Ethical Considerations

Conducting research with incarcerated individuals brings inherent ethical

obligations to minimize harm and maximize benefit. In the present study, exploring

the experiences of incarcerated mothers, ensuring ethical conduct was paramount.

This section outlines how the research adhered to the four core principles:

beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy.

Beneficence. The study aimed to contribute positively to the lives of

incarcerated mothers and advocate for improved conditions and support systems.

The research hoped to raise awareness of their unique challenges and needs by

providing a platform for their voices, potentially leading to favorable policy and

systemic changes. Additionally, participants were offered resources and support

services following the interviews.

Non-maleficence. Minimizing potential harm was a central concern.

Participation was entirely voluntary, with a rigorous informed consent process

explaining the study's purpose, potential risks, and participants' rights, including

the right to withdraw at any time without consequence. Confidentiality was

ensured through anonymized data collection and storage procedures. Sensitive

topics were approached with empathy and respect, and participants were debriefed

and offered emotional support if needed.

 Justice. Ensuring a just and equitable research process was crucial—

recruitment efforts aimed at a diverse sample representing the demographics of

incarcerated mothers within the specific facility. Selection was based on informed

consent and willingness to participate, not on predetermined criteria that might

introduce bias. Data analysis maintained sensitivity to potential power imbalances

and aimed to represent the experiences of participants authentically.

Autonomy. Respecting participants' autonomy was woven throughout the

research process. Informed consent forms used clear and accessible language,

emphasizing participants' right to make informed decisions about participation.

Coercion or undue influence was strictly avoided. Participants were empowered to

control the interview pace and content, and their choices were respected

throughout the data collection process.

Trustworthiness of Research

Ensuring the trustworthiness of research exploring the experiences of

incarcerated mothers demanded meticulous attention to rigor and quality. This

section outlines the strategies employed to uphold the five critical criteria:

credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and reflexivity.

Credibility. Multiple data collection methods were employed to bolster the

accuracy and representativeness of the findings. Semi-structured interviews served

as the core method, allowing in-depth exploration of individual experiences. This

was complemented by participant observations within the facility, capturing

contextual nuances and researcher field notes documenting emerging themes and

interpretations. Moreover, member checking was rigorously conducted. Interview

transcripts were shared with participants for feedback, allowing them to verify the

accuracy of their narratives and enriching the data with additional insights.

Transferability. While generalizability in qualitative research is not the

primary goal, efforts were made to enhance the potential for findings to resonate

with similar contexts. Thick descriptions, incorporating rich details and contextual

information, were woven into the analysis. Additionally, purposive sampling

ensured participants represented diverse backgrounds and experiences within the

incarcerated mother population, offering a broader understanding of the

phenomenon. By presenting these nuanced portrayals, the research aims to

encourage critical reflection on the generalizability of the findings to other prison

settings and incarcerated mothers facing similar challenges.

Dependability. The research process was meticulously documented to

ensure consistency and replicability. A detailed methodological section outlines the

sampling approach, data collection procedures, and analytical framework.

Additionally, an audit trail meticulously tracks critical decisions and steps taken

throughout the research journey. To further enhance dependability, an independent

researcher familiar with qualitative research was invited to review the coding
process and analysis framework, offering constructive feedback and validating the

trustworthiness of the findings.

Confirmability. Recognizing the inherent subjectivity in qualitative

research, strategies were implemented to minimize researcher bias and ensure

findings were firmly grounded in the data. Reflexivity journals served as crucial

tools, prompting continuous self-examination of personal assumptions and

potential biases that might influence interpretations. These were consistently

revisited and critically considered throughout the data analysis process.

Furthermore, peer debriefing sessions with other researchers offered valuable

opportunities to challenge and refine interpretations, providing valuable external

perspectives and mitigating the influence of any individual biases.

Reflexivity. Recognizing the researcher's positionality as integral to the

research process, ongoing reflexivity was practiced throughout the study. Critical

self-reflection allowed for examining how personal experiences, values, and

assumptions might shape the understanding and interpretation of participants'

narratives. This self-awareness was documented in the reflexivity journals and

informed the data analysis process, ensuring transparency and enabling readers to

consider potential influences on the research findings.