ILO REPORT ON CHILD LABOUR IN BARBADOS - International ...

investigated based on the advice of key informants as the research evolved. Teams were
assigned to work in designated areas.
A Debriefing Workshop was held at the end of the week with three members of the research
team. A separate session was held on the Thursday for the Freeport researcher. Data were
presented, analysed, triangulated to validate findings, to provide feedback on the use of the
methodology and to make preliminary recommendations for the draft report.
Letters of introduction were prepared by the Ministry of Labour at our request but in most
cases, were not needed. In general the field work went quite well. With the cooperation and
creativity of the research team, and the support of various agencies and the children, the
quality and quantity of the data were adequate to prepare this overview.
3.6 Research Team
The five-person research team included four Bahamian researchers associated with the
College of the Bahamas Research Unit and the ILO research consultant. Three researchers
were based in Nassau and the fourth covered Freeport. The Research Consultant visited
Freeport for one day to participate in the field research, facilitate a stakeholders’ meeting and
have a debriefing session with the researcher. All of the researchers had or were completing
postgraduate degree qualifications.
3.7 Data Collection Instruments
Questionnaires: Three short questionnaires were designed for use with: a) children; b)
institutions, individuals and parents, and c) the police. A focus group guide was also prepared
for use with the children. Experience in the field showed that it was easier to use them as a
guide rather than competing a form for each interview. Consistent with the RA methodology,
a simple instrument with guided questions would have sufficed.
Orientation Manual: This manual was prepared and used with the ILO/UNICEF Manual to
train the researchers on the RA methodology on child labour. It complemented their
knowledge base as all had previous research experience.
3.8 Data Analysis
Data analysis involved coding responses from the main information sources to identify the
most common forms of work activity and report common trends. Frequency counts of
characteristics reported were calculated and trends were reported, using simple percentages.
Content analysis of interviews, focus groups and observation reports, provided rich qualitative
data on activities. Triangulation of the data from different sources was done to improve the
validity of the findings.
3.9 Review of the Draft Report
A Review session was held on October 4, 2002 with a team identified at the Stakeholders
Workshop held in August. The ILO/IPEC Programme Officer and the research team attended
the meeting. Feedback provided by the review team, and additional information provided by
24