Research Proposal

Links between employment and social inclusion among

lone parent families: Does ensuring lone parents are in paid
work prevent them from being socially excluded?

Course: Theory, Concepts and Methods of Social Research II

Table of Contents
Non-techincal Summary 2

Background & Literature Review 3

Research Questions 5

Research Aims and Objectives 6

Methodology 6

Sampling 8

Methods of Analysis 8

Ethical Issues 9

Dissemination Strategy 9

Time Scale 10

Bibliography 11

Author: Marcia Lise

Reading MA in Social Research

Goldsmiths College, University of London
June 2007
 Non-Technical Summary

The research will explore the relationship between employment and social inclusion of lone parent
families. Our primary research question is "does ensuring that lone parents are in paid work prevent
them from being socially excluded?” There are employment barriers experienced by lone parents.
Stigmatisation of some lone parents who do not receive a lot of sympathy from the public is one of the
reasons why barriers are experienced. This in effect affects how lone parents are included in
mainstream society including the realm of employment. On the other hand, some lone parents are not
willing to take on paid work for different reasons. This could be difficulty in balancing family
responsibilities and employment on part of lone parents so some may choose to stay at home. So, lone
parents' values and attitudes towards paid employment is something the research will address.

The research will combine two contrasting research methodology: qualitative and quantitative. Former
being focus groups and interviews, which deals with texts, and latter referring to, surveys which will
enable us to examine the issues in figures. Firstly a number of focus groups will be conducted to grasp
the overall picture of the situation of social exclusion/inclusion as well as employment status of lone
parents. This is then following by a series of interviews with not only lone parents but also with other
stake holders such as employers, neighbours and social workers who can also give insights as to what
the core issues are. All interviews will be filmed. The colleted data will be analysed using a software
called Nvivo. The quantitative part of the research will involve a large scale survey, one of the main
purpose being to take a snap shot of the current circumstances. A longitudinal survey, which is done
over time to monitor changes, will be done to see if there are any significant trends.

The results will be released to the public using an interactive method of dissemination, called hypertext
which is similar to a website where the readers can choose what to read, see or hear at any point of
their reading. This means the readers tailor their own course of reading. The hypertext will include texts,
as well as video & sound clips. The hyptertext will be uploaded on a website so that a wide range of
people will have access to the data. In addition to this, an online forum will be set up so that people can
discuss their opinions on the topic and research findings.
Background & Literature Review

A report for OECD entitled ‘Local Partnerships in Ireland’ which was published in 2000 identified the
need for “more systematic research … to identify the barriers to employment and career progression”
(Turok 2000: 26). It also recognised the need for research on poverty and deprivation, including the
relative importance of the neighbourhood and household. On this score it is sensible to conduct a
research on lone parent families and their accessibility to employment as a way of promoting social
inclusion.

First, we must clarify what social inclusion means. Madanipour et al defines social exclusion as follows:

Social exclusion is defined as multi-dimensional process, in which various forms of

exclusion are combined: participation in decision making and political processes, access to
employment and material resources, and integration into common cultural processes.
When combined, they create acute forms of exclusion that find a spatial manifestation in
particular neighbourhoods.
(Madanipour et al 1998: 22 in May 1997: 2)

For social exclusion is multifaceted, a holistic approach to promote social inclusion is required. There is
no one answer to a complex issue such as social exclusion of lone parents. Therefore we must have a
good grasp of the current situation of lone parents in Ireland, whether they are socially excluded for
reasons specific to lone parents. We are also required to examine various literatures and already
existing researches. We shall start from taking a look at the basic statistics of lone parent families.

Lone parent families are a particular issue in Ireland. In Ireland 10% of the population lived in lone
parent households in 1996 (Census of Population 1996 in Turok 2000: 13). There were 72,465 lone
parents recorded in the 1996 Census, of which 86% were women (Walsh 1997: 2). About 15% of all
families with at least one child (aged up to 19 years) were lone parent families (Ibid: 3). This is much
higher than in most OECD countries (Cournede: 2006: 2). Between 1989 and 1997, there was a sharp
increase of 23.7% in the number of lone parents (NESF 2001). Key characteristics of lone parent
families are that they are one of the poorest groups who receive some kind of benefits, and the majority
of lone parents are women (Rowlingson & McKay 2002: 1 & 4). It must also be noted here that lone
parent families are often associated with teenage pregnancy. In 1999 for example 6.1% of all births
were to mothers under twenty years of age in Ireland, of which 96% were registered as outside of
marriage (Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs 2000). This is a sign that teenage
pregnancies very often result in lone parenting (O’Riordan 2002).

