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CHAPTER 3
Research methodology
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the research methodology of the study, including the research design, setting, population, sample and data-collection instrument.
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
Polit and Hungler (1999:155) describe the research design as a blueprint, or outline, for conducting the study in such a way that maximum control will be exercised over factors that could interfere with the validity of the research results. The research design is the researcher’s overall plan for obtaining answers to the research questions guiding the study. Burns and Grove (2001:223) state that designing a study helps researchers to plan and implement the study in a way that will help them obtain the intended results, thus increasing the chances of obtaining information that could be associated with the real situation. This study used a quantitative exploratory descriptive design to identify, analyse and describe factors contributing to adolescent mothers’ non-utilisation of contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The HBM was used as a framework for collecting data in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area of the RSA. The identified factors could then be categorised into individual perceptions, contributing factors and variables affecting the likelihood of adolescent women initiating and maintaining actions to use contraceptives effectively to avoid unplanned pregnancies.
3.2.1 Quantitative research
This study attempted to quantify factors identified as contributing to adolescent mothers’ non- utilisation of contraceptives in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area. Quantitative data can be transposed into numbers, in a formal, objective, systematic process to obtain information and describe variables and their relationships (Brink & Wood 1998:5; Burns & Grove 1993:26).
3.2.1.1 Characteristics of quantitative research
Quantitative research has the following characteristics (Brink & Wood 1998:305; Burns & Grove 1997:27-30 and 1999:192):
- There is a single reality that can be defined by careful measurement.
- It is usually concise.
- It^ describes,^ examines^ relationships,^ and^ determines^ causality^ among^ variables,^ where possible.
- Statistical analysis is conducted to reduce and organise data, determine significant relationships and identify differences and/or similarities within and between different categories of data.
- The sample should be representative of a large population.
- Reliability and validity of the instruments are crucial.
- Comprehensive data collected by employing different methods and/or instruments should result in a complete description of the variable or the population studied.
- It provides an accurate account of characteristics of particular individuals, situations, or groups.
3.2.2 Exploratory descriptive design
The study was exploratory because it explored the factors contributing to adolescent mothers’ non- utilisation of contraceptive services in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area of the RSA. Exploratory research studies what has not previously been studied and attempts to identify new knowledge, new insights, new understandings, and new meanings and to explore factors related to the topic (Brink & Wood 1998:312; Brink 1996:11). The research design was exploratory because it met the criteria
- It is usually a field study in a natural setting.
3.3 RESEARCH SETTING
The research setting refers to the place where the data are collected. In this study, data were collected at two well baby clinics in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area. Although the name Piet Retief was changed to Mkhondo during the course of this study, the name Piet Retief was retained for the purposes of this study, as it was mentioned in the title approved for the study by the University of South Africa and all the documentation in the study referred to Piet Retief.
3.4 RESEARCH POPULATION AND SAMPLE
Polit and Hungler (1999:43, 232) define a population as the totality of all subjects that conform to a set of specifications, comprising the entire group of persons that is of interest to the researcher and to whom the research results can be generalised. LoBiondo-Wood and Haber (1998:250) describe a sample as a portion or a subset of the research population selected to participate in a study, representing the research population.
3.4.1 Population
The research population for this study comprised all the adolescent mothers aged 19 or younger at the birth of their children in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area. Eligibility criteria specify the characteristics that people in the population must possess in order to be included in the study (Polit & Hungler 1999:278). In this study, the participants had to be mothers aged 19 or younger when their babies were born; had to attend one of the two participating well-baby clinics in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area where data were collected and had to be willing to participate in the study.
3.4.2 Sample
Non-probability or convenience sampling was used because questionnaires were distributed to adolescent mothers aged 19 or younger who attended one of the two participating well-baby clinics in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area (Polit & Hungler 1997:232). Not every adolescent mother had an equal chance of being included in the sample because there was no census or complete list of all adolescent mothers living in the area. Consequently, there was no sampling frame from which a sample could be drawn randomly to ensure that every adolescent mother had an equal chance of being included in the sample. Hence the researcher used non-probability or convenience sampling. De Vos (1998:191) states that convenience sampling is the rational choice in cases where it is impossible to identify all the members of a population.
3.4.2.1 Characteristics of non-probability sampling
Brink (1996:134-135), Brink and Wood (1994:135-138), Burns and Grove (1999:238) and Welman and Kruger (1999:61-62) point out the following characteristics of non-probability sampling:
- Every person who meets the criteria is asked to participate.^ In this study, for example, all the adolescent mothers who visited the two designated well-baby clinics were asked to participate in the study.
- It is a less complicated and more economical procedure than random sampling.
- The researcher’s judgment is used to select individual subjects who meet the eligibility criteria.
