RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.3 The ABDCE RESEARCH MODEL
2.3.1 Action
researcher chose this particular group because she participated in this support group since it started in 1998 and appreciated that it would fulfil the need for in- depth information about the life world of people living with HIV/AIDS. The group represents a variety of „life worlds‟ as the members represent different traditional and cultural discourses. The researcher interviewed 5 support group members.
The researcher chose the method of non-structured interviewing, because she wanted to enter the life world of the person or the couple from a perspective of
„not knowing‟ (Kotze & Kotze 2001) as this stance was necessary for their voices and stories to be heard (discussed in chapter one).
The second method used in participating in action/action fields as discussed by Lamott was as follows:
b) The semi structured group interview
Sample: the sample was the same support group members living with HIV/AIDS and they readily fulfilled the need for this aspect of the study.
The semi-structured group interview took the form of a body mapping workshop and the materials were made available to the researcher as additional and original information about the participants. The workshop assisted the group members to interact in a creative way to uncover how living with HIV/AIDS affects different areas in their life. The „mapping our lives‟ intervention was aimed at assisting the group to find empowering themes in their own lives. Drawn on life-sized pieces of paper, they filled in their „traced body‟ with images, words, patterns, designs and scars (Almeleh 2004). The information from the body maps added to the stories of the life world of the support group members.
The third data source used was as follows:
c) Survey with 100 church leaders and lay counsellors, who have been trained by Siyahlanganisa Centre in 2005 and 2006.
Sampling method: non-probability convenience sampling people on the training courses.
The research participants were church leaders and lay counsellors trained by Siyahhlanganisa Centre. The questionnaires were distributed to the available trainees on a particular day, so the date for questionnaire distribution was selected out of convenience as was the participants that were available at the time.
This survey provided an overview of the different counselling and supportive activities that took place in participants‟ churches. Descriptive statistics were used to project the findings. For this study the survey created an action field of the life world of these churches and provided an indication of the themes and problems that these churches and their communities experience.
d) Questionnaires with 50 church leaders and lay counsellors based at churches in 5 different types of geographical areas in the greater Durban area. The participants were all trained by Siyahlanganisa Centre in 2006 and 2007.
Sampling method: stratified non-probability convenience sampling, with random sampling within the population of people on the training courses.
The questionnaire‟s were randomly distributed to available trainee‟s on the Siyahlanganisa training courses. Stratified sampling was used in the selection and representation of specific areas considered significant for the purposes of the study.
Participants represented urban, rural, semi-rural, townships and areas of informal settlement.
This questionnaire specifically asked about the action field of family counselling practice in the participants‟ churches, their referral options and the need for further training of church counsellors.
During their training, the participants produced community profiles, which have been utilized in this study, in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of the community life and service provision. The richness of these profiles contributes to relevancy of the “product” by ensuring that contextual issues are considered.
e) Ten focus group discussions with participants of the Siyahlanganisa counselling training courses in 2006 and 2007.
Sampling methods: non-probability sampling, purposive participative and critical case sampling and snow ball sampling
Participants of the Siyahlanganisa training courses who resided in the same areas were invited to participate because the researcher believed they would provide valuable, exceptional data (critical case sampling). These respondents were then asked to identify other possible respondents (snow ball sampling) who could also provide rich data. Critical case sampling is used when participants provide particular and exceptional information-rich and enlightening data, which informed about particular actions and action fields of the (church) communities, which might involve finding interpretations for exceptional cases. This is discussed by Kelly (2007) and the researcher satisfies the need to gain understanding of the life world of HIV positive families and their surrounding Churches.
The focus groups were held in the communities where the participants lived and participated in their churches. Participants were invited, and in turn networked with invited others that were trained by Siyahlanganisa Centre.
The focus groups were aimed at assessing the counselling practices in the respective communities of the participants. They also served to identify dominant discourses at play in these communities.
The sixth method used in participating in action/action fields as discussed by Lamott was as follows:
f) Three focus group discussions, with church leaders in different communities in Kwa-Zulu Natal, focussing on their role as leaders related to the action field of their Churches in the communities and their interactions with the life world of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Sampling methods: purposive participative and critical case sampling.
The Church leaders were part of fraternals, which are small groups of church leaders in a particular area who have regular meetings for fellowship, collaborative planning and community action.
The seventh data source used was as follows:
g) Questionnaire interviews with 36 church leaders, during their training by Siyahlanganisa centre in 2007, related to the envisaged impact of their training on the church communities.
Sampling method: non-probability convenience sampling, within the population of people on the training courses.
The questionnaire‟s were distributed to available church leaders, who were trainees on the Siyahlanganisa training courses.
In summary, the action and action field of people living with HIV, and their
„significant others‟ is described in the stories of the people involved and their thinking, experience, understanding, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, knowledge
and behaviour. The data is derived both from the face-to-face interviews and the literature research.
The action and action field of the church community is described, making use of data from the Siyahlanganisa HIV/AIDS training programme. Through purposeful sampling, the description and interpretation of the action field of the course participants (co-researchers) will create another story of understanding.
The focus was on a geographical or denominational representation. Participants reflect on the life world of townships, suburbs, rural areas and the inner city. The researcher made use of snowball sampling by referring to the churches that the participants represent and church projects that they have identified as effective in helping families with HIV. The participants are perceived as co-researchers where they have been engaged in focus groups, discussion groups and a mapping exercise of their church communities during and after the training course. The data is also derived from literature research and web searches.