Types of lone parent families are often defined by two criterion: their gender and marital status (Ibid: 4).
According to McCashin (1997) there are three different types of lone parents: 1) younger lone parents
who are single with one child, 2) middle aged lone parents who are either single or separated, with one
or more child, and 3) older women, mainly widows, with few dependent children. Rowlingson and
McKay agree to this distinction of never-married, divorced/separated and divorced lone parents.
However it must be noted here that McCashin’s first lone parent group – “younger single lone parents
with one child” in reality are on average in their late 20s (Rowlingson and McKay 2002: 7).

The distinction of ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ groups is important here because the undeserving lone
parents are subjected to stigmatisation. The widowed lone parents often receive most sympathy while
wives who leave their husbands and women who have babies while single receive the least sympathy
from the public (Rowlingson and McKay 2002: 4-5). This in effect, has some consequences to the latter
groups of lone parent families in terms of participation in society on the whole (i.e. being socially
excluded). Evidently, single lone mothers, who, in the UK in 1999, comprised about half of all lone
parent families, are the most disadvantaged group (Ibid: 5). This brings us to think about the gender
dimension of lone parenthood which we will discuss later.

The employment rate among lone parent families is relatively low at approximately 40% in Ireland
(Cournede 2006: 13). These figures vary with age, with younger and middle aged lone parent families
having higher participation rates (Walsh 1997: 4) and with the gender of the lone parent. They also vary
with educational status; those with no qualifications are less likely to be in paid work and third level
graduates are more likely to be in employment (Ibid: 4). While age and educational qualification
influence the accessibility of paid work, on the whole, lone parents have difficulty accessing the labour
market.
Rowlingson and McKay notes that lone parent families, especially those not in paid work, are often in
poor health (2002: 13), which reflects the general correlation between poor health and lower social
class background. Poor health, in effect, has an impact on one’s employment status.

Coming back to the gender dimension of lone parenthood with regards to employment, May suggests
that “[l]one mothers are significantly worse off than lone fathers since they are much more reliant on
state benefits (…) and are experiencing falling employment rates, especially full-time employment”
(1997: 21). Further, Millar argues that it “is precisely because lone mothers are women that they have a
very high risk of poverty” (Glendinning and Millar 1992: 149). As we saw earlier, in 1996, 86% of lone
parents in Ireland were women. Therefore in order to examine the causes of female lone parents being
on low income, it is crucial to analyse lone parenthood in relation to the economic position of women
bearing gender dimensions in mind.

Previous researches suggest that women in general are disadvantaged within the labour market. Lone
mothers “are more vulnerable to poverty for the same reasons as married and cohabiting women:
women’s unequal access to the labour market, to equal levels of pay within it, and because they take
on the responsibility for care of the family” and “[m]any lone mothers are excluded from employment by
lack of child care and negative attitudes towards working mothers” (May 1997: 21). Female lone
parents tend to work part-time, while male lone parents usually work full time (NESF 2001). In general,
job choices are limited and career development is poor as lone parents have to work around their
children’s needs. This is even more so among female lone parents this adds on to their already
disadvantageous position in the labour market. So, now we can see that the marginal economic
position of lone parent families is a subset of the inferior economic position of women.

The stigmatisation of single working mothers can be explained from a slightly different angle. We could
look at this problem of social exclusion of lone parents as a result of the stigma attached to their non-
normative identity in the society. Goffman (1963) argues that the collective conscience offers us virtual
identities. When one’s actual identity does not fit/match the virtual identity, one is said to have a stigma.
While his theory is said to be incoherent because he combines a subjectivist and an objectivist position
and does not explain the relationship between the individual and the social, it is useful to outline his
arguments to demonstrate why lone parents may face stigma.

