Methodological approach

Methodology concerns the process and the methods used to acquire knowledge. The methodology plays an important role in achieving the objectives of the research (Khan, 2014).

This paragraph highlights the methodological approaches that influenced the conducting of this study. Inspiration for the methodological approach is contracted from three different methodologies, which also have their similarities. First, hermeneutic phenomenology is explained, and then feministic theory characteristics are added.

Central to this study is the knowledge about the social activities and social networks of immigrant women in their daily life. The aim is neither to get a quantitively objective picture nor to compare or judge the outcomes. Dictating in this study is the women’s perspective and reflections on their social life and lived experiences. It was therefore essential to choose a methodological approach that was based on analysing experiences, perspectives, and interpretations. Husserl’s (1970) phenomenology was a good fit to be able to study exactly these social activities which occurred in everyday life, and most importantly to study perspectives, reflections, and interpret these activities. Schutz (1967) developed phenomenology into a scientific methodology that incorporates the details of events and experiences that stem from

“mundane” areas in everyday life. Everyday life is often called for the lifeworld. The lifeworld defines the world in which we along with others, experience culture and society, take in position to their objects, get influenced by, and act on them (Goulding, 2004). A distinction can be made between the lifeworld and the social world. The lifeworld consists of formal structures which often are less explicit, where the social world refers to everyday familiar actions and experiences, which will be more recognizable to most (Grekova, 1996). Especially regarding this study, this division is important as the goal is to research the more prominent and recognizable experiences that the women in this study have. The aim of this study is also to get

26 an insight into everyday social activities and how these are experienced and perceived, and not abstract and/or non-explicit structures that might be difficult to define and recognize.

Phenomenology allows gaining a critical reflection on conscious experiences and is designed to display essential features of those experiences (Jopling, 1996). However, phenomenology does not stop at how people experience their lifeworld; it does not stop at the pre-reflective and pre-predicative meaning of the lived experience. Phenomenology aims to understand the transition between people’s pre-reflective and pre-consensual comprehension of the world and the ensuing conceptualization of and judgement about the experience Zahavi (2020). In this study, the aim is not only to uncover the experiences lived by the women but also what their reflections, analysis, and judgement are about these experiences.

By taking in account that not only the women’s experiences are relevant, but also their perspective and reflections around them, a move into hermeneutic phenomenology is made.

Phenomenology becomes hermeneutic when one not only describes the phenomenon but also interprets it (Van Manen, 2016). Hermeneutic phenomenology differs from phenomenology as they claim that every understanding is built on historically lived experiences. One’s understanding of the world is connected to how one is ‘situated’ in the world; what one’s background is. A person’s history or background includes a person’s cultural origin and reality, which influences the ways one understands the world. What is ‘real’ is determined through this understanding. Heidegger’s (1889-1976) understanding of people and the world as firmly set in cultural, social, and historical context, and claims that nothing can be encountered without reference to the person’s background. Meaning and understanding are found as people are affected by the world, while at the same time people affect the world from their background and experiences (Munhall, 1989).

Central to this process of understanding is interpretation. Every lived experience automatically results in an interpretation based on an individual’s background. Interpretation aims to develop understanding and disclosure of phenomena. The process of interpretation is commonly referred to as the hermeneutic circle. In the hermeneutic circle, one goes from the whole experience to the individual parts of the experience and from the individual parts to the whole again and so on. One does not remain in one place but rather acquires new knowledge every time (Gadamer, 1977). Kvale (1996) reasons that the end of the spiral occurs when sensible meaning without inner contradiction has been reached. Such a situation would however be hard to reach and lasts only momentarily (Debesay, Nåden & Slettebø, 2008).

27 Concerning this thesis, working from a phenomenological hermeneutic approach means that the data the women provide are not seen as mere facts. Information coming forward will be understood in the character of understanding and interpretation and the influence one’s background has on this process. This process is not only assumed on the women’s account but just as well on the account of the researcher. This understanding, however, does nothing to discredit the experiences of the women and the researcher, and data and analyses coming forward will be seen as legitimate.

Building on (hermeneutic) phenomenology’s thought of the importance of the individual and personal lived experiences, feminist theory comes into play. The feminist theory is concerned with raising consciousness about- and aimed to uncover the taken for granted and common sense understanding of women’s everyday lives (Fonow & Cook, 2005). Women’s movements and feminist theory showed that personal and private experiences, thoughts, and feelings are not only relevant to the personal atmosphere but also contain vital information about the social and political atmosphere (Ackerly & True, 2010). Feminist theory is relevant to this study as the researcher wishes to shine a light on the reality (not the common understanding) of these women’s lived experiences and to portray that personal experiences can be connected to political areas. Feminist research underscores the fact that women’s experiences and interpretations have been absent, peripheral, and/or misrepresented (Acker, Barry & Esseveld, 1983).

