Conducting qualitative research in countries at war: Implementation and impact factors in a study of girls in armed groups.
Item
-
Title
-
Conducting qualitative research in countries at war: Implementation and impact factors in a study of girls in armed groups.
-
Identifier
-
AAI3169922
-
identifier
-
3169922
-
Creator
-
Heninger, Lori.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Irwin Epstein
-
Date
-
2005
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Social Work
-
Abstract
-
This study seeks to describe the qualitative research methodology employed in the study entitled "The Voices of Girl Child Soldiers," to contrast it with the qualitative research literature in social work, and to consider it in the light of reflective theory. Put simply, it is a study of a study. Utilizing a comparative case study approach it draws on research team experiences in the four countries that served as sites in the original study (N = 4). In total, 15 interviews were conducted with team members in all four countries and with the Principal Investigator of the original study. Thirteen of the interviews took place in person and in country, two were telephone interviews. Interview guides for the current study were developed from a review of the literature on qualitative research methodology and from notes and experiences derived from the original study. Notes on the process of "dialogues on methodology" conducted with research team members during the original study, recorded personal reflections during and after the dialogues, materials for the dialogues, and the final reports of the original study were reviewed for the current study.;Despite exploration of social work and social science literature on qualitative methodology, it did not offer a fully effective way to implement a flexible and culturally nuanced approach to research with children in situations of violent conflict. To determine the gaps in the qualitative methodologies utilized in the research literature pertaining to children in situations of violent conflict, the specifics of the methodology of the girl soldier study were contrasted with existing literature, and considered through the lens of reflective theory.;Data analysis indicated an intersection between the categories of implementation of the method of research and the impacts of the implementation of the study on both the research team members and the girls they interviewed. Reflective theory provided a way to understand the changes that occurred in the original study, both methodological and individual. This intersection generated a framework for study design, implementation, and follow-up that may be useful in qualitative researchers in future cross-cultural studies of children in situations of violent conflict.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
