Data Analysis and Management 37

According to Bogdan and Biklen (1992), researchers who specialize in qualitative analysis use a method called Content Analysis. Findings are not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or quantification. Most of the processed data for this study was in the form of transcripts from interviews and views from participants in the CBS. Some recordings of the interview sessions were saved in mp3 format and were first transcribed. The processed data was fed into NuVivo software and were sorted according to the objectives. This first stage of sorting and classifying data produced categories and segments of similar themes. By use of the same software, three stages of coding were applied to the data (Open coding, Axial coding and Selective coding).

In open coding, the study tried to make sense of collected data within the parameters of the inquiry on exousia and impunity. In the axial coding data was scrutinized for internal relationships and groupings. In the last stage of selective coding the study made sense of the data by illustrating themes and concepts and made comparisons of what there was and what the respondents had said.

This process allowed the study to place these phrases of similar themes into a category for further analytical development. As shown mainly in chapter two, the study restricted more bulk data to reflective, philosophical and content types of analysis, while biblical texts were subjected to and analysed

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through exegesis. This is a method of critical explanation or interpretation of a text especially the scriptures.

Data that was used for this study will be preserved and protected, for such permissible periods after the research. It is particularly noted that permissions and rights to transfer data between institutions sorely rests with Kenyatta University’s administration and the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST).

1.4.6 Ethical Considerations

In Kenya as in many other countries, there are research and ethical guidelines involving human subjects.30 Therefore, when conducting research in Kenya, there is not only need to adhere to ethical guidelines but also to seek permissions. Although the nature of information sought cannot pose any danger to the participants involved, the study made sure that all the groups and people involved were clearly notified of the intentions of the research and in good time. Participants did not sign consent forms because all that the researcher needed to do was to go through the key informants who were key leaders in the studied churches. In some instances, names of people are mentioned but with express permission.

Through the key informants, participants were informed of the usefulness of the research and further were assured that their information would not be manipulated or used for any other purpose other than the indicated purpose. This study did not find difficulties in accessing the consent of churches and individuals, because most of the contact persons were very

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favourable to the topic of research. This study bound itself to the confines of such permissions.

1.4.7 Challenges Experienced

Several challenges were met during the study. Highlighted below are a few of those challenges. Firstly, there was the challenge of contacting and penetrating the churches. It is easy to do sampling and other paper work but not to penetrate some places. Some churches had easy systems and their penetration was easy. Others had tight and rigid bureaucracies and they cost the study in terms of time and resources. As a result of few rigid bureaucracies there was the challenge of getting the necessary contacts for the participants. This also affected the convening of the participants to the actual meeting. In actual sense the major challenge was making the people meet on the scheduled dates and times. In one Church the meetings had to be postponed twice because of inadequate quorum. Eventually, however the meetings took place and it was worth the waiting.

Secondly, there was the challenge of a strained budget. Due to postponement of meetings, the challenge of contacting all the people more than once, and other unforeseen costs, the study’s budget experienced some strains. Other funds had to be sought in order to cover for all the costs that were to be met during the study.

Finally, there was the challenge of understanding what the study intended to find out. This challenge played itself in the difference of the Church and the academy; the trained and the untrained readers as they have

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been referred to in chapter four. When participants were confronted with the question of how the Bible could have influenced impunity, some of them thought that they were in the wrong Bible study. This is because although CBS can be spiritually nourishing, some of them equated it with a convectional Bible study session.

As a result there were those who ran to the conclusion that they cannot study the Bible for impunity. Although all sessions were begun with prayers, this did not suffice to cover up the academic intentions in the study. This challenge was overcome by clear explanations of the intentions of the study. To the end, there remained a thin tension between spiritual and academic intentions of the study and this was experienced in all the groups.