Another important aspect of traditional feminist theory is the demotion that the researcher should attain a neutral outsider role to the material of the research (Acker, Barry & Esseveld, 1983). For this study, it was essential to recognize the existing relationship between the researcher and the researched, as the researcher is part of the research population. Therefore, there is an extensive reflection about the impact this relationship can have on the study (3.4).

Acknowledging the relationship between the researcher and the researched has predominantly the intention to minimize the tendency to approach the researched as mere objects. Feminist theory wants to create an environment where the researched transforms from passive objects to active subjects. (Acker, Barry & Esseveld, 1983). From the start of this research, there was a strong wish to involve the women more in the research process, instead of merely seeing them as informants delivering the data. The aim was that the women feel that they, during the course of the research, are in a situation where they do have a relationship with the researcher, are an active part of the research, and have a say in the data they deliver as well as. The women in this study are therefore also referred to as participants and not informants.

28 3.2 Method approach and procedures

In this paragraph, the chosen methodical procedures will be highlighted. The researcher will give an insight into the chosen method for data collection, the recruitment process, and the target group, and the process of data collection. The reader will get a better understanding of the build-up of the research and important decisions made.

The overall methodological approach as described above has led to the decision to operate in a qualitative framework. Ratner & Hui (2003) and Karasz & Singelis (2009) argue strongly in favour of the use of qualitative methods. Qualitative methods can concretize cultural concepts and identify processes that influences individuals’ thoughts. Furthermore, qualitative research methods give a deeper understanding of informants’ experiences and perspectives.

3.2.1 Participatory action research

The wish to include the partaking women in the research to a bigger degree than just as informants, lead to the decision to take a closer look at the guidelines for participatory action research. This paragraph is based on Askheim & Starrin’s (2008) article about participatory action research for social workers.

Askheim & Starrin claim that not only social workers in practice should adhere to the description and aims of social care occupations set by the Norwegian Trade Union, but that these criteria also should be leading for researchers within the field of social work. One of the most important aspects of participatory action research is that the research is done with the people instead of about the people. In practice, this means that groups within the local community implement a research project, with or without a researcher. The participants are active in all the phases of the research project. The researcher will hereby lose total control over the knowledge production, while the participants’ influence increases. Even though the researcher will not be superior to the other participants, they can still have an expert role. An important condition of participatory action research is to give groups of people the possibility to increase their power and influence in research projects that are about them. The research will take on an empowering and awareness-raising character, where it will give the participants the possibility to find out about the context they live in and motivate them to actively participate in changing societal structures.

This study appreciates the core principles of participatory action research as it is highly aware of the role the study’s participants play. The aim has been to heighten the influence of the participants as much as possible and to be aware of the possibility of empowerment and

29 awareness-raising aspects within the study. By utilizing elements of the photovoice methods (3.2.2), important elements of participatory research were aimed to be included.

3.2.2 The photovoice method

According to Goulding (2004), the process of enquiry within a phenomenological view has only one legitimate source of data, namely the views and experiences of the targeted population.

This understanding leads to the assumption that the participant’s view is taken as “fact” or

“truth”. Data sampling is therefore voluntary and specified from the start, with as main collection tool interviews. By using the photovoice method, as the main inspiration for data collection, Goulding’s (2004) understanding has almost taken a literal stand in this study. The use of the photovoice method creates the possibility to gather authentic and unique data material.

Photovoice is executed in four phases (see figure 5) and this study has attempted to follow these as closely as possible, but because of various constraints due to time limits, practical matters and the COVID-19 pandemic some deviations have been necessary. In this paragraph, the researcher’s application of the first 2 phases and the last phase (4) will be explained. In paragraph 3.2.4 the execution of phase 3 will be clarified. For more material on a “pure”

execution of the photovoice method, Jarldorn (2019) is recommended literature.

Figure 5: Photovoice phases (Rania et al, 2014)

30 Phase one in this research has been characterized by explaining the content and techniques used to the women participating, more detailed information on this process can be found in paragraph 3.2.3. Important to note is that in contrast to a pure photovoice method use, the research theme and question were already defined on forehand. In phase 2 the women actively participate as they take pictures related to the research theme and question. In this study that meant that participants took photos about events, they associated with everyday social activities of immigrant women. The women were encouraged to take pictures without recognizable faces as this can conflict with consent and privacy regulations. Additionally, they signed a consent form regarding the use of pictures where their faces were recognizable. However, in this thesis the researcher has decided to blur recognizable faces anyways, to maximize the anonymity and privacy of the participating women. The researcher had a less active role in this phase but was available for questions. Originally this phase would be done in a timeframe of approximately two weeks, but as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out right after starting phase two, this phase has been extended to two months as it was not possible to meet up with participants before this and participants social activities were especially compromised in the start of the pandemic as lockdowns were more frequent.

