ORE MEMBERS IRE HIV+
2.12 Conclusion
3.5.2 Quantitative Data
This dissertation used a combination of different research methods. A limited amount of quantitative secondary sources of data are used mainly in the form of general statistics. Websites, newspaper articles and academic literature such as journals and books have also been used. Generalised secondary data has been included to avoid becoming engulfed in the case study areas and present an accurate account of the situation on a global scale. As suggested by Bouma and Atkinson (1995:36) the secondary data is intended to inform the reader of the complexity of the issue thereby placing the more specific research question into the relevant context. Quantitative data statistics are advantageous in that they can be used to either emphasise or conflict with the findings of the qualitative primary data. Statistics provide empirical evidence to exemplify the extent of the issues examined in the research.
3.5.3 Qualitative Data
The principal research methods are qualitatw methods"ofprimary-data-coU
'-
Qualitative methods provide an advantage in that they allow the voices of participants to be heard when the research is completed (Edwards and Talbot, 1994:159). The
~ectiYity of qualitatiVf< research allows for the.depiction Qf12eo Ie's ersonal views and opinions. Qualitative research methods, particularly interviews are versatile and
...
.
,.jlexible jUld alluw the reader to see through the eyes of the participants (Struwig and
( Stead 2001: 12L One ~I2rimar:y objectives of this resear..ch is to study: human experience from the ground up (cited in Blanche and Durrheim 1999:429) this has
~;v~t~ough
the use of in-depth interviews. "It was essential to this study that the quality and accurac of the data was of a high standard therefore in-del'th open-ended inte~iews were chosen. Interviews are _more accurate than qgestionnaires...and telephone cOIlYersations as the prese~~ of the interviewer tends to have a positive effect on the accuracy of the data (Struwig and
~d
2001 :87). Interviews were used mainly due to the exploratory nature of the'I.JJ1.
study and in an attem t to obtain informatioruiGlLdata nlin et al 2002:84).
Interviews allow for further explanations or clarifications at the time of data collection
.
'lit to ex and u on partici}:>ants' res onses are heightened (Struwig and Stead 2001 :86). Due to their interactive nature, inter'
to take an active role in influe cing the.flow of the conversation (Unlin et al 2002:83).
~
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The purpose of this study is to analyse the perceptions of the impact of HIV / AIDS on children and open-ended interviews allow for an extensive response from the
interviewees allowing participants to interpret the questions themselves (Unlin 2002:86). The subject matter for this r ~earch can be uncomfortable' therefore all
~aiews wefe held aUhe place
01
work ofthe participant in an attem t to overcome~e questions were informal, non-judgemental and open permitting the
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participant to ive unrestricted answers, allowing space for more detailed responses (Unlin et aI, 2002:86).
The literature review and revious studies en and HIV/AIDS influenced the content and structure of the interviews. The interviews were semi-
structured, with the intention to extract the necessary information from the participant without limiting opinions and contributions. This form of research method generated empirical data by enabling participants to speak freely about their lives (Unlin, 2002:83).
3.6 Limitations of the Study and Ethical Considerations
There were some major limitations to the data collection methods in this study due to the difficulties associated with interviewing children. The initial intention of this research was to collect qualitative data obtained directly from children. The
motivation for looking at the perceptions of different stakeholders was decided upon due to the difficulties in accessing qualitative primary data from children. There are certain ethical issues connected with researching HIV/AIDS, especially when it concerns children that posed major constraints to the data collection. It was decided that it would be more ethical to approach individuals who are aware of the issues in question but are not so immediately involved that the sensitivity of the questions asked would be directly personal to them.
Ethics are an essential issue to consider when researching, particularly with a topic as sensitive as this. Often an ethics committee has to be consulted with the research proposal for the researcher to obtain ethical approval and ensure that the rights and interests ofthe individuals involved in the research are being protected (Babbie and Mouton, 2002:528). This was true of this study in that access to health workers was difficult to obtain without approval from an ethics committee.
In order to ensure that the research was ethical, it is important to safeguard the welfare and rights of the research participants (in this case the children) (Durrheim and
Wassenaar, 1999:65). The benefit of interviewing different stakeholders is that they have been exposed to the way in which HIV I AIDS is impacting on individuals at a grassroots level within the community. It is hoped that by conducting the research through adults who worked with children, reliable data could be collected without compromising certain ethical boundaries.
There are limitations in ascertaining accurate statistics when researching an issue as sensitive as this and it is important to remember that statistics refer only to what academics are aware of. The stigma attached to HIV / AIDS can result in under-
representative data, therefore it is important to bear in mind that these figures could be significantly higher in reality. An additional difficulty is seen in that, depending on the literature, academics define children in different ways. For the purpose of this study children will be defined in accordance with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of a Child as "every human being below the age of 18 years" (HIV / AIDS Policy and Law, 1999:2).
3.7 Summary
Despite the fact that it was not possible to conduct interviews with children, the expertise of the eighteen different stakeholders has resulted in the collection of accurate in-depth and detailed information. The data obtained from these interviews serves to provide an in-depth insight into the impacts of this epidemic on children in the case study areas. The participants have provided data on the social, economic, psychological and educational impacts of HIV / AIDS through their own personal experiences both at work and in their own communities.