Goffman suggests that “[s]ociety establishes the means of categorizing persons and the complement of
attributes felt to be ordinary and natural for members of each of these categories” (Goffman 1963: 1-2).
So society governs how we imagine ourselves. He also notes that society creates the right attributes
people ought to possess (Ibid: 2). These two, according to Goffman, provides us virtual identities. When
one fits the virtual identity, no problems arise. On the other hand when one does not fit the virtual
identity, then this person has a ‘stigma’. So in the case of lone parents, because they do not fit the
picture of an ordinary typical parent, they are faced with issues. This it seems to be apparent in the area
of employment. In addition, lone mothers are further faced with gender issues (i.e. unequal employment
opportunities to women).

Moving on to issues of social class, it is worth noting Rowlingson and McKay’s research which suggests
that there is a correlation between the likelihood of becoming a lone parent and social class background
(2002: 16-17). For example, among women, the chances of becoming a lone parent were low among
those with fathers who are professionals, and increased as we move down the social class scale
towards the unskilled (Ibid: 17).

The relationship between social class and lone parenthood is illustrated with a slightly different
approach by Charles Murray (1996) who argues that the underclass who live on very low income on
long term basis have a set of certain values and attitudes. These include little attachment to formal work
and marriage, which means the underclass are more likely to be economically inactive or have an
informal cash work, and be involved in cohabitation or lone parenthood. It must be noted that there is a
debate around whether poor people do actually have different attitudes to those from the higher
spectrum of the society (Smith 1992). Murray (1996) also argues that the availability of social security
promotes the culture of dependency. Lone parents are one of the main dependency groups and are
believed to create further generations with the same behaviours of dependence on state benefits.

While one could say that Murray’s argument is that the underclass are in their situation because of their
distinctive attitudes and beliefs which implies the individuals are to blame, another could say that the
underclass are only acting in a rational way to adjust their lives within the highly structured society. The
latter view is a more structuralist approach which tends to relate arguments to the concept of social
exclusion, suggesting that lone parents are being excluded from the mainstream society rather than
choosing to be part of the underclass

As we have seen low employment rate among lone parent families is intrinsically correlated with social
exclusion. Lone parent families are one of the groups most at risk of social exclusion in need of support
& interventions, and one of the most effective ways of social inclusion is to ensure that parents are in
work (Rowlingson and McKay 2002: 112). Participation in the labour force is thought to be number one
priority to be included in mainstream society.

There is now a shift towards the assumption that all adults are in the labour market. In the 1970s and
1990s lone parents received benefits from the government without the requirement to seek paid work
(Ibid: 114). However this trend shifted in the late 1990s when the Labour government highlighted paid
employment as the key to giving lone parents opportunities in mainstream society (Ibid: 112). Critics
were quick to point out that this should be conditional on reasonably paid employment that is
compatible with family responsibilities, as well as good quality, affordable childcare.

In 1999, about 40% of lone parents were working 16 hours or more per week (Marsh et al. 2001 cited in
Rowlingson and McKay 2002: 127). This is approximately a 10% decline compared to the late 1970s.
Many lone parents have unpaid jobs “looking after their home and family” (Ibid: 130). Employment is
regarded as a means to cease social exclusion. Therefore the aim is to increase employment
participation rate among lone parents. However we ought to find out why some are not in paid work and
how they feel about that.

As we mentioned earlier, citing Murray, the underclass has little attachment to formal work, which
seems to also reflect some of the lone parents’ attitude towards work. Marsh et al (2001 cited in
Rowlingson and McKay 2002: 130) found that about 15% of all lone parents was not involved in paid
work at all and had a moderate attachment to work. However, a further 32% has a much looser
attachment to the labour market.

Research Questions

The research topic is “the relationship between employment and social inclusion of lone parent families”
and our main question is: Does ensuring lone parents are in paid work avoid being socially excluded?

Additional research questions are:

Why are some people not in employment? Is it their rational choice?

How do family responsibilities interfere with lone parent’s ability to take on paid work?

What are lone parents’ attitudes towards paid work?

What do lone parents consider the barriers to be in the job market?

What is the nature of currently existing social inclusion programmes?

What works and what doesn’t.

Does putting lone parents into employment achieve social inclusion?

What are the effects of ensuring lone parents into employment?

If lone parents are seeking employment but cannot be employed, why is that the case?