Phase four signalizes the end of the research project. Participants are normally prepared for the ending of the project. An important aspect is to spread the findings by constructing an exhibition. Furthermore, possibilities of social change can be forwarded to policymakers (Jarldorn, 2019). In this study, this phase has not occurred (yet), as it has not been possible to organise such an event.

3.2.3 Recruitment & Target group

To find informants for the thesis, different organisations have been contacted in the selected city. First, a social and cultural organisation from the municipality has been approached. This organisation was known for its’ knowledge of organisations in the municipality that would fit the target group of the study. This organisation provided a list of four possible other organisations that could help in the recruitment of participants. The organisation they deemed most likely to be helpful, was contacted first. After contacting this organisation with an explanation of the study, a very positive response was received. A meeting was organised to explain the study in more detail and discuss the possibilities of recruitment from their frequent attenders. This employee has thereafter functioned as a gatekeeper to recruit further participants of the study, where they informed the researcher of possible participants and helped in the recruitment process by informing the researcher over different meetings where possible

31 participants could be met and helping to explain the study to the possible participants. This has been of enormous help in the recruitment of participants. The researcher has attended two meetings at this organisation and met possible participants there. The study was explained and the women that were interested in partaking left their contact information, such that the researcher could contact them at a later and individual time to give more details about the study and start the research process.

Another recruitment strategy was utilizing the personal network. This happened in two different ways. First, the researcher contacted her own network. As being an immigrant woman herself, she was familiar with several other immigrant women. These women were contacted to participate. Moreover, the snowball method was used. The snowball method means that informants who already partake, scout their network for allegeable participants whom they then invite into the project (Bjørklund, 2005).

In this thesis, a systematic selection has been used to define the target group. A systematic selection means that the researcher has set criteria that the informants should possess (Hovland et al, 2009). Goulding (2004) also stresses that the target group should be selected out of participants that have lived the experience that is being studied.

The participants in this research were selected by following a shortlist of criteria. The criteria for the informant were:

- is a first-generation migrant woman.

- has lived in Norway for over 1 year, - is 18 years old or older,

- has basic Norwegian or English communication skills.

By using relatively open criteria, the aim was to be able to select from a bigger target group.

This would both be useful for practical reasons, but foremost was used to try to create diversity within the group as the study was about all immigrant women and not necessarily a smaller group. This opened for the possibility of different findings, across of different characteristics in the group as well as possibly distinguish some similarities and differences in for example nationality, age, or work-, and civil status. The reason first-generation women were targeted, was to ensure that the experiences recorded were those of women that were ‘newcomers’ to the country and did not have a previous connection (such as parents, or an upbringing) to the country. However, it was preferable that the women had stayed longer than a year in Norway

32 so that they would have had the chance to build up a network and establish a pattern in their social activities. The only requirement according to age is that the women are over 18 years old. The reason it is above 18 is merely practical it is a means to avoid extra work concerning consent. To not further limit the age group, created the possibility to engage a diverse group in the study. For practical and communicative reasons, the women had to be able to speak a basic amount of Norwegian or English as the researcher was most comfortable with conducting the interviews in these languages and there was no collaboration with a translator.

The population that takes part in this research is possible in a vulnerable position. For those with a refugee background, traumatic experiences can have occurred. Integration into a new society can awaken feelings of frustration and helplessness. For the participants safety, consideration has been made if participation is advisable and responsible. The help of the gatekeeper at the recruiting organisation has been helpful to determine whether participation in the research would be responsible or not, as they had a deeper relationship with and understanding about the participants.

In the end, eleven women noted their interest and left their contact information to the researcher.

Nine of these women were associated with the organisation, two of the women were from the researcher’s own network. During the following recruitment work, some women were difficult to reach and therefore dropped from the list. Other women expressed a big change in their social activities as COVID-19 had limited their social activities. These women were not comfortable participating anymore as they felt they could not paint an accurate picture. Others were limiting their social contacts and therefore, were wary of meeting new people. COVID-19 did not only make it difficult for the women to gather the data for the research, but it also slowed down the process of recruitment for the researcher. Recruitment meetings were extended, and interviews needed to be put on hold. This resulted in a delay in the study and a change in approach. Finally.

five women agreed to participate in the research, of whom four were associated with the organisation and one was recruited through the researcher’s personal network.

The women who took pictures and were interviewed were all in their twenties or early thirties.

Some of them migrated because of studies or work, while others came with refugee status. The duration of them living in Norway varied from two to five years. Some of the women went to school, others were working, and one was unemployed. Geographically, the women were all from different places around the globe. A critical side note to the final recruited participants is that they most likely represent the immigrant women that are willing to step out of their comfort zone and might be characterized as the more independent and extravagant ones. The women