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The
Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Community Advocacy for
Corporate Social Responsibility in the Niger
Delta, Nigeria:
A Case Study of Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Nigeria.
Introduction
For many
years, the Niger Delta of Southeast Nigeria have been the center of worldwide
interest; it has been considered as an area of extreme poverty and conflicts
where the national and international strategic interests have been focused more
than the needs of the local host communities. The poverty, conflicts, and
struggles for the benefits are consequences of conflicts with security forces
put in there to protect oil companies exploring in the area (CSCR, 2004,1).
There have been so many
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aiming to help the community achieve
sustainable development and to ensure the human rights of the people. In the
Port Harcourt River Sates Nigeria, there is a non-governmental organization,
the Centre for Social and Corporate Responsibility (CSCR), which aims to assist
the local community in terms of resolving conflicts and negotiation, operate
community development, and many other practices (www.christianaid.org).
Much information has been written
about corporate social responsibility. However, the information with regards to
the role of the non-governmental organizations in the community advocacy as
well as the ‘leverage’ strategy of advocacy employed by the CSCR for the
corporate social responsibility in Nigeria. This is one of the
purposes of this research proposal. In addition, the researcher finds the need
to recognize CSCR’s profile with an emphasis on its development role and to
widen the knowledge with regards to the whole concept of corporate social
responsibility and the ‘leverage’ strategy approach use by CSCR towards
sustainable development in the Niger Delta. This study will contribute better
knowledge and understanding to the roles of the CSCR; to guide the communities
to a different direction from the violence and lead the community towards
acquiring and exhausting the benefits of the resources in the Niger Delta
Community. Furthermore, the study will also serve as a learning medium for CSCR
in this area of its work and contribute future improvement in its programs
especially for a holistic sustainability.
Clarification
of the Topic and Narrowing of Focus
The main objective of this study is to
determine if the non-governmental organizations have a legitimate role in
advocating for the communities with regards to corporate social responsibility.
Specifically, this study sought to cover the Centre for Social Corporate
Responsibility in the Delta Nigeria area. The central focus of this research
proposal revolves on the following central key-words: role, NGOs, community
advocacy, corporate social responsibility, CSCR, and Niger-Delta. The indicated
keywords are interrelated in this topic; this research needs to know the roles
of the NGOs specifically the CSCR and its staff in Delta Nigeria and to define their perspective
of community advocacy for corporate social responsibility.
Hypothesis:
The CSCR as an NGO in Delta Niger
has a legitimate role in community advocacy for corporate social
responsibility.
Specifically,
the following are the aims of this research:
1.
To be able to investigate the implications of
community advocacy and corporate social responsibility for communities of the
Niger Delta and non-Governmental organizations using published literature;
2.
To identify and examine the issues like NGO legitimacy,
participation, and many others involved in community advocacy with reference to
3 communities of the Niger Delta region;
3.
To identify and examine the legal, ethical, and moral
issues involved in corporate social responsibility with reference to 3 communities
of the Niger Delta region;
4.
To attempt to establish the role that NGOs play in
community advocacy in ensuring corporate social responsibility with special
reference to CSCR;
5.
To examine the work of the CSCR in the 3 communities
and attempt to evaluate the extent to which community advocacy is fulfilling
specific standards of success set by CSCR especially with regards to
Shareholders leverage;
6.
To examine the level of participation of the
communities with CSCR and look at areas that needs improvement.
7.
To advance a profile of the CSCR, with an emphasis on
their developmental Role, in the hope that it will contribute to an altogether
better knowledge and understanding of work being done by CSCR.
8.
To use an information gathering technique suitable for
the selected population and acquiring of information.
Variables/Concepts
As
mentioned, the study will have key variables – dependent and independent - that
will dictate its flow throughout the process. The variables involve are role,
NGOs, community advocacy, corporate social responsibility, CSCR, and
Niger-Delta. The independent variables in the study are NGOs, CSCR and the
Niger Delta, while the dependent variables are role, community advocacy and
corporate social responsibility. These variables will be discussed briefly in
this segment.