Are lone parents lacking employability?

If so why (is this anything to do with their education and social background)? If lacking in
employability, in what area do they lack skills and knowledge in?

If the reason is not lack of employability, then what is the cause? Could it be to do with bias on
part of the employer?

What is the employer’s attitude towards employing a lone parent? Is there any difference between
treatment of single mothers and single fathers at workplace? Is this difference the same between
currently married female and male workers?
Research Aims and Objectives

Aims
In the height of increasing numbers of lone parent families in Ireland and mounting concerns of the
socially excluded, this research aims to address the relationship between employment and social
inclusion of lone parent families. It will aim to unveil current employment barriers experienced by lone
parent families who are socially excluded in Galway city area and why such barriers exist. The effect of
paid employment to social inclusion of lone parents will also be uncovered. Social dimensions, in
particular the values held by lone parents, and stigmatization of lone parenthood will be continuously
taken into account. Finally, it aims to explore what types of interventions work effectively and make
suggestions of further support so as to achieve social inclusion of lone parent families.

Objectives
Research aims will be achieved firstly by examining existing researches and literatures to help us form
a better understanding of lone parenthood. Two contrasting research techniques, namely triangulation,
will be adopted. First, focus groups will be used to grasp the overall picture, followed by in-depth
interviews to capture the details of issues at stake. Data gathered from qualitative research will then
facilitate designing a survey, which is a form of quantitative research. A survey will be conducted to
obtain quantified data, which will then be put into tables and graphs. The survey will produce precise
figures, which will form a part of the data analysis. The data will finally be presented in a somewhat
different form – hypertext, which will contain a wide range of data from texts, video/sound recordings,
and transcripts, and allow viewers to form their own course of reading.

Methodology

Triangulation: Focus groups, interviews, and survey

Research will involve both quantitative and qualitative techniques to reduce limitations of each. Rogers
and Nicolaas suggest that “the complementarity of mixing qualitative and quantitative methods have
pointed to the need to consider both epistemology and the technical aspects in carrying out and
resolving tensions in combined work” (1998: 1). Quantitative research methodology is generally
regarded as objective, structured and reliable but over-systematic and lacking in validity. Qualitative
research on the other hand is seen as
subjective, unstructured and unreliable, but Full understanding
provides rich data and is usually considered of events
to be more valid than quantitative research
(Silverman 1997). Quantitative data is
necessary to identify trends of the wider
population of lone parent families, whilst
qualitative data will be used for discovering
individuals’ views and experiences of social
exclusion and barriers to employment as
well as other issues interrelated with these
problems. The two methods will address the Interview Results Survey Results
same questions and so the findings will (Qualitative) (Quantitative)
strengthen the validity and reliability.

The method of combining two contrasting methods is called triangulation. Denzin, one of the early
advocates of triangulation (Silverman 1993: 156), defines the method to involve the process in which a
given topic is examined using a series of different methodology (Denzin 1989: 234). According to
Denzin, triangulation overcomes the weaknesses inherent in single measurement research instruments,
so this technique counteracts disadvantages associated with any one of the single methods. Although
we must bear in mind that triangulation is not prone to weaknesses. The main concern is that, as Miles
and Huberman suggest, at times results derived from different sources can be contradictory (1994:
266).

The research will first involve conducting qualitative research in order to obtain the overall picture of
lone parents. The rich data derived from qualitative research will then guide quantitative research to
design survey questions. So the idea is qualitative research facilitates designing the survey.
The qualitative research will start off from conducting focus groups to identify the general themes. The
administrator of discussions will encourage topics such as feeling of social exclusion, issues that arise
when seeking employment, at workplace, and their sense of commitment to work and family
responsibilities. This will identify previously unknown facts or misunderstandings, if any. A focus group
“is a form of group interviewing … [whereby] … the insight and data [are] produced by the interaction
between participants” (Gibbs 1997: 2). Such data collection technique will give the researcher insights
into people’s shared and different understandings of everyday life and the ways in which people
influence each other in a group situation. So focus groups “elicit a multiplicity of views and emotional
processes within a group context” (Ibid: 2).

