Research methods and data sources

As#evidenced#by#Figure#2.3,#a#range#of#sources#and#research#methods#were#utilised#

in# the# MMD# for# this# research.# In# the# context# of# the# ecological# model# as# the#

overarching# conceptual# framework,# different# types# of# data# were# utilised# to#

illuminate#the#different#settings#in#which#the#practitioner#is#embedded.#Beyond#the#

broad#categorisation#as#either#qualitative#or#quantitative,#data#from#both#primary#

and# secondary# sources# were# utilised# using# a# range# of# methods# of# collection# that#

encompassed# documents,# interviews# and# surveys.# This# section# of# the# chapter#

presents# a# brief# overview# of# the# main# types# of# data# used# in# this# research# before#

turning#to#a#closer#examination#of#the#methods#of#data#collection#and#analysis.#In#

concluding#this#section#on#the#methodology#and#methods#of#the#research#process,#

discussion# will# turn# to# the# principles# and# practice# of# the# methods,# from# their#

strengths#and#weaknesses#to#the#methodological#assumptions,#including#respective#

‘epistemological#baggage’#(Payne#2004)#that#underpin#their#use.##

2.4.1 Data collection

Data'collection'and'analysis'procedures'

Sampling*

As#stated#in#the#opening#paragraphs#of#this#chapter,#the#location#of#this#research#in#

the#Linkage#Project#predetermined#the#site#of#this#research#and,#to#an#extent,#the#

research# sample.# The# Linkage# Project# identified# the# population# from# which#

participants#could#be#theoretically#obtained#as#people#employed#in#child#protection#

roles#in#the#Department’s#Murchison#District#workforce.#Based#on#(then)#available#

data# for# the# research# sites,# the# maximum# size# of# the# population# from# which# the#

sample# could# be# derived# was# 64# persons,# of# whom# 37# were# in# positions# (then)#

designated# as# child# protection# roles.# However,# a# number# of# considerations#

recommended# the# inclusion# of# workers# in# nonDchild# protection# roles.# This#

approach#reflects#the#small#size#of#the#population#for#this#research#and#recognition#

of# significance# of# field# support# roles# in# supporting# child# protection# practice,# and#

the# importance# of# such# roles# as# pathways# to# employment# in# child# protection#

positions.#

Thus,#the#sample#population#from#which#research#participants#were#drawn#were#

all# employees# in# the# District# offices# at# Geraldton,# Carnarvon,# Meekatharra# and#

Wiluna.# The# inclusion# of# all# four# sites# enabled# a# comparative# analysis# of# sites# of#

practice# by# characteristics# such# as# geography# and# relative# isolation# more#

specifically,#demography#(size#and#Indigenous#population),#and#workforce.#

The#access#facilitated#through#the#Linkage#Project#and#Human#Resources#(HR)#Unit#

meant# that# access# to# a# population# list# from# which# participants# could# be# drawn#

overcame#one#the#biggest#obstacles#typically#identified#with#sampling#(Gobo#2004).#

Illustrating#the#opportunities#for#integrating#qualitative#and#quantitative#methods#

in# a# mixedDmethod# design# across# phases# of# the# research,# the# sample# for# the#

interviews# and# survey# was# derived# from# staffing# profiles#–# a# form# of# customised#

report#run#by#the#HR#Unit.#For#the#interviews,#a#form#of#randomised#identification#

was# based# on# a# crossDsection# of# demographic# (age,# gender,# race/ethnicity)# and#

employment# characteristics# (e.g.# role,# and# length# of# employment).# In# view# of# the#

semiDautonomous# nature# of# the# satellite# offices# within# the# District# the# sampling#

approach# was# purposive# in# including# management# (i.e.# District# team# leaders)#

positions# in# addition# to# general# staff.# The# predominance# of# male# workers# in#

management#positions#across#the#site#meant#the#sample#population#was#somewhat#

skewed# in# terms# of# its# representativeness# based# on# the# gender# profile# of# the#

workforce.##

As#is#consistent#with#an#approach#to#sampling#in#qualitative#interviews#there#was#

no#predetermined#number#of#interviews.#However,#in#view#of#the#number#of#sites#

within# the# District# that# were# included# in# the# frame,# together# with# practical#

considerations# (such# as# the# logistics# of# scheduling# the# interviews# within# the#

timeframe# allocated# for# field# visits,# which# were# also# determined# by# airline#

schedules)#and#anticipated#challenges#with#accessing#participants#due#to#workload#

demands,#the#maximum#number#of#interviews#was#set#at#around#oneDthird#of#the#

workforce#or#20#workers.##

The# survey# population# were# all# employees# of# the# District# workforce.# Given# the#

relatively#small#size#of#this#population,#a#total#of#73#employees,#the#survey#aimed#

for#‘saturation’#of#the#participation#of#all#District#Workers.##

Recruitment*

Interview#participants#were#recruited#via#a#personal#email#and#telephone#request#

further#to#the#initial,#preliminary#site#visit#at#which#the#Linkage#Project#and#PhD#

was#‘introduced’#to#District#Workers.#Additional#interview#subjects#were#identified#

during#the#field#visits#where#identified#‘subjects’#were#not#available.#All#prospective#

interviewees# were# given# a# copy# of# the# information# sheet# with# the# interview#

request#and#invited#to#discuss#the#request#and#research#with#the#researcher.#The#

survey#was#circulated#to#70#workers#for#whom#email#addresses#were#available:#a#

sample#population#of#96%#of#the#total#survey#population.#Two#of#the#three#workers#

who#did#not#receive#a#survey#in#the#initial#distribution#were#subsequently#provided#

an#opportunity#to#complete#a#survey.#

Permissions*

Subsequent# to# confirmation# of# their# interest,# each# interviewee# was# sent# a#

confirmation#email#with#the#consent#form#with#a#request#for#the#form#to#be#read,#

signed# and# returned# (where# possible),# prior# to# the# interview.# All# interviewees#

were# provided# with# a# printed# copy# of# the# information# sheet# and# their# signed#

consent#form.#The#engagement#of#the#District#director#by#the#HR#Unit#assisted#with#

access# across# all# offices.# To# aid# this# process# and# to# promote# transparency# in# the#

research# process# a# briefing# note# was# provided# to# the# director# of# HR# and# the#

District#director#prior#to#the#visit#outlining#its#purpose#and#the#interviews.#Consent#

for#the#survey#was#passive,#with#completion#denoting#consent.#