FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LAW

INITIALS: Z

SURNAME: DIPHU

STUDENT NUMBER: 218167059

LECTURER: MS M TSHUNUNGWA

MODULE NAME: RESEARCH METHODOLGY

MODULE CODE: MET48M1

DUE DATE: 21/06/2021

1.1 Social rejection as a contributing factor to post-rehabilitation relapse among
juvenile delinquents.
1.2 Independent variable is that factor which is measured, manipulated and
selected to determine its relationship to the observed phenomena that
constitute dependent variable. Social rejection is the independent
variable because it is the cause of post rehabilitation relapse of juveniles. If
the juveniles were not rejected by the society, post-rehabilitation relapse
would not have taken place.
Dependent variable is that factor which is selected and manipulated to
determine its effect on it of the independent variable. Post-rehabilitation
relapse among juvenile delinquents is the dependent variable
because it is the result of social rejection, in order for it to occur there must
be social rejection.
1.3 The data collection technique that was used in this abstract is the
questionnaire: questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of
questions for the purpose of gathering information from respondents.
Questionnaires can be carried be carried out face to face, by telephone,
computer or post. Questionnaires provide a relatively cheap, quick and
efficient way of obtaining large amounts of information from a large sample
of people. Data can collected relatively quickly because the researcher would
not need to be present when the questionnaires were completed. This is
useful for large populations when interviews would be empirical.
Questionnaires can be an effective means of measuring the behaviour,
attitudes, preferences, opinion and, intentions of relatively large numbers of
subjects more cheaply and quickly than other methods.
Often questionnaires uses both open and closed questions to collect data:
closed questions are developed in advance, complete with a number of
possible answer that could be given. Each respondent is asked to choose from
one of the listed options. For examples, a closed question asking about level
of educational attainment would ask respondents to choose from a list of
categories such as basic education, degree, and professional qualifications.
Closed questions have advantages because they can be pre-coded and the
 response can easily be put on a computer, saving time and money. How ever,
such questions also have the disadvantage that they force the respondent to
choose between the answers provided.
Open questions are those that follow individuals to respond in any way they
wish. For example, “ what do you think can be done to improve your local
environment?’ will allow the respondent or interviewee to state any measure
from reducing noise pollution to instituting large penalties for dropping litter.
Open questions can be most usefully employed by skilled interviewers, who
can allow interviewees to develop answers much more fully than they would if
they were completing questionnaires. Open questions do have their draw
drawbacks. In questionnaires, it is relatively simple for respondents to tick
pre-coded categories, whereas unrestricted answers require more thought.

1.4 ETHICAL GUIDELINES

INFORMED CONSENT AND VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION

Participants have a right to know what the research is all about, how it will affect
them, the risk and benefit of participation, and the fact that they have the right to
decline to participate or to discontinue their participation at any time during the
process if they choose to do so. Usually a researcher or an assistant will take some
time to explain to participants what the study entails and what is required of them in
terms of participation. Each participant may then be asked to sign an informed
consent form, which is an indication that they indeed understand what has been
explained to them.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Confidentiality is an ethical requirement in most research. Information provided by

participants, particularly sensitive and personal information, should be protected and
not made available to anyone other than the researchers. Thus, data collected from
participants should at all times be kept under secure conditions.

ANONYMITY
A participant’s data must never be associated immediately and obviously with his or
her name or any other identifier. Usually researchers assign a number to a
participant’s data to ensure that the data remain anonymous. Anonymity applies to
all aspects of the research process, from the first time that the researcher makes
contact with a potential research participant, to the publication of reports and
findings.

APPROPRATE REFERRAL

Sometimes it may be the case that research participants’ well being, may be
compromised as a result of participation in research, for example, after a traumatic
experience such as war, social turbulence or displacement. The possibility of this
happening must always be anticipated by the researcher and processes need to be
put in place to manage any negative consequences should they occur. This is most
commonly done by arranging appropriate referral to a counselling centre, social work
agency or medical facility.

DISCONTINUANCE

Participants must be given every assurance that they are free to discontinue their
participation at any time without being required to offer an explanation. Thus, at any
time in the conduct of a research project, if a participant decides for any reason that
he or she would like to stop participation, this wish should be respected. Participants
should also be informed that stopping participation will not prejudice their receiving
services, if the project is conducted at a clinic, government department, school or
counselling centre.

This can be important, as some participants may feel that their social benefits may
be affected if they do not agree to participate or if they discontinue their
participation. In rare cases, there may be unavoidable negative consequences for
the participant who withdraws from a study, such as developing drug resistance
following withdrawal from tuberculosis treatment. In these cases, it is the
responsibility of the researcher to ensure that the participant fully understands the
consequences of his or her decision.
1.5 Snowballing was utilized in this study: snowball sampling is sometimes used to
obtain a sample when there is no adequate list to use as a sampling frame. It is a
method for obtaining samples of numerically small groups, such as members of
minority ethnic groups, illegal drug users, or sex workers. It involves contracting a
member of the population to be studied and asking them whether they know anyone
else with the required characteristics. The nominated individuals are interviewed in
turn and asked to identify further sample members. This latter point is an often
overlooked feature of snowballing sampling; if interviewing does not continue until
no further “in-scope’ individuals are identified, the procedure is likely to result in
biased estimates of population characteristics. Because snowballing technique
involves personal recommendations that vouch for the legitimacy of the researcher,
it may be the only feasible method of finding a sample of people engaged in illegal
activities, such as drug users.