Method of data verification

According to Creswell (2003:196), data verification in qualitative research means a process of checking the accuracy and credibility of research findings from the standpoint of the researcher; verification for qualitative research differs from that of quantitative research because the nature and purpose of the two research methods are different as qualitative research seeks to describe accurately the experiences of the phenomenon in natural settings.

Terms like reliability and validity in data verification are relative to the quantitative research methods, and in qualitative research, these terms are replaced by such terms as accuracy and credibility.Silverman (2005:209-210) concurs with Creswell (2003) that it is important that researchers should provide readers with an account of the procedures they used to conduct the research to ensure that the methods were credible and the findings of the research are accurate.

Guba’s model of ensuring the trustworthiness of qualitative data (in Krefting, 1991:214-222) comprises four characteristics, namely – the truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. These four characteristics were applied as follows in this research project for the purpose of data verification:

• Truth-value asks how confident the researcher is with the truth of the findings based on the research design, informants and the context in which the study was undertaken.

It is concerned with whether the findings of the study are a true reflection of the experiences of the study participants (Krefting, 1991:214). This is termed credibility

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which is established through a number of methodological strategies. In order to ensure that the findings are a true reflection of the participants’ experience, the researcher used the following methodological credibility strategies:

o Interviewing technique. The researcher made use of various interviewing techniques during the interview, for example - tracking, empathizing, reframing, paradoxical interviewing, verbal and non-verbal expressions and summarizing in order to enhance the credibility of the study.

o Triangulation. The researcher employed the method of triangulation of data sources to compare data collected from different groups of participants, that is, children in charge of child-headed households. Triangulation is a strategy that seeks to establish the credibility of findings by comparing multiple perspectives for mutual confirmation of data (Krefting 1991:219). During triangulation data sources are compared to cross-check data and interpretation. Denzin (in Brewer, 2000: 75) explains that triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods, researchers or theoretical frameworks in order to extend the accuracy of data. In this study the researcher had only one group of participants who met one set of criteria, therefore having similarities.

o Peer examination. Krefting (1991:219) indicated that peer examination is a strategy that involves discussing the research process and findings with the researchers who are conversant and have experience with qualitative methods to share understanding and to debrief about problems that are encountered during the research process. The researcher consulted with other researchers who were also conducting qualitative research in order to share understanding about the research study and the challenges the researcher came across during the research process.

• Applicability

Applicability refers to the extent to which the findings can be applied to other contexts and settings or to other groups (Krefting 1991:216). In qualitative research, applicability does not necessarily seek to generalize findings to a larger population because the research is conducted in a natural setting of individuals with few controlling variables. Applicability is

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thus established through the strategy of transferability or fitness. Transferability is achieved when the research findings fit into contexts other than that of the study situation but which have some degree of similarity. As far as applicability is concerned in the present study, the researcher provided background information on the research methodology followed in exploring the experiences of orphans in charge of child-headed household about their preparation and placement in kinship foster care. The researcher was of the opinion that doing so allowed others to check the transferability of the findings to a similar social phenomenon where orphans in charge of child-headed households were prepared for being placed in kinship foster care.

• Consistency

Krefting (1991:216) states that consistency is achieved when the study is replicated using the same participants or a similar context and still produces the same findings. In qualitative research, consistency is defined in terms of dependability. The researcher thus established the dependability of the results using two strategies. Firstly, the researcher provided a dense description of the exact research methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation.

Secondly, the researcher conducted a code-recode procedure during the data analysis phase.

The researcher waited for at least two weeks and then recoded the same data and compared the results to assess consistency.

• Neutrality

Krefting (1991:216-217) indicates that neutrality refers to the extent to which the research procedures and findings are free from bias. In qualitative research, neutrality of the data is given more emphasis than neutrality of the researcher and is established through the strategy of confirmability. The researcher achieved this by establishing the truth value and applicability of the findings. The researcher made use of the promoter Dr Huma Louw’s comments that provided guidance on the procedures employed and also ensured that the research methodologies and the findings were free from bias.

28 1.4. Ethical Considerations

According to De Vos, Strydom, Fouche and Delport (2005:57), ethics is a set of moral principles that is suggested by an individual or group, subsequently widely accepted, and offers rules and behavioural expectations about the most correct conduct towards experimental subjects and respondents, employers, sponsors, other researchers, assistance and students. As a social worker registered with the South African Council for the Social Services Profession (SACSSP), the researcher was obliged to take into account his/her personal and professional limitations, and not let such limitations impact on a principled service.

According to the South African Council for the Social Services Profession, the code of conduct that concerns a client shall, inter alia, oblige a social service practitioner to:

o Recognise the uniqueness of each client;

o Maintain a professional relationship with the client;

o Acknowledge the right to self-determination of the client;

o Respect the client’s right to decide whether or not to co-operate with the social services practitioner and

o Maintain the client’s right of confidentiality.

This code of conduct must also applied when conducting research.

The following ethical considerations apply specifically to research in social work:

• Informed consent

Yegidis and Weinbach (2002:36) state that being informed means that participants should have a fairly clear understanding of what it means to them to participate in a particular study;

whilst consent refers to a written agreement between the researcher and the participant to participate in a particular study. In ethical terms participants in this research project were approached about the study with an explanation of what the study was all about; how the information would be used and what was to be expected. No participant was forced to cooperate in the study, and when participants voluntarily gave their cooperation, written consent was obtained from them. The kin foster parents were also requested to sign consent

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forms on behalf of the orphans who had headed households and were now placed under their care.

• Confidentiality

The researcher had to safeguard the privacy of participants as well as their identity by using pseudonyms in order to ensure their anonymity and avoid the tracing back to them of any information shared during the interview. It has been noted by Yegidis & Weinbach (2002:40) that data should be edited before dissemination of the findings to remove all names of participants and replace these with pseudo-names to ensure that there can be no association of data with any of the participants. Confidentiality of information was maintained by storing the recorded information in a locked safe place. The kept information was accessible only to the researcher, the person checking the translations of the transcripts from Xitsonga into English, as well as the independent coder and the study’s supervisor. After all analysis, the original data was stored safely and on completion of the study it was destroyed. Mark (1996:48) outlined the following criteria to assist the researcher to maintain confidentiality:

o Information about participants has to be kept confidential, unless where participants gave written permission for it to be revealed.

o Information solicited and recorded could only be that which is necessary for that study to achieve its purpose.

o All participants’ identifying particulars must be removed after coding.

o Transcribed interviews must be safely stored and then destroyed after the completion of the study.

• Debriefing

To minimize eventual emotional or psychological harm, debriefing of participants was done immediately by the researcher when accompanying emotions surfaced as a result of the interview.

30 1.5. Possible limitations of the study

The study focused particularly on orphans who were previously in charge of child-headed households and were then placed in kinship foster care. The fact that this dissertation is of a limited scope also limited the study. More than one group of participants such as kin foster parents and social workers responsible for placement were supposed to form part of the participants in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences in regard to preparation and placement of orphaned children in kinship as experienced by them (kin foster parents and social workers). Thus the results of this study were limited by its small sample size and non-representativeness so that the findings could not be generalized. However, as the study was exploratory in nature, the results may demonstrate the need for future research to focus on this research topic.