Chapter 1 Introduction and overview of the study
1.11 Data analysis
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Closed-ended questionnaire, in which a list of answers is provided and respondents select the one that closely represent their views. The response categories are usually exhaustive, so that the respondent is not compelled to select more than one answer (Foddy, 1993:131).
Questionnaires have several advantages. They are cheap, and they allow participants to answer the questions at their own convenience (Neuman, 2006:38). In addition, according to Babbie and Mouton (2001:162), using a questionnaire can reduce interviewer bias and provide anonymity for the participant.
Management
Self-completion questionnaires, sometimes referred to as self-administered questionnaires, were used to collect data. Research assistants were employed to administer the questionnaire at the selected HEI. Both closed-and open-ended questions were included in the questionnaire.
1.10.4 Secondary data
Secondary data was gathered from:
Literature on workplace harassment and the key issues that characterise the current situation in the workplace; newspaper articles and business reports that discuss the present effects of workplace harassment in different sectors including HEIs;
academic journals; relevant books; conference papers; government publications;
policy document; online sourcing using articles from the Internet relating to workplace harassment; and magazine reports on workplace harassment and bullying.
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discussion attempted to link the findings of the empirical research to the conceptual framework and relevant literature.
1.11.1 Validity and reliability
The next section discusses validity and reliability aspects of the study.
1.11.1.1 Validity
According to Babbie (2004:391), validity addresses the issue of whether the researcher is measuring what they have set out to do. Face validity was ensured in this study, as it requires the research instrument to be relevant to participants in the study. This validity criterion was relevant for the study and yielded valid findings which were useful to the selected HEI.
1.11.1.2 Reliability
Reliability is concerned with the estimating of the degree to which a measurement is free of random or unstable error. Reliability of a research instrument refers to the consistency or repeatability of the measurement of some phenomena (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2003:299). Test–retest reliability was used as it is efficient and relevant to this study. Reliability is more concerned with the data-collection instrument than the results. A pilot study was conducted on staff at Ritson Campus of the selected HEI to ensure reliability of the data-collection instrument, thereby enhancing validity of the study.
The validity and reliability of the findings of the study were ensured through the following methods: pre-testing of the semi-structured interview, use of the triangulated approach to data collection and use of scientific tools for data analysis and interpretation that is Microsoft Excel software 2010.
1.11.2 Ethical considerations
Lancaster (2005:31) states that a study should be guided by fundamental ethical considerations that relate to responsible research in human sciences. Collins (1999:44) contends that the value and quality of research must outweigh any potential discomfort, inconvenience or risk experienced by participants or other people from whom data are to be collected. No one was harmed or suffered adverse
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consequences from research activities. The rights of respondents were respected and protected. The study was designed to ensure that respondents did not suffer physical harm, discomfort, pain, embarrassment or loss of privacy (Cooper &
Schindler, 1998:121). Furthermore, the study was scientifically sound and validated.
Respondents from the selected HEI who were targeted included academic staff, academic support staff and management. No one was forced to participate in the study. All participants were appropriately asked for their informed consent. The study was conducted according to the norms and standards of research.
1.11.3 Informed consent
Hussey and Hussey (1997:38) state that in any research project it is ethical to inform potential participants of the purpose of the research and to obtain their agreement to participation. This could help to circumvent problems of gaining access and obtaining valid responses. Marshall (2002:99) maintains that where there is some risk, participants should be asked for their informed consent. Informed consent was sought from the intended participants in a letter attached to the questionnaire which set out the purpose of the study and the potential benefits, and gave assurance of anonymity and confidentiality. Promises in this regard were observed and maintained throughout the study.
1.11.4 Study limitations
Conceptually and methodologically, the study was limited by a number of factors, including the following:
inability of researcher to gain access to certain staff members because of their reluctance to participate in the study. To address this limitation, respondents were ensure that their confidentiality will be maintained.
time constraints relating to respondents taking too long to return the questionnaire. To address this, respondents were encouraged to return questionnaire by means of e-mail.
availability of financial resources. To address financial constraints, an award by UKZN and DUT covered running expenses.
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reluctance of potential respondents to participate in the study for their own psychological or emotional reasons. To address this limitation, respondents were assured of anonymity.
1.11.5 Elimination of bias
Mathisson (1998:13) indicates that triangulation has given rise to an important methodological issue in neutralistic and qualitative approaches for controlling bias and establishing valid proportions because the traditional scientific techniques are incompatible with this alternative epistemology. This research used neutralistic and qualitative approaches to triangulate and corroborate the result of each method.
1.11.6 Delimitations of the study
The study focused more on bullying as a form of harassment than on other forms of harassment such as sexual harassment, the latter has been widely researched both internationally and nationally. The study focused on workplace harassment, specifically workplace harassment among staff only, and did not include staff–
student harassment or student–staff harassment. Similarly, the study did not include student–student harassment as this category has been researched more recently, particularly in relation to school bullying.
The study was conducted at the selected South African HEI, which is a multi-campus institution with campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The reason for choosing this particular institution was that it was the first HEI to undergo merger in South Africa. The institution resulted from a merger between two historically different institutions, one with predominantly white employees and the other with predominantly Indian employees. At the stage where the two institutions were in the process of merging, more Africans were being employed by both institutions in order to comply with the Employment Equity and Affirmative Action Policy. Subsequent to the merger of these two institutions, further mergers took place between other institutions in the period from 2000 to 2006, in accordance with policy set down by the then Minister of Education (Prof K Asmal) in 2003. In the case of the selected HEI, the many challenges it faced in its plans and efforts to refocus itself as a new type of university were a further reason for its choice by the researcher in this study.
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Lastly, the researcher chose the selected HEI because having been an employee of the institution for more than thirteen years he was and is familiar with the institutional culture and staff.
The researcher was the primary instrument for collecting and analysing the data. It is important to note that the researcher was a critical contributor of information for this thesis on the basis of personal knowledge derived from extensive and intimate participation on the branch executive committee of the majority union of the institution. This is accordingly acknowledged as a limitation in that the possibility of bias could have crept into the study, raising concerns of ethics, validity and reliability of data collection.