Promoting inclusion in decent work for Ugandan young people: will reducing violence help? Qualitative interview and focus group data

Persistent identifier

10.17037/DATA.00003685

Description

Qualitative data collected for the project "Promoting inclusion in decent work for Ugandan young people: will reducing violence help?". It is comprised of transcripts for 4 focus group discussions (FGDs), 24 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 18 key informant interviews (KIIs).

Data collection methods

In-depth interviews were administered using face-to-face using interview guides. The interviews were conducted in English or Luganda and audio recorded with the prior permission of study participants. Prior to the interviews, the details of the study were explained to the study participants and informed consent/assent was sought, where they were asked to sign a hard copy consent form.

For focus group discussions, participants were stratified by village, training and gender. Each focus group consisted of approximately six to eight participants. Focus groups were conducted by a facilitator and co-facilitator, who observed and took notes. Prior to the start of the focus group, the facilitator and co-facilitator obtained consent/assent from respondents to participate in the study and to audio-record the discussion. The facilitator used a semi-structured focus group guide to ensure that all components were discussed, but encouraged participants to elaborate through probes. The facilitator and co-facilitator debriefed at the end of the focus group to discuss themes that emerged during the discussion. Using the notes and encrypted audio-recording, the co-facilitator organised and cleaned the focus group notes, reviewed them for clarity, and added their reflections on the process, including barriers and facilitators to data collection. Co-facilitators’ notes were be used to supplement the transcripts.

Data analysis and preparation

Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated. The research assistants typed the field notes into MS Word and prepared written synopses of the interviews immediately after completing the interviews. These served as a form of preliminary analysis and were uploaded to a protected computer server for access by other interviewers and the research team. The research team and designated ESRC team members reviewed progress on emergent topics, discussed directions for further investigation as the data was collected, and revised field guides accordingly.

All audio recorded interviews were listened to carefully and then transcribed verbatim into pre-designed Microsoft Word templates in the language of the interview. They were subsequently translated into English by the trained qualitative researchers— fluent in both English and Luganda. The translations took a meaning-based approach from the original language into English. The qualitative researcher attempted to convey the meaning of the source language within the natural grammar of the target language– English. Identifiable information was removed at the read-through stage. If a participant used his or her own name during the discussion, the transcriber replaced this information with the appropriate interviewee identification label/naming convention. If a participant provided others’ names, locations, organizations, and so on, the transcriber entered an equal sign immediately before and after the named information.

The qualitative research specialist/study coordinator reviewed/proof-read each transcript against the audio file to ensure that transcription and translation was conducted appropriately, and should not change the accuracy of the content. The quality criteria for the translations were comprehensibility (especially relating to culture-specific concepts), appropriateness (in content and approach) and accuracy (faithful to the source text and key facts).

If errors were identified the entire file was sent back for re-transcription or re-translation and the cycle of cross-checking will recur. If minor errors occurred or in cases where transcription or meaning is unclear, the qualitative research specialist/study coordinator discussed with transcriber to agree on the corrections. In settings where consent for audio recording is declined, the RAs took detailed field notes during the interview.  These notes were then be expanded into a transcript.

Geographic regions

Uganda

Key dates

• Collection period: 21 October 2020 - 19 November 2020
• Submitted to repository: 9 January 2024

Population

The sample of adolescents was drawn from adolescents participating in the Contexts of Violence Against Children (CoVAC) study. The cohort is based in Luwero District, in Central Uganda, considered to be among the districts with highest rates of hazardous child labour in Uganda. We identified three groups of adolescents who were no longer at school to purposively sample from for interviews: a) ever attended formal skills training; b) ever attended informal skills training; c) never attended skills training. Within each group we ensured a mix of employment status (as measured at wave 2) and sex. We also interviewed up to 16 stakeholders that included skills trainers (both informal and formal), employers, policy makers, religious leaders, probation officers, youth leaders and others who emerged as important based on adolescent interviews.

Privacy

All audio-recordings were downloaded from the voice recorders onto a password protected computer by the senior qualitative researcher at the end of each field day. These recorders or tablets were encrypted to ensure protection within the device. Individual files were stored on an encrypted folder on the computer. A back-up copy was kept on external drives with password encryption and kept in a locked cabinet at Makerere University.

Field notes were stored in a locked filing cabinet until they were transcribed onto a computer with any identifiers removed; these notes will also be destroyed after 5 years.

All consent/assent forms are housed under lock and key cabinet and kept by the study coordinator (AK) at Makerere offices. Any files containing identifying information are stored separately from files/forms containing data. Only the study core team has access to this cabinet and all the project computers. We intend to keep these files of identifying information for five (5) years and afterwards destroy it.

The computer and electronic devices were not left unattended whilst the data was being transcribed and each individual team member and research assistant was required to:

• take responsibility for the accuracy and security of the data or information in their care
• take responsibility for the security of information processing equipment and software in their care
• ensure no breaches of information security result from their actions
• ensure that access to the electronic system is password protected

Anonymised transcripts are stored on password-protected computers at Makerere University and on the secure servers at LSHTM and UCL.

Ethics

Keywords

Violence, Employment and labour, Qualitative research

Language of written material

English

Project information

Creators

File description

Transcripts

The collection is comprised of transcripts for 4 focus group discussions (FGDs), 24 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 18 key informant interviews (KIIs).