RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.4 Sampling
As discussed in the research method, the study comprised two phases:
(1) Phase One, which researched social workers in South Africa in respect of their frustrations, problems and needs; and
(2) Phase Two, which explored the difficulties, experiences and accomplishments of South African social workers who have relocated to the UK.
Sampling differed in accordance with the different phases conducted by the researcher.
According to De Vos (1998: 191), a sample is the element of the population considered for actual inclusion in the study. A sample is studied in an effort to understand the population of interest. A sample is not an end in itself, but rather a means for helping to explain some facet of the population. Bless & Higson-Smith (1995:86) add that sampling is the study of the relationship between a population and the samples drawn from it. Since the aim of the research was to determine characteristics of a certain population, one of the objectives of sampling was to draw inferences about the unknown population's parameters from known sample statistics, obtained by collecting data from the sample.
In the study, inferences are made from the sample of social workers in South Africa and from a sample of South African social workers practising in the UK.
Bless & Higson-Smith (1995: 87) maintain that good sampling implies:
a) a well-defined population;
b) an adequately chosen sample; and
c) an estimate of how representative the whole population is of the sample, i.e. how well, in terms of probability, the sample statistics conform to the unknown population's parameters.
The sample group 1 in Phase One was derived from a UK recruitment agency's database of social workers who had applied to work in the UK.
The researcher had access to this database as she was employed by this agency. The sampling procedure was therefore availability sampling.
Thereafter, cluster sampling was used to secure representation from different provinces and geographical settings.
The sample group 2 in Phase One of the study was also obtained from the first source in that all agencies from which the first sample group was obtained were used to elicit a randomly selected sample of social workers.
Again cluster sampling procedures were employed to obtain representation of the various geographical and racial groups.
Further, the sample in Phase Two was also derived from the same UK recruitment agency's database of social workers who had recently relocated to the UK. In this phase, the researcher used non-probability sampling, in particular availability sampling.
Bless & Higson-Smith (1995: 88) distinguish between probability and non- probability sampling. Probability sampling occurs when the chances of including each element of the population can be determined. Non- probability sampling refers to the case where the probability of including each element of the population in a sample is unknown. Some elements might even have no chance of being included.
In the study, sampling occurred as follows:
Phase One: Social Workers in South Africa
As previously noted Phase one of the study comprised two sample groups namely:
Sample Group 1: Social Workers that have listed with a Recruitment Agency to Relocate to the UK
The sample size of this group was initially one hundred and twenty (120) social workers that in 2001 to 2002 applied to a known UK Recruitment Agency to relocate and work in the UK. However only 80 social workers
responded to the mailed questionnaire. The final sample size therefore of this group was 80 social workers. The sample was derived from a UK recruitment agency's database of social workers who have applied to work in the UK. Social workers were chosen from the three main provinces of South Africa; namely, Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. From the recruitment agency database, social workers were identified from various agencies as recorded/listed on the Recruitment schedule. It was noted that the various agencies listed on the Recruitment schedule were predominantly urban agencies. The sampling procedure was therefore firstly availability sampling. Thereafter cluster sampling was used to secure representation from different provinces, geographical settings and racial groups.
Sample Group 2 : Social Workers Remaining in South Africa
The initial sample size of this group was one hundred and twenty (120) social workers from the three main provinces of South Africa, namely Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. The return rate of questionnaires was similar to sample group 1, with only 80 social workers responding to the study. The researcher utilised the same known Recruitment agency database from which the first sample group was obtained in order to identify the various agencies from which social workers had applied to relocate. From this listing of agencies, those social workers not leaving the agencies/country were invited to participate in the study. Non-probability- availability sampling was used initially in this sample selection. Thereafter, cluster sampling procedures were used to elicit a randomly selected sample of 120 social workers to obtain representation of the various geographical and racial groups. The researcher telephonically contacted social workers from the various agencies listed on the database. On confirmation that they have not applied for relocation, and depending on their availability, they were invited to participate.
Phase Two: Social Workers in the UK
The sample size of this phase was intended to be fifty (50) social workers that relocated to the UK. The researcher used the non-probability- availability sampling method in this phase. From the social work relocation list of the known Recruitment Agency, and the researcher's personal contact with social workers in the UK, the researcher invited social workers to participate in this phase. The sample group size, however, reduced to 30 respondents owing to non-attendance of social workers at the focus group interviews.