Stage 5: Terminating interview session: This stage was an indication that the interview had come to an end, this is where the researcher made an indication by using phrases such as “in
3.8. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Researchers have an obligation and duty to follow the professional research ethics, code of conduct and morals which dictate the attitude and behaviours that must be employed
73
throughout the process of conducting the research (Louw, 2014: 263; Neuman, 2003). The ethical protocol guides the researchers and directs them into considering such important elements as informed consent, explanatory statements, gaining permission, respect for privacy, confidentiality and respect for participants involved in the study. Researchers have a moral obligation to be ethical (Neuman, 2003). This guarantees the rights and welfare of the participants. Ethical considerations must be applied to assess the risk and harm the research might pose to participants and to determine the research integrity and quality (Louw, 2014:
263; McIntyre, 2005:71).
3.8.1 Ethical protocols followed
In order to conduct the study, the researcher developed a research proposal that was approved by the Research Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Education and Training in the School for Education Leadership Development at the North-West University: Mafikeng Campus. A letter requesting the district principal for permission to conduct the study was prepared and delivered to the district principal’s office (Appendix C). The proposal included the research methodology to be followed. For this study, ethical clearance was obtained from the North- West University: Institutional Research Ethics Regulatory Committee (NWU-IRERC), with ethics number: NWU-00657-17-A9 (Appendix D).
After obtaining the ethics clearance certificate from the North-West University Ethics Committee, the researcher gained permission from the principal in the Gauteng District of Ekurhuleni responsible for Ekurhuleni West Colleges (EWC) (Appendix E). The researcher explained the purpose of the study and presented the district office with the research Explanatory Statement (Appendix F). Once the principal had granted permission, the researcher also sought permission from the Ekurhuleni West Tembisa College Campus manager who then granted approval to access the study’s participants (Appendix G). An explanatory letter was delivered to the campus manager (Appendix H). The researcher conducted an initial approach of participants and presented a letter requesting for participation (Appendix I). After the initial approach, the researcher ensured that the study’s participants were informed about the purpose of the study and the expectations from all of them, ‘through an explanatory statement’ (Appendix J).
The ethical protocol that was followed included that the researcher obtained the participants’
informed consent (Appendix K) and that the participants returned to the researcher after deciding to voluntarily participate in the study. The researcher engaged with the participants
74
and shared what was the likelihood that they would share sensitive information from their personal life experiences. Therefore, they had the right to choose whether to participate in the study or not. All participants in the study were assured of confidentiality and that no personal details were to be shared. The participants were also assured of respect, and that they were free to withdraw from the study at any point if they wished to do so. Further, the participants were informed of their roles and what was expected of them as well as the expectation for the researcher and the research.
3.8.2. Informed consent
Prior to the participation in the research, particularly before data collection commenced, the researcher distributed consent forms (Appendix K) to each post-school youth after the permission and approval were granted by the research unit at the North-West University:
Mafikeng Campus. As well as the institution where these participants were from: ‘Ekurhuleni West College’. According to Louw (2014:264) and Mason (2002:120), consent pertains to providing participants with succinct information relating to the study and gaining permission to participate through a signed consent form if the participant is not a minor. According to Sapsford and Jupp (2006: 295), the provision of informed consent for the study demonstrates the freedom and need for participants to be protected from any harm. The informed consent form served as a voluntary agreement for the targeted participants.
The consent forms distributed by the researcher provided an outline of the study and informed participants of their rights throughout the research process. Further, these forms indicated that the interview sessions were to be recorded. It is a qualitative research requirement to ensure that as a researcher, permission is obtained for recording the interviews (Powers, 2005: 27).
The researcher was required to inform the participants about objectives, procedures, advantages, aims and disadvantages of the study ‘if any’ to allow the participants to provide informed consent. Participants need to be provided with the opportunity to consent to aspects of the process such as the use of audio recording, pen, and paper to take notes throughout the interviews along with given details regarding data storage procedures. In using qualitative research, the researcher has the obligation to ensure that participants partake voluntarily.
Each participant was provided with a hard copy of the explanatory statement that explicitly stated their confidentiality throughout the research process.
75
The researcher ensured transparency with information and for all participants to know and understand that they had the right and option to withdraw from the study at any time if they experienced discomfort. With the focus groups and semi-structured one-on-one interviews, participants were formally informed of the purpose of the study, respecting their dignity and human rights as the participants, thus allowing them the opportunity to decide whether to participate in the study. It is always expected in qualitative research that the researcher must ensure that the participants’ privacy is respected and there is confidentiality of clients taking part in the study. In addition, the participants were informed that their personal details were not in an identifiable format (Sapsford & Jupp, 2006: 295). The researcher followed all of the above-stated guidelines on how to handle the research process from planning to the actual interviews.
3.8.3. Explanatory statement
According to Sapsford and Jupp (2006:295) participants in a qualitative study need to be informed and receive an explanation on how they will be protected from harm, on how confidentiality will be maintained and what will be the benefits of partaking in the study.
Furthermore, the participants chose to partake voluntarily and each participant was to be provided with a hard copy of the explanatory statement explicitly stating their confidentiality.
All participants in this study understood that they had the option to withdraw from the study at any time. Participants were formally informed of the purpose of the study respecting the human rights and dignity of the participants, thus allowing participants the opportunity to participate in the study or not. In the explanatory statement, the researcher also shared the benefits of the study to the participants and the community without making unrealistic expectations.