Role
Role is
a complex concept that specifically involves culture, behavior and attitude. One
of the first that explained the theory of role differentiation and
specialization was the study of Bales et al (1953, 1955). Through studying relatively large numbers of
groups working on standardized tasks in standardized situations, and by using
systematic observation methods, they described the kinds of forces at work in
the situation as well as the tendencies within individuals underlying the
emergence of particular role structures (Moment and Zaliznik, 1963). They found
that the dilemma of group problem-solving lies in the apparent antithesis
between work and affection. Thus, roles are molded with those two variables.
Fein (1992)
stated that “when we enact roles, we do so with recurring partners, who cue us
about what is expected by them and others”. This basically means that
acceptance of role can be developed by what is expected by other persons. For
instance, teachers need students in order to teach, and students need teachers
in order to learn. Furthermore, Turner (1985) stated that roles are not just
taught or learned, but constructed through the joint efforts of particular role
partners. Thus, it is not merely a psychological activity, but also a
sociological one. Fein (1992) all in all defined roles as mechanisms for
accomplishing essential personal and interpersonal tasks, which are
performative, in a sense that they are a "doing," not just a
"being." They are also transformational, in that we all have
extensive repertoires we can play simultaneously or in sequence. It develops
from the combination of biological inheritance and social environment, with the
own individuals logical thinking and interpretation of things.
One
issue involving roles is role stress. Role stress may be viewed as the
consequence of disparity between an individual’s perception of the
characteristics of a specific role and what is actually being achieved by the
individual currently performing the specific role (Lambert and Lambert, 2001).
It basically occurs when there is incongruence between perceived role
expectations and achievement, and is synonymous with burnout (Chang and
Hancock, 2003). There is also the issue of role problems, which occurs when:
people are trapped in painful roles that do not meet needs; and when they
engage in unsuccessful attempts to replace these unfavorable roles (Fein,
1992).
Community Advocacy
Community
advocacy basically means the support of the community on a specific social or
individual concern. Rook and Dooley (1985) stressed that all definitions of
social support imply some type of positive interaction or helpful behavior
provided to a person in need of support. However, definitions are categorized.
The first is in the belief of Cobb (1976) that it is the information making the
person to believe that he or she is cared for or loved, esteemed or valued, or
a feeling of belongingness to a particular network. On the other hand,
Procidano and Heller (1983) argue that the term is all about the recipient’s
perceptions, or if the individual feels that his/her needs for support,
information and feedback are fulfilled. But unlike the first two, the third
category focuses on the intentions and behaviors of the providers of support.
Basically, here, the exchange of resources is based on the perception of the
providers, for instance, how much the individual needs the support (Shumaker
and Brownell, 1984). But then, the fourth argument suggests that it is merely a
reciprocal process by which the two parties exchange resources (Antonucci,
1985). Finally, the fifth category argues that it is a case of social networks,
or as Lin et al (1979) defined it as support accessible to an individual
through social ties to other individuals, groups and the larger community.
Non-Governmental Organizations
According
to Ball and Dunn (1995), an organization may
be correctly labelled an NGO if it has four characteristics identified by The Commonwealth Foundation, a
London-based NGO study group. An NGO should be: voluntary, independent;
not-for-profit; and not self-serving in aims and related values (Ball and Dunn, 1995). An NGO can also be
referred to as a Nonprofit or Not-for-profit Organisation, Independent Sector or the Third Sector, Philanthropic Sector or Charitable Organisation, Civil Society
Organisation etc.
NGOs
perform important roles in today’s society. The fact that they have been
recognized by the UN as important contributes to their credibility and
prestige. . Edwards (2000) stated that there is already a consensus among the
donor community that a strong civil society is crucial to successful
development performance. The UN recognizes this, and as Secretary General Kofi
Annan have stated, “…In today’s world, we depend on each other” (UN Department
of Public Information, 2003). The UN basically recognizes, however, that NGOs
are the most helpful type of civil societies. He stated that “The extent to
which NGOs are able to organize themselves around broad networks focusing on specific
issues will have a bearing on the form and impact of their involvement in the
work of the Organization” (Annan, 2004, p.3). Furthermore, Annan (2004) stated
that civil societies are also key participants in peace-building,
reconciliation and transitions to civilian administration. With all this
appreciation of the UN on civil society, particularly NGOs, it is important to
note that civil societies are not just NGOs but are much broader than that.
