ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews the research methodology that drove the investigation. It discusses the type of inquiry, the unit of analysis, and the initial process of gaining entrance. This is followed by information on roles, data collection, reliability, confidentiality, and data analysis. The chapter considers ethical issues and an elaboration of the timeframe. Naturalistic inquiry was appropriate because time was required to learn about the culture under consideration. A number of roles are available in naturalistic inquiry, and these are usually described on a continuum. The design of exploratory study required collection of data through three processes: field observations, focus groups, and individual interviews. Data triangulation indicates the use of a variety of data sources, including supplementary materials. Reliability refers to the extent to which an experiment or study can be replicated or repeated. Establishing validity “necessitates demonstration that the propositions generated, refined, or tested match the causal conditions that obtain in human life”.