3.5 DATA COLLECTION
Polit and Hungler (1999:267) define data as “information obtained during the course of an investigation or study”. In this study, questionnaires were used to obtain data relevant to the study’s objectives and research questions. The purpose of the study was to identify reasons why adolescent mothers failed to use free contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The
3.5.1.2 Development of the questionnaire
The literature review indicated that adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about contraceptives influenced their decision on whether or not to use contraceptives. This study attempted to identify reasons why adolescent mothers failed to use contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The literature review indicated that adolescents face numerous challenges to use contraceptives effectively. These contraceptive challenges were categorised into individual perceptions, modifying factors and variables affecting the likelihood of using contraceptives effectively, in terms of the major tenets of the HBM. These three categories were not specified as such in the questionnaire in order to avoid the possibility of the respondents’ creation of mindsets similar to these categories. The data will be discussed in chapter 4 according to the relevant sections of the questionnaire and thereafter the data will be summarised in terms of the HBM’s main components.
The questionnaire was based on the literature review (see chapter 2) and other research instruments used in similar studies. The questionnaire was compiled and discussed with the researcher’s two supervisors, professional nurses working in labour wards and in clinics in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area, and a statistician. Changes suggested by these persons were implemented. The questionnaires were typed and translated into Zulu. An expert in English-Zulu translations edited the translation and certified that the same meanings were conveyed by specific items in the English and in the Zulu versions of the questionnaire (see Annexures E and F).
A pilot study was conducted with twelve adolescent mothers who visited the clinics. These twelve adolescent mothers did not participate in the actual study. All twelve managed to complete the questionnaires within 30 minutes and understood the questions. No apparent problems were encountered during the completion of the questionnaires, except that some Zulu contraceptive terms were apparently not well known because some respondents consulted the English questionnaire to understand a few items. Based on this observation, the English contraceptive
terms were included in brackets in the questionnaire in order to enhance the respondents’ comprehension of the contraceptive terms used.
3.5.1.3 Structure of the questionnaire
The questionnaire consisted of the following four sections:
Section A Personal (biographical) data Section B Sex education Section C Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding contraceptives Section D Termination of pregnancy (TOP)
The items contained in the questionnaire, comprising both open-ended and closed questions, attempted to identify factors contributing to adolescent mothers’ non-utilisation of contraceptives in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area.
3.5.2 Reliability of the research instrument
Reliability refers to the degree of consistency or accuracy with which an instrument measures the attribute it is designed to measure (Polit & Hungler 1997:296; Uys & Basson 1991:75). If a study and its results are reliable, it means that the same results would be obtained if the study were to be replicated by other researchers using the same method. A pretest utilising adolescent mothers, excluded from the actual research, with similar characteristics to the study sample was conducted to determine the clarity of the items and consistency of the responses. The major anomaly detected was some respondents’ apparent unfamiliarity with some contraceptive terms in the Zulu language. In order to enhance the reliability of the instrument the appropriate English terms were added to the Zulu questionnaire to facilitate the respondents’ comprehension of these terms.
3.5.3 Validity of the research instrument
3.6.1 Permission to conduct the study
Permission to conduct the study was sought from and granted by the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) local authority (see Annexures A and B). The registered nurses in charge of the two well-baby clinics that participated in the research were informed about the study and the local authority’s permission to request adolescent mothers to complete questionnaires at these health care facilities. Their co- operation was requested and promised. The researcher undertook not to cause any disruption to the functions of the clinics.
3.6.2 Principles of research ethics
The principles of beneficence and respect for human dignity were observed during data collection.
3.6.2.1 Principle of beneficence
This principle encompasses freedom from harm and exploitation (Polit & Hungler 1999:133). No physical harm resulted from completing questionnaires, but some psychological discomfort might have resulted from the nature of some of the questions. The researcher’s telephone numbers were provided should any respondent have wished to discuss any aspect. The researcher would have referred participants who experienced psychological discomfort as a result of completing the questionnaires to a counsellor, but no respondents indicated or expressed discomfort.
3.6.2.2 Principle of respect for human dignity
This principle includes the right to self-determination and to full disclosure (Polit & Hungler 1999:134). Respondents’ rights to self-determination were honoured because respondents could decide independently, without any coercion, whether or not to participate in the study; they had the
right not to answer any questions that caused discomfort; to disclose or not to disclose personal information and to ask for clarification about any aspect that caused some uncertainty. The right to full disclosure was respected because the researcher described the nature of the study as well as the respondents’ rights to participate or to refuse to participate in the study. This was done in the form of a letter (see annexure D).
Each participant voluntarily signed a consent form. The signed consent form was folded and placed in a box prior to completion of the questionnaire. Each completed questionnaire was placed in a separate container. No signed consent form could be linked to any specific questionnaire. This ensured anonymity of the respondents. Confidentiality was maintained because no names were disclosed in the research report. Any participant who wished to obtain a research report could contact the researcher who would supply such a report.
3.7 CONCLUSION
This chapter discussed the research methodology of the study and described the research design, population, sample, data-collection instrument and ethical considerations. Chapter 4 covers the data analysis.
