Pilot Study
Ministry of Justice staff conducted a file search to identify potential participants, and letters were sent to them explaining the purpose of the research and inviting them to contact the researchers if they were interested in taking part. The letters were accompanied by Nga Patai, a one-page document explaining a little more about the research and researchers, and giving an 0800 number for potential participants to call. A simple data collection sheet was also developed to ensure that necessary contact details and preferences of interviewees regarding researcher contact were recorded.
The number of responses to the letters was very low, so further letters were sent out with a small number of further responses being gained. The low response rate was identified as a potential problem for the Main Study, and strategies for increasing the response rate for the Main Study are discussed later in this report.
A Family Court lawyer in the Pilot Study district was also interviewed. Three applicants12 and two respondents were interviewed. The applicants were female and interviewed by a female researcher; a male interviewer interviewed the male respondents. With the exception of one applicant who requested an interview at her workplace, all participants chose to be interviewed at their homes.
A plain language consent form was developed in consultation with the advisory group. This was used by the researchers to ensure potential participants understood that they could withdraw from the research at any time. It was also explained to potential participants that participation in the research would not have any effect on matters before the Family Court, nor could outcomes of any prior court decision be influenced or changed. Researchers developed a list of support agencies for the areas in both the Pilot Study and Main Study so that participants who requested further support or legal advice could access this appropriately.13
Interviews were carried out using a narrative or korero mai approach.14 Participants were guided through the telling of their stories by the interviewer, with the interviewer using the Interview Guide as a prompt to ensure that the information needs were being met.
Interviews were taped with participant permission and transcribed. Participants were advised of the measures that would be used to ensure confidentiality was maintained, and were asked if they had particular concerns about this. In some instances minor changes were made to potentially-identifying details in order to protect confidentiality.
Participants were invited to have whanau or other support people with them for the interview. This took place for three respondent interviews. Issues regarding whanau involvement are discussed in more detail below.
Despite the small number of participants in the Pilot Study, both the researchers and the Advisory Group were satisfied that the methods used for gaining consent and conducting the interviews were appropriate for meeting the information needs and maintaining the safety of participants.
Footnotes
12 The fourth applicant showed initial interest in being interviewed but subsequently was unavailable for interview.
13 This was needed once during the Pilot Study and once during the Main Study.
14 See earlier discussion.