With their emergence as being helpful in achieving a decent strong society,
there is no doubt that their promotion is highly advisable.
Annan (2004) stated that the extent to
which NGOs are able to organize themselves around broad networks focusing on
specific issues will have a bearing on the form and impact of their involvement
in the work of the UN. Carothers (1999) explained that NGOs play important,
growing roles in developed and developing countries. They shape policy by
exerting pressure on governments and by furnishing technical expertise to
policy makers. They foster citizen participation and civic education. They
provide leadership training for young people who want to engage in civic life
but are uninterested in working through political parties. Furthermore, they
promote many individual ideas that lead to peace promotion.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Lantos (2001) stated that
corporations should have economic, ethical and legal responsibilities to the
public at large. Novak (1996) enumerated seven economic responsibilities of
firms, which are to: satisfy customers with goods and services of real value;
earn a fair return on the funds entrusted to the corporation by its investors;
create new wealth, which can accrue to non-profit institutions which own shares
of publicly-held companies and help lift the poor out of poverty as their wages
rise; create (and, I would add, maintain) new jobs; defeat envy though
generating upward mobility and giving people the sense that their economic
conditions can improve; promote innovation; and diversify the economic
interests of citizens so as to prevent the tyranny of the majority. Legal
responsibilities, on the other hand, should be to follow the law or the rules
that govern firms. However, as mentioned, this are is where measures lack as
firms are subjected to maximize their profits as much as possible. The
government plays only a little role in a sense that in the market-centered
governance model, the government has no direct control over the firms, which
makes it difficult to implement rules. Basically, those responsibilities
account socially. Companies can be socially responsible by being economically,
legally, and ethically responsible to the community in which they operate.
Niger
Delta
The Nigeria Delta in South Nigeria faces many environmental concerns. Despite
its potential for the economic growth of the country, it turns out that the
fortune can evolve into a problem. Basically, most of Nigeria’s oil is found in the delta
of the River Niger, an area of 70,000 km2, all in all (Milieudefensie, 2000).
The
Niger Delta contains significant volumes of oil and natural gas, and because of
this, a known petroleum company – Shell – has become heavily involved with the
area in terms of business (Milieudefensie, 2000). Nigeria is equally important for
Shell, providing some 12% of its world-wide earnings. However, this matter has
raised environmental issues that triggered the concerns of the community and
the NGOs. There has been oil exploitation which affects the environment of
Niger Delta as well as the lives of its citizens. Cases such as: oil leakage;
gas flaring; forest destruction; dumping of waste; and damage to soil and water
affects the community greatly (Milieudefensie, 2000). Oil leaking affects
agricultural lands, gas flaring affects people’s health and intensifies global
warming, forest destruction destroys the natural appeal of the area, dumping of
wastes pollutes the wetlands, rivers and the seas (Milieudefensie, 2000), and
finally, the damages to soil and water constraints agricultural and engineering
uses of the areas in Niger Delta (Kamalu et al, 2002).
