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INFORMATION SHEET

Project Title: An explorative study of the experiences of partners and adolescent children when the biological father is incarcerated

What is this study about?

This is a research project being conducted by Martine Sue Kock at the University of the Western Cape. This study will focus on the how partners and adolescent children are affected by the incarceration of biological fathers. We are inviting you to participate in this research project because your knowledge can make a contribution in assisting us to understand the challenges families face when biological fathers incarcerated.

What will I be asked to do if I agree to participate?

You will be interviewed privately in an office within the Correctional facility by me. We will be under supervision of the Correctional officer, which will not be part of the interview, but will be positioned in the next room; therefore our conversation will be confidential. The correctional officer must observe the interview for security purposes, but will not be able to hear the discussion. Partners and adolescent children of the incarcerated father, will be interviewed and participate in two separate focus groups, focus groups referring to group interviews. It will consist of twenty participants that will be interviewed together with other participants that share similar experiences. After information is gathered comparisons will be made.

As per signed agreement by parents and adolescent children, the interview will be audiotaped and the interviews will be guided by a set of questions. The questionnaire will deal with personal aspects and experiences that will acquire your analysis. The facets will also focus on your opinions relating to your family, relationships and family formation. Focus groups will be presented by using a questionnaire to create a process of sharing and comparing among the participants. The duration of the interview will be 1 hour.

Would my participation in this study be kept confidential?

The researcher will assure confidentiality and privacy of all sensitive information shared by the participants. The participants will be assured that all data collected will be handled with confidentiality and individuals will remain anonymous. The audio-taped information will be kept in a

locked cabinet for a period of 5 years by the research supervisor, Dr. M Londt in her office. It will be kept until completion of research study. The research supervisor, Dr. Londt will be the only one to have access to the information. Participants will be interviewed privately in an office within the Correctional facility by the researcher. Although we will be under supervision of the Correctional officer, which will not be part of the interview, but will be positioned in the next room; therefore the conversation will be confidential. The correctional officer must observe the interview for security purposes (this is part of the prison protocol), but will not be able to hear the discussion.

What are the risks of this research?

The adolescent children that are used in research will be protected by ensuring that they are not coerced or manipulated into being part of the study and understand all guidelines of their participation. Support will be available to the participants in the possibility of emotional harm. Parental permission will be specified for the adolescent children to form part of the research study. The adolescent children age 13-17must be available, willingly complete an assent form to agree to be part of the study. Researcher should ensure a comfortable and safe environment to avoid any difficulty for the adolescent participants to disclose. Participants will be informed beforehand as to the nature of the research study to avoid complications and to enhance voluntarily participation and interaction.

All participants must be legally and psychologically competent to give consent. The participants will be notified that they will not be harmed during research study and that they have the right to withdraw from the study at anytime without any penalty. There may be some risks from participating in this research study. Due to the nature and sensitivity of information revealed in this study it might be difficult to disclose. It may trigger emotions, leading to anger, outbursts, sadness, fear, shame or embarrassment. If it occurs the researcher will make a referral for counselling and the research supervisor, Dr. Londt (contact no: 0824906469) will be notified to provide the necessary counselling service with immediate effect.

Focus groups will create a process of sharing and comparing among the participants. Participants that will be part of the focus groups will be exposed to an environment that is non-judgmental and a setting that promotes trust to disclose and open up. Participants should feel comfortable and never be forced to divulge even under sensitive circumstances. The researcher should give assurance that the participants may withdraw at any time and that support would be available after the group, should they have the need to talk to someone (Morgan & Krueger, 1998: Vol 2:96).

What are the benefits of this research?

You will have access to an objective researcher, willing and capable to listen to your story without passing judgement. This research is not designed to help you personally, but the results may help the investigator learn more about the experiences of families when fathers are incarcerated. We hope that, in the future, other people might benefit from this study through improved understanding of how partners and adolescent children are affected by the incarceration of the biological father.

Describe the anticipated benefits to science or society expected from the research, if any.

The information gathered in this research study may assist the biological father to understand how their incarceration has an effect on their direct loved ones, partners and adolescent children. The research study will also assist the Department of Correctional services with better parole after care services and programmes, as it will decrease and address re-offending. Parolees need to be assisted

with better skills development courses, to acquire employment, become financially stable and maintain a long-term role as father.