SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

FIGURE 1.1. BASIC TYPES OF CASE-STUDY DESIGNS. BASED UPON YIN. (SOURCE:WWW.IDT.MDH.SE/PHD/COURSE/FALLSTUDIE).The research is based upon a multiple-case analysis, where the definition of a case as acountry, or more precisely, the institutional and administrative conditions that defines theplanning system. The case study approach applied in this research resembles multiple-casedesigns (figure 1.1). Certain aspects of the workings of each of the systems and their nationalcontexts are identified and compared between the cases.Empirical basisThe empirical material gathered for the research was based upon the principle of triangulationand include official documentation, including legislation and preparatory legal texts(förarbeten), regulations, guidance, evaluations and other official reports and records. Thetext in the national overviews in this thesis provides an overview of the material, legislation,regulations and guidance that has been issued before the 1st of January 2008. Materialavailable at a later stage is not included. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with keystakeholders at the national level in Iceland and Sweden. The interviews were open-ended andaimed at receiving supplementary insight into the implementation process. The author alsoparticipated 2002 – 2003 in a reference group appointed for the preparation of guidelines forthe implementation of the SEA directive in a Swedish legal context. The work was led by theSwedish Environmental Protection Agency and included representatives from the nationalauthorities and other key stakeholders, e.g. the Swedish Rail Association, the Swedish RoadAssociation, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, Stockholm CountyAdministrative Board etc.The research questions and the set of criteria considered to be relevant in different partsof the study were identified on the basis of extensive review of articles and written material14