Centre
for Corporate Social Responsibility
The CSCR is one of the known organizations in the
community of Niger Delta. The CSCR staffs work together to address different
scopes of responsibilities that the CSCR handles. The following are the known
missions of the CSCR: it is dedicated to assist in the
recuperating process of the traumatized individuals and communities by
developing and promoting availability of justice to individuals and to the Niger
Delta localities by launching and sustaining the corporate social
responsibility for all stakeholders in the Niger Delta; and it is involved in
providing free legal aid to indigents (CSCR,
2004, 6). The NGOs like the CSCR also have these responsibilities of
community advocacies and corporate social responsibilities. The
non-governmental organizations have come to locally, nationally, and
internationally assemble; articulate; and stand for the people’s interest or
concerns at every stages of decision-making. Thus, community advocacy is an
essential part of the role that the non-governmental organizations play in the
community. NGO has this perspective that advocacy organizes the strategic
articulation of data to represent unequal power relations. Advocacy is the
giving of justice to imbalanced power relations; the objective and the nature
of community advocacy are to equalize power relations. These non-governmental
organizations favor on the processes of transformation as well as the least
influencing constituent in a political conflict (Kelly, 2002, 3). The role of the NGOs in the corporate social
responsibility is to awaken the different businesses of their roles in the
society and to follow the imposed rules of the government, preserve the
environment, and not oppress the people. Most of the business companies tend to
forget or neglect the social responsibilities and tend to focus on the revenues
that they will acquire. In Delta Nigeria, different companies have
exhausted all its natural resources but the people have suffered. NGOs find
ways to resolve these issues (Anderson,
1989, 23). There have been so many studies with regards to the roles of
NGOs with regards to community advocacy and corporate social responsibilities (ChristianAid, 2003, 9-12). There has
been this study that deals with measuring the performance and effectiveness of
the NGOs in the international advocacy; there has also been this study about
organizing NGOs international advocacy specifically about organizational
structures and organizational effectiveness. However, these studies tend to
tackle on the holistic aspect of NGOs. The case study that has been conducted
has been broad that some questions have not been answered. Furthermore, studies
conducted on CSCR in Niger Delta are scarce and tend to focus on other issues
aside from the objectives of this case study.
Review of
Related Literature
The Non
Governmental Organization (NGO) have taken the entire globe and they need to
know why and how should operate in a democratic government and cannot be kept
aside (NGO Research Guide, 2004). NGOs have helped a lot in developing the
entire globe and promoting peace, order and good governance. As globalization
and international trade impact societies, non-governmental organizations have
increasingly influential in world affairs. They are consulted by governments as
well as international organizations like the United Nations which have created
associative status for them. These organizations are not directly affiliated
with any national government but often have a significant impact on the social,
economic and political activity of the country or region. It has also been
described by the 1994 United Nations (UN) document as a non-profit body which consists
of staffs who are citizens or associates of the citizens of one or more
localities and whose undertakings are decided by the unified force of its
staffs with regards to the needs of the members of one or more area the NGO
cooperates.(Hudson, 1999, 4)
The Niger Delta, one of areas in the Southeast
Nigeria, has been known for the poverty and conflict issues. It
has been observed that the Niger Delta lacks sustainable development; the
localities of Nigeria
have even experienced oil spills from the pipelines from well-known oil
companies and an environmental devastation due to company road construction
work. The citizens of the Niger Delta region suffer from environmental
disasters that are rarely cleaned up and that affect their livelihoods, poor
compensation, few employment opportunities and periodic conflicts. (CSCR, 2004, 5) It has been noted that
the Niger Delta has different NGOs within the locality.
In a
case study conducted by Dr. Alan Hudson from the Department of Geography of the
University of Cambridge entitled Organizing NGO’s international advocacy:
Organizational structures and organizational effectiveness, a strong emphasis
deals with the chief goal of the research in enhancing the efficiency of the
international advocacy of the NGOs by way of checking and taking the effort of
understanding how the international NGOs’ organization, with their
relationships with each other and with their aimed organizations, create a
difference to their absolute achievement or disappointment in attaining their
goals (Hudson, 1999, 3). The paper’s
primary part focuses on the situation of the advocacy and application of
pressure of NGOs influenced by the asserted “New Policy Agenda” and methods of
expanding, prior to delineating the problems which the NGOs are facing and
which assert the engagement in international advocacy and proposing that we
should take notice of the varied ways in which the NGOs deal with their
international advocacy. A great sentimental significance of advocacy and the
lobbying of work by the NGOs is that it provides an approach of scaling up
their influence and establishing a difference to the lives poor people in the
world. Advocacy in not a voluntary extra to be secured on top of the
development work, but it must become an interior stratagem in the next decade (Fowler, 1997, 9). There are two forms
of the advocacy of NGO (Edwards,
1996, 25). First is the type of
advocacy that employs the enormous interest groups and entails the huge
foundation of support if it is to attain its goals. It is probably provoking
and publicly decisive of the prevailing neo-liberal ideology since it engages
great risks and comprises an invitation to change lifestyles – to consumption
ways – amongst the constituents of the NGOs. This form of advocacy seeks for
basic change. The second form of advocacy comprises the objectives which may be
more assertive to constructive dialogue such as health service agencies and
agricultural organizations, but which needs a sophisticated technical knowledge
built on useful encounters if the visions of the NGO are to be taken seriously.
