HOW DO WORKING PARENTS PERCEIVE AND EXPERIENCE THE COVID RESTRICTIONS

PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO THEIR CHILD CARE?

Research Questions and Objectives

Based on the above information, the following will be the research question of the proposed
research study.

What are the perceptions and experiences of working parents while experiencing COVID-19
restrictions in regards to pre-school age children?

Research aims and objectives

The aim of the present research study is “To explore the perception of working parents in
two main cities of a HIC and LIC contexts on care of pre-school aged children while
experiencing COVID-19 restrictions”.

Objectives
Primary Objectives

To understand the coping mechanism of working parents.

To understand the perceptions and experiences of working parents

while experiencing COVID-restrictions.

Secondary Objectives

To investigate the stress level and mental status of parents while experiencing
COVID-restrictions.
 To examine how childcare for pre-school aged children are affected due to COVID-19
lockdown?

To seek for recommendations on pandemic preparedness and

childcare. Understand the prevailing condition of COVID-19 restrictions.

Methodology

Study Design
The methodology section is organised to evaluate and justify the research design selections that
are suitable for the study and will yield consistent and accurate results. As there are three types
of research philosophies i.e., positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. According to Keneddey
(2019)’s research, the positivist paradigm embraces viewpoints on the authenticity of actuality.
Whereas, according to the findings of the study done by Mc Chesney and Aldridge (2019), the
concept of interpretivism is portrayed in the study research, which includes natural conditions
addressing a certain issue. The interpretivism assists researchers in grasping the study's elements
and factors, but also recognising the many connected elements of the topic. However, the
pragmatism philosophy is a mixed version of both positivism and interpretivism philosophies. In
the current research, the researcher will adopt interpretivism to explore the perception of
parents in two main cities of a HIC and LIC contexts on the care of primary school-aged children
while experiencing COVID-19 restrictions.

Similarly, there are two main categories of research approach i.e., inductive and deductive.
According to Opie (2019)'s research, the inductive technique includes observing the true
proportion of an event's repetitions, which assists investigators in creating hypotheses.
Moreover, it has already been demonstrated that the inductive technique is the greatest
match for qualitative research. The inductive method is justified by the fact that it focuses on
deriving insight from data, information, and knowledge gained, which assists the investigator
in analysing diverse study findings. In the same research, the deductive approach progresses
from generic to specialised data to broaden the scope of the examination and the major
interest phenomena. The deductive technique has traditionally been used in quantitative
research. In the present research, inductive approach will be chosen to understand the
perceptions and experiences of working parents while experiencing COVID-19 restrictions
and to explore how facilities of childcare for primary school-aged children are affected due
to COVID-19 lockdown.
Moreover, there are three main forms of research design i.e., quantitative, qualitative, and
mixed study (Sileyew, 2019). In the present research, the research will opt for qualitative
design as it gives the comprehensive findings of the study. It also stresses comprehending a
complicated reality as well as the significance of actions in a certain circumstance
(Abutabenjeh & Jaradat, 2018)

Study Setting
As the aim of the research is to explore the perception of parents in two main cities of a HIC
and LIC contexts on the care of pre-school aged children while experiencing COVID-19
restrictions. The study will focus on the care of pre-school aged children under the age of
five years old in two major cities in HIC and LIC environments. The planned study would look
into how parents felt about childcare under COVID-19 restrictions in Germany and Pakistan,
such as a lockdown. These nations were chosen as HIC and LIC in order to study in depth the
response of parents in both countries regarding child-care in pandemic conditions. Individual
in-depth interviews with parents will be done. This will take place at the availability of the
individuals in a setting of their choosing. The researcher will build rapport with the
respondents in order to obtain precise, detailed data that will answer all of the study
questions. In particular, the respondents' opinions, values, and backgrounds will be factored
into the equation. The researcher will conduct the interviews. The interview will take place in
either a local tongue or English.

Study Population
The study's participants would be easily and purposefully sampled from Karachi, Pakistan
and Berlin, Germany. The research will have two groups of volunteers. The initial group will
be made up of ten Pakistani parents and ten German parents of pre-school age children.

Sample Size
The sample size would be 20 participants, 10 from Berlin and 10 from Pakistan. Pakistani
participants will be contacted by health commissioners who operate in children's outpatient
departments and will assist in finding parents. This way, a diverse group of people from various
social backgrounds will be approached. Whereas, Berlin participants will be drawn from either
the data bank of Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum (MVZ) or the Berliner Corona Schulstudie
(BECOSS). For both of the countries, the institute will provide for ethical clearance and
afterwards the informed consent.

Data Collection
In the following study, qualitative method will be used and primary data will be collected.
The data will be collected from working parents with children under 5 years old. Data will be
gathered through in-depth interview with open-ended inquiries utilising an interview
schedule. Interview questionnaire will be developed and different questions that answers
the research objectives will be asked from the respondents. Throughout the interview, the
investigator will address the participants in a balanced, friendly, receptive, and non-
judgmental manner. Information will be collected in a fair, impartial, and straightforward
way. During COVID-19 restrictions, parents will be questioned about their opinions and
experiences of their views on the covid restrictions in regards to childcare. They will be
questioned how the COVID-19 lockdown has affected day-care services for primary school-
aged children. Whereas the investigator constantly listens and participates in verbal
conversation, the researcher will obtain observations on nonverbal cues, and gestures. The
first three interviews will be utilised as a pilot test for the study to investigate study
feasibility, examine the topics and coding tree, and determine where the researcher may dig
deeper. These interviews will be included in the study as well. It is a one-time research in
which informants will be questioned in order to collect detailed information, confirm the
informant's initial replies, and make any required corrections to guarantee the authenticity
and reliability of the survey results.

