WATERING THE NEIGHBOUR'S GARDEN: THE GROWING - CICRED

IS SON PREFERENCE EMERGING AMONG THE NAYARS OF KERALA …?
one adult was present and interviewed. There were no cases of refusal
as most respondents seemed eager to participate. We ultimately
interviewed 215 individuals in 179 households.
We also interviewed 14 key informants, including four Nayar
community leaders, two researchers familiar with this community, and
eight medical practitioners (obstetricians-gynaecologists, radiologists,
lab technicians, and traditional and folk medicine practitioners) to
probe issues of sex selection from the provider’s perspective. Current
laws forbid informing parents about the foetus’ sex during prenatal
examinations. Despite this, research has documented that unethical
practitioners still provide these services in many parts of India. Thus
our research team was investigating very sensitive, private, and illegal
practices, and used great care to avoid offence and yet elicit candid
answers.
4.3. Data analysis strategies
Data analyses, conducted in a group with the interview team,
began as interviews were completed to identify emerging issues and
additional information needs. Our strategy was based on an “adaptive
theory” approach, an adaptation of grounded theory that
accommodated research issues identified from the existing literature
and those emerging from the data (Layder, 1998). For example, based
on the literature, our initial interviews explored dowry payments in the
context of marriage arrangements. Emerging information suggested
that exploring female inheritance in addition to dowry was important
as it appeared to increase daughters’ claim on parental assets conveyed
to marital homes. Data were also subsequently analyzed with the
NuDist software program (QSR International, 2003). The
computerized data were initially coded in accordance with themes
identified to date, and coding was modified after discussion with the
research team. The program enabled efficient summation and
comparison of the numerous interview transcripts, and assessment of
the frequency of attitudes or patterns.
5. Results: Nayar Families in the Present
5.1. Household and participants’ profiles
We now explore the current situation among Nayars as illustrated
by the interviews. We present our findings in a ‘numbers and narrative’
format, including information from household surveys along with
participants’ interviews. Tabulations from our surveys are presented
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