RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
5.3 RESEARCH APPROACH
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As argued by Mkabela, the researcher took the following into consideration;
the researcher had various population groups as part of the target population as part of appreciation of the invaluable information they could contribute to the study
the researcher tried by all means possible to respect the cultural heritage of the people of Chiweshe community for example data collection was not done of Fridays as it is a resting day
the elderly and traditional leaders were included in the study
the researcher tried by all means to avoid instigating conflict and misunderstanding among the people of Chiweshe during the research process.
One advantage of Afrocentric methodology in the current study is that it fits well as a culturally sensitive research which, according to Tillman (2004), should address (a) specific knowledge, language and world views (b) shared orientation based on cultural, historical and political experiences and (c) specific behaviours that determine cultural distinctiveness.
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in nature. Defining qualitative research is difficult but according to Mason (2009) it has the following features:
Is grounded in a philosophical position which is broadly interpretive in the sense that is concerned with how the social world is interpreted, understood, experienced produced to constituted. Is based on methods of data generation which are both flexible and sensitive to the social context in which data are produced. Based on methods of analysis, explanation and argument building which involve understandings of complexity, detail and context.
According to Padget (2008), qualitative data rely on words especially nouns and adjectives that convey what exist while quantitative data use numbers to describe what exists. Qualitative data capture subtleties of meaning and interpretation that numbers do not convey.
Engel and Schutt (2009) note that data that are treated as qualitative are mostly written or spoken words or observations that do not have a direct numerical interpretation.
According to Padgett (2008), qualitative design is best fit when explaining a topic about which little is known especially from an insider perspective and where an in-depth understanding is sought. Qualitative research is also suitable when one is pursuing a topic of sensitivity and emotional depth (Padgett, 2008). Qualitative research gives the researcher an understanding of a particular context within which respondents act and the influence that this context has on their actions. This approach is the most ideal in identifying the role of African spirituality in chronic illnesses in a rural setting.
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An in-depth understanding can only be obtained through a qualitative approach.
Qualitative approach was the most suitable one to be used because it has allowed the researcher to clarify hypotheses, beliefs, attitudes and motivations of the people under study. According to Padgett (2008), in qualitative research, focus is on flexibility and depth rather than on mathematical probabilities and external validity. The phrase that quantitative design is a mile wide and an inch deep and qualitative design is an inch wide and mile deep holds water (Padgett, 2008). Spirituality and religion are experienced on a deeply personal level, evoking strong emotions, requiring a classroom environment of respect for diverse ideological perspectives. ―Through qualitative research we can explore a wide array of dimensions of the social world, including the texture and weave of everyday life, the understandings, experiences and imaginations of our research participants, the ways that social processes, institutions, discourses or relationships work and the significance of the meaning that they generate‖ (Mason, 2009:1).
Qualitative approach was chosen for a number of reasons which are, among others, the fact that it places people at the centre of research. This is in line with the Afrocentric paradigm which allows a meaningful interaction between the researcher and the researched. There was a need for sufficient interaction with members of Chiweshe community in order to develop knowledge about their religious and spiritual experiences in relation to chronic illness. Participants were thus allowed to tell stories of their experiences in an open-minded manner. Another argument for the use of qualitative approach is its heuristic nature which allows the researcher to expand knowledge of the
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phenomenon under investigation. The inductive nature of qualitative approach has made it the most appropriate approach as compared to quantitative approach. Words used by the community members have led to rich sources of data. Qualitative data is usually associated with small samples. It is often linked to the case study orientation, inductive and constructivists approaches of inquiry and is considered to be highly flexible than quantitative approaches.
According to Dahlberg and McCaig (2010), qualitative research is an interpretivist approach that provides a way of identifying in-depth information about a subject especially concerning under-researched areas, sensitive topics or groups that are hard to reach. Chronic conditions are life-threatening and a result a very sensitive topic to research on. This has made qualitative research suitable for the ethical context of the study since it allowed participants to freely express their feelings and explain inconsistencies, conflicting opinions and deep-seated beliefs. There was suspicion and fear that some participants could break down during the interviews but none did so.
Inspite of the fact that none of the participants broke down, prior arrangements had been made with a social worker for referral.