Data Analysis
During the transcribing procedure, audio recordings will be translated into English. Following
that, the transcripts will be thoroughly studied while responding to the recording to familiarise
themselves with the facts and make any necessary adjustments. Throughout this phase, themes
will be selected and explored. Sorting, organising, and categorising data will be done with NVivo
software. Through the programme, relevant data from each transcript will be recognised and
coded into a certain topic. Multiple codes will be put together to establish category based on
adaptability, informativeness, and issue solving, that will be used to organise the findings and
conversations (Munch, 2017). For analysis, findings will be derived from the codes and themes.
The investigator will compare and contrast the coding in the
classifications, as well as their inputs and outputs. The analysis will explain how the study's
findings will improve understanding of the study, as well as make suggestions for practise or
recommendations, as well as instructions and subsequent study (Hsieh and Shannon, 2005).
Appendix

APPENDIX 1: CONSENT FORM FOR PARTICIPANTS

INFORMATION ON THE PARTICIPANTS INFORMED CONSENT AND A LEAFLET

Greetings, participant

You are invited to participate in a study titled how do parents perceive and experience the
COVID restrictions, particularly in regard to their child care?

It is entirely up to you whether or not you choose to take part in this study. It is critical to
comprehend the study's objective and all of the information contained within it. The
interviewer will give you a quick overview of the research so that you have a better grasp of
it. If there is anything in this study that you don't understand, please ask for explanation. We
would be grateful if you could participate in this research.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY AS WELL AS THE STUDY REQUIREMENTS

What is the purpose of the research?

This study aims to “explore the perceptions of parents in two major cities in HIC and LIC
environments about the care of primary school-aged children while under COVID-19
restrictions.”

Why have you invited me to participate in this research?

You've been asked to take part in this study because you're a parent who lives in Pakistan or
Germany and has had to deal with pandemic limitations.

What happens if I participate?

I would like to ask you some questions about your thoughts and experiences as parents of
primary school-aged children who are subject to COVID-19 limitations. You are not obligated
to answer any questions that make you feel uneasy.

What is the duration of the interview?

The interview may take between 30 and 60 minutes.

Confidentiality:
Is my involvement in the study going to be kept private?

All of the information you submit during this interview will remain private. Interviews will be
held in quiet, private locations in Germany and online in Pakistan where only you and the
interviewer can hear each other. Your information will not be shared with anyone else. All of
your information would be saved on a secure computer so that only the research team has
access to it. Your information will be kept anonymously so that no one can link your answers
to you.

Risks:
What are the dangers of this research?

The only risk of participating in this study is that your replies will be made public. Because
you will be unidentified in the research, this danger will be reduced. If you are traumatised
or upset, the researcher will give emotional assistance by connecting you to someone who
can help you.

Voluntariness:
As a study participant, what are my privileges?

It is entirely up to you whether or not you choose to take part in this study. If you choose to
participate in this study, you will have the option of declining to answer any question at any
time. You have the option to drop out of the study whenever you choose.

Advanced Information:
What will I get in exchange for my participation?

There are no perks for participation in the research.

Do you have any more questions regarding what I've just said? (allow opportunity to ask
questions and replies) May I conduct an interview with you? YES, please.
Certainly not.

Subject Statement:

I have reviewed the study's assent booklet. I have been informed about the intended
research, methods, risks, rewards, and the confidentiality of my private information. I accept
to participate in this research. I am aware that my involvement in this research is entirely
voluntary.

Your name……………………………………………………………………………….

Signature…………………………………Date………………………………………….

I acknowledge that I have individually discussed the nature and scope of the proposed
research, study methods, possible risks and benefits, and confidentiality of the data to the
investigator or person who performed the Informed Consent conversation.
Name of person obtaining consent: …………………………… Signature of person obtaining
consent:…………………………… Date: ……………………………
APPENDIX 2: INTERVIEW GUIDE

Study Title: HOW DO PARENTS PERCEIVE AND EXPERIENCE THE COVID RESTRICTIONS
PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO THEIR CHILD CARE?

Interview Guide for Parents:

Question 1. Tell me about yourself, your family and your work.

Potential probes:
- Who do you share your house with (children, partner, others)
- Assistance in the house
- What kind of work and the distance to work.

- What were the restrictions in your setting

- How did you follow up on these restrictions

- How did the others around you follow up on these

restrictions Question 3. How have the restrictions affected your life?
Potential probes:
- Can you describe how the restrictions have affected your working life.
- Can you explain how the restrictions have affected the atmosphere at home.

- Can you explain further how the restrictions have affected your relationship with
your partner and children.

Question 4. What are the risk and challenges for the children you faced due to the spread of
infections rapidly?

- How was it with lock down situation of schools

- What was their schooling mode post lock down ( online, home-schooling)

- Do you think your child/children suffered due to closure of leisure activities (sports,
or outdoor activities)
- How did you take these restrictions in to usage at home
Question 4. How has it been for you to be a parent during the pandemic?
Potential Probes:

- Can you explain about any worries, fears or concerns you have had during the
pandemic regarding yourself and your child/children.

- Can you explain perhaps a situation where you felt particularly squeezed between
your role as a parent and as an employee.
- How did you adapt to these restrictions with your family
- How

Question 5. It was observed that young children face some problems to handle this situation
of COVID-19 and also faced difficulties that impact their cognitive abilities. How do you
respond to this as a parent?