earlier, some of the interviewees felt comfortable talking about food waste management, while others became suspicious and tried to finish the interview faster by giving short answers. Hence, the answers given to the survey question vary in detail. The 20 completed surveys provide a dataset, which will be analysed in the research of food waste management strategies in Qatar restaurants.
Analysis
The analysis of the surveys collected should be aligned with the research goals and questions. Hence, the section will be divided into several subsections to separate each approach and each research question. In addition, the data analysis results will be determined to enhance the understanding of the analysis. The discussion of the data findings will be discussed in the next section of the chapter.
By thoroughly reading and reviewing the surveys, the researcher aims to identify the key themes that occur when managers are talking about food waste management. After the number of themes is selected, the analysis and interpretation should identify the issues that are associated with these themes. After that, it is essential to study the correlation between the background information about the facilities and their managers and the state of food waste management there. For example, how does the level of education and previous experience affect the likelihood of the environmentally friendly food management strategy implied in the restaurant?
There are several interview questions that address the topic of the current food waste management strategies. By answering the number of questions under research question 1, What are the most effective strategies that restaurants in Qatar can use? , the researcher is able to identify the current state of food waste management and the issues associated with it. As a way of discourse analysis, the study will analy
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