According to Seale et al (2004) ethical practices in research are crucial and among them to be considered are codes and consent. This means that participants have the rights to know that they are being investigated and why they being investigated. Also participants should know their right to withdraw from an interview at any time if they feel uncomfortable. According to Steven Schinke and Lewayne Gilchchrist “all informed consent procedures must meet three criteria; participants must be competent to give consent; sufficient information must be provided to allow for a reasoned decision; and consent must be voluntary and uncoerced” (1993: 83).
This study considered some ethical issues in data collection. Firstly, the study considered the dignity and wellbeing of the respondents by protecting them at all times. Secondly the data collected remained confidential throughout the study; real names of participants are not published, instead participants are referred to by pseudonym in this study. Likewise, the study sought consent from the UCZ leadership to carry out this study and ethical
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clearance for this study was also obtained from the University of Kwazulu Natal. To make sure that participants were respected, the study ensured that no one was forced to participate in this study, rather, we encouraged participants to participate voluntarily. The study also ensured that there was integrity when we dealt with participants and made sure that the study was explained in advance to all the research participants through the consent form40.
4.13 Summary of the chapter
This chapter provided a detailed account of the research design and methodology used to carry out this study. It expounded on the fact that the research was driven by a qualitative case study. This is so because, the study sought to understand the perspectives of the UCZ leadership and the laity on how the UCZ engages with poverty in Zambia. The chapter also discussed how the sample of the study was selected, given that the quality of any research depends on how the sample is selected. The sampling technique the study utilised was probability and non-probability. As explained in the chapter, probability (simple random sampling) was chosen to sample eighteen Christians and three theological students in order to give equal chance to the population to be represented. While, under non-probability, purposive sampling was used to select key informants (policy makers in the structure of the UCZ) because the study needed them to shed light on the position of the church with regards to poverty eradication.
This chapter also discussed how data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The use of this data collection method as explained in the chapter, was necessary because the questions were open-ended and therefore provided participants’ space to give in-depth responses. Meanwhile, FGD was also used and the responses provided different perspectives on how the UCZ engage with poverty in Zambia. As further discussed in the chapter, document analysis as a method for data collection was also used for this study, in order to understand the UCZ’s missio-theological position on poverty. The chapter demonstrated how data was analysed using thematic analysis approach, wherein the data was categorised from emerging themes and interpreted. It also noted that as it is with every research, the management of data is important. Therefore, the chapter indicated that data was managed by storing in the drop box, memory stick, by creation of folders on the candidate’s computer, by self-emailing and storing in the supervisor’s office. Another critical issue discussed in this chapter was the issue of ethical consideration before field
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research, and how we protected participants’ identity and confidentiality was taken into account in the research process. As explained in the chapter, ethical clearance was gotten from the University of Kwazulu Natal and a letter from my gatekeeper the UCZ, before we embarked on data collection process. Lastly this chapter discussed the validity and reliability of the study.
Having discussed the research design and methodology employed for the purpose of this study, the next chapter will trace the contours of Zambia’s socioeconomic crisis from colonial Zambia 1899 to post-colonial Zambia 2017.
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Chapter Five
5. Tracing the Contours of Socioeconomic Issues in the History of Zambia
from Colonial Period 1899 to Post-colonial Period 2017
5.1 Introduction
Chapter four presented research design and methods that this study employed. The chapter has shown that this study was a case study focusing on the UCZ as a denomination on how she participates in poverty eradication in Zambia. The chapter has also presented methods of data collection for both primary and secondary data. Premised on secondary data, chapter five pays attention to socioeconomic issues in the history of Zambia. This chapter is vital for this study because it provides a justification that there is need for the church to strengthen her prophetic engagement with poverty in Zambia. As earlier underscored in chapter three, mission must be informed by context. Therefore, discussing the socioeconomic issues in the history of Zambia is inevitable, especially if the prophetic ministry of the UCZ is to be appreciated. In this chapter, the study will therefore explore on the socioeconomic issues in Zambia from colonial Zambia to post-colonial Zambia (1899-2017). The chapter examine this subject under the following sub-themes: A survey of the socioeconomic situation in colonial Zambia; an overview of the socioeconomic situation in Post-colonial Zambia (1964-1991); Sketching the socioeconomic situation in Zambia under the MMD government (1991-2011); an overview of the socioeconomic situation in Zambia under the PF government (2011-2017), then conclusion.