This form promotes an effect that is obliging instead of confrontational, thus
the goal is augmented reorganization.
International
Advocacy: Measuring performance and effectiveness, a paper presented by Dr.
Linda Kelly emphasizes the growing inclusion of attention of international aid
and development work with the policy and advocacy interventions as well as the
conventional field programs and direct aid transmission. Social responsibility
then is delineated as a solid commitment particularly by non-government
organizations in building an enduring development through various involvements
in poor communities, as well as lobbying and other advocacy on their part (Kelly, 2002, p. 3-7).
Initial Design Structure
To be able to acquire sufficient data, information, and solutions as well as to effectively organize the research, the researchers have segregated this research proposal into the following chapters and headings:
CHAPTER I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS
1.1
Introduction
1.2
Statement of the Problem and Objectives of the Study
1.3
Significance of the Study
1.4
Scopes and Limitations of the Study
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Review of Related Literature
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER IV: PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION, AND ANALYSIS
CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND, RECOMMENDATION
In addition, to assure a systematic research and
sufficient time frame, the researcher outlined the following research
timeframe:
Legend: W (x) = week
(number)
ACTIVITIES
|
W1
|
W2
|
W3
|
W4
|
W5
|
W6
|
W7
|
W8
|
W9
|
Researching
|
|||||||||
Acquiring
of Data
|
|||||||||
Tabulating
the Data
|
|||||||||
Calculating
the Data
|
|||||||||
Analyzing
the Information
|
|||||||||
Documentation
|
|||||||||
Finalization
of the Case Study
|
Identification
of the Methodology
The
locale of this case study will be in the Niger Delta focusing on the Centre for
Social and Corporate Responsibility (CSCR), an NGO based in the Port Harcourt
River State Nigeria. In addition, for the researcher to be able to obtain the
required data, the researcher will conduct test on the following target
populations: the local authorities, the large business establishments in the
area the staff of the CSCR and a selected population of the three local
communities in the Niger Delta.
This
case study is non-experimental. This study tends to focus on the complexity of
beliefs, practices, personality types, and behaviors that cannot be
manipulated. This case study will utilize the following methods for information
gathering: primary (questionnaires and semi-structured interviews) and secondary
data (previous case studies) (Yin, 1984,
11). For this research, the primary data will be acquired from the
respondents, i.e. their responses to the semi-structured questionnaires and
interviews. These surveys, interviews, and questionnaires will be used in
acquiring unbiased data. There are three common types for information
gathering: the face-to-face interview, the telephone interview, and the mail
questionnaires. Each of the three common types of has certain strength and
weaknesses. The face-to-face interview is effective in conducting surveys
targeting a low-income and low-education population; it also provides
interaction with the targeted respondents. The mail questionnaires are
advantageous for inadequate resources in a large location; aside from being
inexpensive, the mail questionnaires are easy to hand out to a large sample and
to evaluate. However, the mail questionnaires are too impersonal and might
yield a very low response rate; in addition, there is not determining if the
results are from the actual respondents and there is no interaction. The
telephone interviews are effective in accumulating information in a short
period of time. Like the mail questionnaires, the telephone interview is
disadvantageous since it yields bias into the study. The face-to-face interview
and dissemination will be used for this case study. The secondary data will be
acquired from the related published literatures that will be reviewed and will
be used as a benchmark on the progress of the research. The gathering of the
related published literature ensures that the data acquired are reliable.
