Microscopio de Barrido Electrónico (SEM/EDS)

Creswell (2014:35) states that researchers bring beliefs into their research, i.e. post- positivism (positivism), constructivism, transformative and pragmatism. In doing so,

they position themselves in order to obtain the desired knowledge and understanding they would like to share. In each of these beliefs a specific methodology is required in order to arrive at that understanding. However, that depends on the nature of the investigation. Although pragmatism is mostly associated with mixed methods research, as argued by Creswell and Plano (2011:41), it focuses on the outcome of the research, the research question and the methods used for data collection to inform the research. It therefore addresses what works. The transformative/participatory assumption, on the other hand, is influenced by political concerns and is used where there is a need to improve society through empowerment and other issues that are related to injustice (Creswell & Plano, 2011:41). The characteristics of the positivist and constructivist assumptions are hereunder outlined since they function opposite each other and the latter have played a major role in this study. They present a clear picture of where this study originated and where it is leading, hence the focus.

4.3.1 Positivism and post-positivism

Positivism may suit researchers whose aim is to prove the objectivity of facts (Terre Blanche et al., 2006:9). To emphasize this, Creswell (2014:36) states that positivism is sometimes referred to as a scientific method of research. This scholar also explains the reason for calling positivism post-positivism, i.e. that it holds a deterministic philosophy, which probably determines outcomes. As a result, the problems studied by post- positivists reflect the need to identify and assess the causes that influence outcomes. Knowledge acquired through post-positivism is derived from careful observation and the extent to which reality in the world is objective. Thus, what is important for post- positivists is the development of numeric measures of observations by studying and understanding the behaviour of individuals (Creswell, 2014:36).

In this study, the indisputable fact is that there is gender disparity in the STEM fields (O’Dea & Corcoran, 2014:i) as a result of the significantly low number of young women in these fields at South African universities. What may be determined as an outcome is that there is a need for the development of a young women-specific awareness programme, in order for these numbers to improve, as it happened in countries (e.g. North Korea) that implemented policy-specific programmes to curb this situation.

A variety of causes for this situation have been identified. For example, the stereotypes in other communities that the STEM fields are for men and not for women, as well as a combination of different theories, such as the feminist and sexist theories that are outlined in chapters two and three. With the developed young women-specific, awareness programme, the identification of mentors and synergy between stakeholders, these low numbers are expected to improve.

Positivists test and verify laws and theories that govern the world, as well as refining them so that the world can be understood. Therefore, this is the scientific method where a researcher begins with a theory, collects data that either supports or refutes the theory and then makes the necessary amendments and conducts more tests (Creswell, 2014:36). In this instance, young women choose careers based on the patriarchal idea that certain careers are not meant for them, thereby avoiding anticipated complications that may be encountered in future should they decide to take up the role of child bearer, give birth, breastfeed and become mothers and wives. That theory was tested during data collection as research unfolded. According to Creswell and Plano (2011:40), post-positivism is normally associated with the quantitative approach where researchers make claims for the knowledge based on cause and effect thinking, narrowing and focusing on selected variables to interrelate items, detailed observations and measures of variables as well as testing theories that can be refined even further.

4.3.2 Constructivism/Interpretivism

Constructivism or social constructivism is often combined with interpretivism. Social constructivists maintain that individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work. Experiences are used to develop subjective meanings and such meanings are attached to certain things. A combination of these meanings leads the researcher to look for the complexity of views on which he/she relies to understand the participants’ world (Creswell, 2014:37). Terre Blanche et al. (2006:9) support this author by explaining that this kind of a research may suit researchers who care about the meaning that people attach to the facts. Researchers describe realities constructed by people through a critical analysis of texts and indicate how such constructions lead to the development of certain practices, for example racial segregation in post- apartheid South Africa (Terre Blanche et al., 2006:8–9).

This worldview played an important role in the current study. I adopted it so that it could help me understand how different theories such as culturist and feminist, led to the choice of careers by young women. Different researches and findings on the reasons for young women to choose other careers away from the STEM helped me to understand young women’s experiences and the way they want to shape them for the future. They seemed to believe that childbearing and mothering were not only their biological roles but also their task to plan for, irrespective of the children’s fathers. This seemed to be more important than choosing a career that is said to be demanding.

As explained by Latchanah and Singh ([sa]:41), one of the findings in their study around culturalism revealed that women were expected to perform duties as wives and mothers, even if they were working and have professional responsibilities and that women chose to comply with such cultural traditions in order to be accepted and not be ostracised. I could also understand how young women in general perceived their world, which was also evident during interviews with female students. This helped me to develop an awareness programme that recommends a relaxed schedule for women in the STEM fields, in order that it does not clash with the professional culture. If organisations work on flexible hours and office space, it would assist women who are pregnant and mothering to either work from home if possible or report for work at a convenient time that does not disrupt home activities.

Creswell (2014:37) explains that often these subjective meanings are based on a certain lifestyle that forms part of the people’s historical background. He states that researchers also discover that their own backgrounds influence their interpretation. Therefore, their approach acknowledges the impact of their personal, cultural and historical experiences on their interpretation. The aim of the researcher is to make sense or interpret the meanings that others attach to the world. Unlike post-positivism that starts with a theory, interpretivists generate or inductively develop a theory or pattern of meaning. The historical background of South African women, under the apartheid regime, had great impact on the choice of a career. The prejudice and discrimination (separate work for men and women) that dominated this type of government resulted in what is reported by the Department of Women (2015: 10) that at the end of apartheid, women, especially those from the rural areas, seemed to be

poorer than their male counterparts and that African and coloured women were worse off, compared to Asian and white women. The highlight of this report for the current research is that although women started to participate more in higher education, the pass rate in mathematics, science and technology in Grade 12 remained higher for male than for female learners. With a historical background such as that, just over twenty years into the new dispensation it is unlikely that women would have recovered without the intended support to improve performance in the STEM subjects, hence the focus of this study.