1. Problema de investigación
4.3 Textos Informativos
The sensitivity and complexity of this topic give rise to certain limitations in the design and execution of this study. The limitations of this study are:
There is limited information available about the actual number of trafficking victims. Therefore, the findings are based on estimates of trafficking victims as provided in various research reports.
Since trafficking is a complex subject, collection of data through semi-structured interviews became complicated. Despite conducting a pilot study and modifying interview questions, it is expected that some of the questions were answered more accurately by some participants than others.
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The sample size for conducting semi-structured interviews is small as many officials were reluctant to discuss the sensitive issue of human trafficking.
The study follows the grounded theory approach which assumes that the analysis rests solely with the researcher. There are fair chances that the analysis and findings may have been biased.
Another limitation of the study lies in comparing exactly the laws of the UAE and the UK as both the countries have different legal systems. The comparison between these two countries was done by broadly comparing the anti-trafficking laws adopted by them and evaluating the findings of various research reports.
7.8 Conclusion
Description of proper and appropriate research methodology is the utmost requirement for any research. This chapter covers the introduction of the methodology used in this study, the rationale for using this methodology, research design, discussion on how the research objectives are in line with the methods used in the study, and also the ethics followed in conducting this research. It explains in detail how the entire study was planned and develops the methods that were employed to carry out the study. A comprehensive picture of the entire study was drawn and the road map for further work to be done was discussed in this chapter. It is difficult to collect data on human trafficking as it is a clandestine activity. Subsequently, the study followed thegrounded theory approach and employed two techniques of data collection, namely, policy and documentary analysis, and semi- structured interviews.
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Chapter Eight: Findings
8.1 Introduction
This chapter contains the findings derived from the data collected through primary and secondary sources. The conditions of human trafficking in the UAE has already been analysed in chapter 5. Chapter 6 included a case example on trafficking issues and anti- trafficking measures adopted in the UK. Both these chapters were based on secondary sources of data collection. This chapter is divided into two main sections: Section 8.2 covers findings from the review of literature including findings from the review of laws etc. globally, in the UK and the UAE. Section 8.3 contains the analysis of interviews. The findings from section 8.2 helped the researcher to narrow down the issues that are critical and that need to be explored further in the context of the UAE. This exploration was done with the help of semi-structured interviews with government officials working in various anti-trafficking departments of the UAE. The semi-structured interviews formed the primary source of data collection for this study and included interviews with government officials from:
a. the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking, b. the Department for Combating Organized Crime Dubai Police, c. the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC), d. the Public Prosecution in Dubai,
e. the Department of Anti-trafficking in Ministry of the Interior (Abu Dhabi), and f. The Centre of Monitor human trafficking crimes at Dubai Police.
These organisations were selected for conducting semi-structured interviews because they are directly responsible for anti-trafficking operations in the UAE. The officials working in these organisations are directly related to various aspects of human trafficking, be it legislation, prosecution or providing protection and support to victims.
The main purpose of using semi-structured interviews was to triangulate the key findings of the analysis of secondary data. In an unstructured or semi-structured interview there is no fixed structure for the interview. The interviewer has some prepared questions but these
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questions are not asked exactly in the manner as they are framed. There is always room for improvisation of questions587. Semi-structured interviews have certain advantages over other types of qualitative interviews, namely, structured and group interviews. The main benefit of the semi-structured interview is that it helps to delve more deeply into the social situation. They neither digress the interviewee too far from the original purpose, nor lead to over-directing the performance by the interviewer.
These interviews give a first-hand account of the situation of human trafficking on the ground in the UAE. The interviewees were asked various questions related to the prevailing conditions of human trafficking in the UAE and the manner in which anti- trafficking legislation was implemented in the country. The interview proceedings were recorded and later on transcribed in word format. Analysis of these transcripts is presented in this chapter along with some references from secondary data. Secondary data was mainly collected on the differences in the legislation of the UAE and the UK. This was done to draw upon the comparisons between the trafficking regulations of the two countries. Through these interviews and comparisons the shortcomings in the legislation adopted in the UAE were highlighted. It is expected that by looking into these shortcomings the government will take remedial actions. These remedial actions are suggested in the recommendation portion of the last chapter.
Thus, the overall methodology of this study was to first analysis the issue of human trafficking in general, then to narrow down on aspects of trafficking in the context of the UAE. This was followed by comparing the practices in the UAE with those in the UK through secondary sources. Finally, to triangulate the findings of these secondary sources, primary data was collected from the officers involved in the anti-trafficking operations in the UAE. Conclusions were then drawn on the basis of both primary and secondary sources of data.
587Myers, M.D. and Newman, M., 2007. The qualitative interview in research: Examining the craft. Information and Organization, 17 (1), 2-26.
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