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Appendix 1 - Methodology
The sample
The sample of participants was self-selecting, in that participants opted to take part in the study. We developed two criteria to define success in broad terms which were:
- participants are demonstrably able to make and sustain meaningful relationships
- participants are engaged in some kind of work, education, training or meaningful activity
Using these criteria, we asked all local authorities and a number of voluntary organisations in Scotland to help us make contact with young people or adults who had been looked after and who had experienced success in their lives. We were also able to advertise the study to people working within the Scottish Executive. Some people who heard of the study through word of mouth also contacted us direct and offered to participate. We recognise this approach has limitations, but we found that in fact our participants had a broad experience of being looked after and accommodated. All types of care settings were represented in our group, including kinship care, foster care, residential care, secure care, prison and other specialist settings.
This method of recruitment led to the inclusion of 32 individuals in the study, a sample of sufficient size to identify some common themes. In addition, we interviewed two groups, totalling ten young people who are using throughcare and aftercare services, and have included this material in chapter 8.
Methods
The methods used in the study were qualitative. At the outset, we identified three themes, informed by current research on children, which provided the means by which the study's aims could be tested.
These were:
- what success each participant had achieved to date
- what the participant thought had been helpful to them and had contributed to that success
- what participants thought could be done or done differently to improve the experience of and outcomes for looked after children and young people in Scotland, now and in the future
Participants were invited to participate in a loosely structured interview. We asked all participants open questions and allowed them to talk about the themes and tell us their stories. During the interview, as well as exploring the three themes, we gathered information about each person's current circumstances, and the circumstances that led to them becoming looked after. Interviews were kept as free flowing as possible. By this means, we were able to give participants maximum scope to tell their stories in their own way. We recognise that there are some limitations in the inclusion of retrospective material and that memories may not be entirely accurate. However, the reason for using this approach was to capture participants' own perceptions about their experiences.
Data collection and analysis
Following initial discussion, where agreement was reached that the person should participate in the study, we arranged to conduct an interview at the location of the participant's choice. Our preference was to tape record the interviews, with the participant's agreement, to ensure we gained as full and accurate information as possible and this was achieved in 27 cases.
One participant had significant physical and learning disabilities and the interview was conducted with his carers. In three cases, participants declined to be tape recorded or conditions for taping were not suitable and we took detailed notes of the interview. In the remaining two cases we were given written accounts. Two participants discussed an issue with us that we then followed up on their behalf, and with their agreement.
All of the recorded interviews were transcribed. The information from the interviews was transferred onto a database for analysis, together with the notes from interviews that had not been taped. While we followed the three themes in the analysis, we also identified other themes as they emerged from this process.
A personalised letter of thanks, together with a gift token was sent to each participant.
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