A Study of Shelters for Street Children from an Organizational ...

2. Establish the methodology of the research according to research demands and
focus. The characteristics of the qualitative research methodology and methods were
chosen to elucidate the views and experiences of shelter managers, staff and shelter
residents as this fitted well with the research objectives. Four research sites were
chosen through the principle of first come first served. The process of identifying the
shelters was: letters of consent were written to various shelters in the region. This was
to ensure that any shelter had a chance to participate in the project. The first four who
responded in time indicating their willingness to take part in the research project were
chosen.
3. Gaining Access and Exiting from the Sites Lofland and Lofland (1984: 25)
believe that researchers are more likely to gain successful access to situations if they
make use of contacts that can help remove barriers to entrance; if researchers avoid
wasting respondent's time by doing advance research for information that is already
part of the public record; and if they treat respondents with courtesy. It is also important
to provide respondents with a straightforward description of the goals of the research.
Neuman (1997:351-353) argues that researchers need to know how best to deal with
'gatekeepers'. Bearing this in mind, researchers have to consider negotiating and re­
negotiating entry to the site and their role once inside the site. This consideration must
take into account the time factor for the researcher, the subjects, and remain in line
with the research time frame. In this regard, this researcher made prior arrangements
and arranged appointments telephonically with the four shelters managers. Following
this, interview schedules were drawn up and in every shelter a timetable was worked
out that suited the researcher and the interviewees. In every shelter, interviews were
conducted on separate days but within the same month. This arrangement gave due
consideration to the respondents' working schedule but also allowed consistency in the
research process. The researcher also discussed the criteria of selecting staff and
children who would take part in the focus groups (Krueger, 1988). The early
appointment helped to speed up data collection and provided the researcher the
opportunity to be familiar with shelters environment and duty schedules of staff and
children routines.
4. The researcher drew a schedule for interviews in individual shelters at different
days and times, and with full consultation with management, due consideration was
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