The study will be conducted
in a descriptive way. A descriptive research intends to present facts
concerning the nature and status of a situation, as it exists at the time of
the study (Creswell, 1994). It is also concerned with relationships and practices that
exist, beliefs and processes that are ongoing, effects that are being felt, or
trends that are developing. (Best, 1970,
16) In addition, such approach tries to describe present conditions,
events or systems based on the impressions or reactions of the respondents of
the research (Creswell, 1994). The general purpose of this research is “to
observe, describe, and document aspects of situation as it naturally occurs and
sometimes to serve as a starting point for hypotheses generalization or theory
development. (Polit and Hungler, 1995, 178 )”
This study will employ the
qualitative research method because this research intends to find and build
theories that would explain the relationship of one variable with another
variable through qualitative elements in research; this is the purpose of a
qualitative research method (Patton,
1990, 20). These qualitative elements do not have standard measures; rather
they are behaviour, attitudes, opinions, and beliefs. (Patton, 1990, 20). Moreover, the qualitative research is
multi-method in focus, involving an interpretative, naturalistic approach to
its subject matter (Patton, 1990,22).
This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings,
attempting to make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings
people bring to them. (Patton, 1990, 20)
Accordingly, qualitative researchers deploy a wide range of interconnected
methods, always hoping to get a better fix on the subject matter at hand (Patton, 1990, 20). It should also be
noted that qualitative studies answer questions about people’s experiences
under natural situations, and involve open-ended non-numerical data collected
through formal or informal interviewing, participant observation, documents,
diaries, and case studies.
To investigate the role of
CSCR in Delta Niger,
the researcher will employ three data gathering techniques. Structured
survey-questionnaire will be used in this investigation. The questionnaire will
contain a set of attitude statements. The purpose of the set of attitude
statements is to determine the level of agreement or disagreement using a
five-point Likert scale. In the Likert technique, the degree of agreement or
disagreement) is given a numerical value ranging from one to five, thus a total
numerical value can be calculated from all the responses. (Underwood, 2004, 1) The equivalent weights for the answers will
be:
Range Interpretation
4.50
– 5.00 Highest
3.50
– 4.00 Higher
2.50
– 3.49 Middle
1.50
– 2.49 Lower
0.00
– 1.49 Lowest
An open-ended questionnaire will be used for the
interview. The sessions will be recorded via an audiocassette recorder. A structured
questionnaire will be used for their interview. Data collected will be
tabulated and will be analyzed with the use of median and percentage deviation.
For
the first phase of the case study, the researcher proposed to accumulate
relevant and similar case studies or research works. The first phase of the case study will cover
a two-week time frame. Using published literature as mediums is a more reliable
way of acquiring established information. However, there are instances that
these published literatures are biased. The researchers will ensure that the
acquired information from these published literatures is not biased through
evaluation. The researcher will indicate certain criteria for the selection of
the research work.
The
next phase of the case study is to acquire data through surveys and
questionnaires. The second phase will consume four weeks. Two different
questionnaires or surveys will be disseminated to the staff of CSCR and to the
local community. For the local community, surveys and questionnaires will be
given to those people who are familiar with CSCR and are literate (age
18-above). To those who are familiar with CSCR but are illiterate, an interview
will be conducted. The interview will be person-to person; the surveys will be
handed out in person. These methods will ensure that there is an interaction
and that the data being accumulated are accurate. For the CSCR staff, surveys
or questionnaires will be disseminated. The researcher to ensure the accuracy
and reliability of the data will hand out the surveys/questionnaires
personally. However, there is the need for the CSCR staff to be unprepared to
ensure that the acquired data are based on their own perception and
knowledge—not being influenced by other factors.
The last phase for the case
study will be for the interview of the local authority of the Niger Delta and
the management of different establishment. The third phase is included in the
time frame allotted for the second phase. Both the second and the third phase
uses surveys or questionnaires and interviews in order to be able to acquire
data; it is due to the fact that information needed does not require
mathematical and scientific calculations and that this technique has been known
to be effective in this type of setting. These types of information gathering
are designed to collect information of a certain selected population that deals
with prevalence, distribution, and interrelation of different information.
The questionnaires will be
taken back right after they are answered and with the structured
questionnaires, the Likert Scale will be used. A Likert Scale is a rating scale
that requires the subject to indicate his or her degree of agreement or
disagreement with a statement. By rating scale we mean the scales are used to measure
attitudes towards an object, the degree to which an object contains a
particular attribute, (Like or dislike), toward some attribute, or the
importance attached to an attribute. The result of the study will then be
computed by a statistician, and through the statistical results they will be
able to determine the result.
The advanteges of using the Likert Scale method is
that the responses are gathered in a standardized way. Through the Likert
Scale, one would be able to relatively quick to collect information. It can be
relatively easy to construct, easy to use and can be collected from a large
portion of a group. It also gives participants a wide range of choices which
may make them more comfortable. While the method has its advantages, however it
also has its limitations. In Likert
scale, respondents are enquired to agree or disagree with statements and some
people use their own words to retort or answer questions about, learning
situations. Although this format does not remove the need to draw conclusion, there
are also time wherein one would think that beliefs can be inferred by verifying
to what one attends in a complex situation and Likert Scales seldom provide
contexts. It also does not carry good
ways for determining how important the issue is to the respondent. One may
react in a way that may point out the existence of a belief that is not central
to the respondent. Also with the use of Likert scale participants may not be
completely honest. Also participants may base answers on feelings toward surveyor
or subject and may answer according to what they feel is expected of them as
participants. This method requires a great deal of decision-making and may take
long time to analyze the data.
For this study, the
researcher, after gathering the relevant data needed, it will be collated
together with published studies from different local and foreign universities
and articles from social science journals. Afterwards, a critical analysis will
be rendered on the collected documents and verbal materials. A summary of all
the information gathered would also be provided by the researcher, as well as a
conclusion and insightful recommendations on how the CSCR could fully improve
its function with regards to community advocacy in corporate social
responsibility.
Conclusion:
This research study will be beneficial not only to the
existing NGOs in Niger Delta but also to the local community, to the local
authority, to the business establishments in Niger Delta. Furthermore, the CSCR
will be able to determine the points that needs improvement and will be able to
develop those and serve the local community better.
In addition, this study will be able to prove that CSCR
as a non-governmental organization in Delta Niger has been able to perform
community advocacy with regards to corporate social responsibility. Different
methods of acquiring data will be used for the case study.
REFERENCES:
Anderson, J. W. Jr. (1989)
Corporate Social Responsibility. Quorum books, New York,
p. 23.
Annan,
K. (2004). Report of the Secretary-General in response to the report of the Panel of
Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations. In the United Nations general Assembly,
Fifty-ninth session Item 55 of the provisional agenda
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Appendix
NOTE: (Refer to the Identification of
Methodology)
The questionnaires will be
taken back right after they are answered and with the structured
questionnaires, the Likert Scale will be used. A Likert Scale is a rating scale
that requires the subject to indicate his or her degree of agreement or
disagreement with a statement. By rating scale we mean the scales are used to
measure attitudes towards an object, the degree to which an object contains a
particular attribute, (Like or dislike), toward some attribute, or the
importance attached to an attribute. The result of the study will then be
computed by a statistician, and through the statistical results they will be
able to determine the result.
For this study, the
researcher, after gathering the relevant data needed, it will be collated
together with published studies from different local and foreign universities
and articles from social science journals. Afterwards, a critical analysis will
be rendered on the collected documents and verbal materials. A summary of all
the information gathered would also be provided by the researcher, as well as a
conclusion and insightful recommendations on how the CSCR could fully improve
its function with regards to community advocacy in corporate social
responsibility.