While focus groups will allow us to identify the general themes of the issues on the agenda, in-depth
interviews will help us attain further data on specific topics. Semi-structured interviews will be
conducted with a selection of respondents to investigate some of the key comments made during focus
groups. Any sensitive questions will be asked here one-to-one. A bit about interviews.

Once qualitative data is gathered we will have a good idea of what issues are at stake and the sort of
subgroups of lone parents (i.e. female and male lone parents, working and middle class lone parents,
those who have less attachment to work than others, those who feel they ought to take care of their
children themselves and those who don’t). Causes of certain issues may also become more noticeable.
The data gathered via qualitative research will facilitate the production of our next research method:
survey.

Both focus groups and interviews will be filmed, which shall be used in the final product that will
disseminate research results. Films will be kept confidential and anonymous, faces covered for those
who wish to be.

The next stage is to conduct a survey. Survey is a type of quantitative research collection method and it
is used to discover facts including knowledge, beliefs, values and behaviours about a given population.
In this research, the target population is 'lone parents in Ireland'. Generalisation is the aim of conducting
a quantitative research, so as to allow us to "say that his or her findings can be generalised beyong the
confines of the particular context" (Bryman 2004: 75). Surveys help us gain a better understanding of
patterns of certain issues, in the case of this research the trend of employment and its effect on social
inclusion of lone parents.

The survey will serve two purposes in this research. First, it will gather information to answer the
concerned research questions in quantitative figures and collect basic data about the participating
individuals (i.e. age, gender, education, social class, income). These results will be matched up with
findings drawn from qualitative research. Second, it will serve to monitor changes over time. Part of the
survey will be replicated in future to explore any changes that might have occurred during the gap
year(s).

In addition to the survey allowing our research questions to be answered in figures and graphs, it will
also prove to be useful in gathering general facts about lone parents in Galway City and Galway County
areas. This would help monitor trends in the long run. This data can be gathered regularly on a long-
term basis to monitor trends in Galway City & Galway County areas. Data will include figures on
different types of lone parent families & its geographical distribution, income support details,
employment status, details on participation in support programmes offered by charity organisations or
local government.

Cross-sectional design is "the most common design using in survey research" (De Vaus 1996: 40). It is
conducted in a single occasion within a single sample of the population, attempting to cover more than
one type of people. After data collection, the differences in groups are compared and analysed.
Sometimes surveys are critisised for providing only with a snapshop of social life at any one time. On
the other hand however, a longitudinal survey gets around this problem by studying the same people
over a long period of time (Belnaves and Caputi 2001: 26) so it enables researchers to identify
changes.
Sampling

The research will involve qualitative technique targeting a relatively small amount of samples and
quantitative research which will achieve a much higher number of samples. While some suggest that
participants “in qualitative research are not meant to be representative of a population” (Bryman 2004:
285), obtaining representative samples in qualitative research is very often difficult and is criticized for
its limit on generalizability. As a researcher seeks greater depth of understanding, there is an inevitable
compromise in the number of people included in a qualitative study (Bryman 2004; Hammersley &
Atkinson 1983). Consequently the sample may not be representative. However in this research, the
problem of small sample in qualitative research can be overcome by the usage of surveys that can
cover a larger number of samples. Respondents who have participated in the qualitative research will
not be targeted for quantitative research to avoid prolonged or repetitive testing, which can be
distressful.

Participants will include lone parents themselves, neighbours, employers including individuals in
managerial positions, as well as social workers and individuals who work at lone parent support
organisations,

Identifying lone parents to participate to this research can be done by using existing directories of lone
parents available from local government or lone parent family support organisations, if available. A
random sampling technique can then be used to distribute the surveys to a certain percentage of those
on the directory. However, an expected problem with this technique is that there may be characters
specific to those on listsings of support organisations as they have contacted them for certain reasons
(i.e. in need of support). In order to obtain a more representative sample of the overall lone parents’
population, other means to gather respondents will be considered. This can be in the form of
‘snowballing’, whereby respondents are asked to introduce other lone parents to complete a survey.
Although this is a non-random sampling method, it will attempt to cover lone parents who haven’t been
in touch with the support organisations.

Methods of Analysis

Data derived from focus groups and in-depth interviews

In order to assist with the coding and retrieving of data, the research will use computer assisted
qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) to analyse the data derived from focus groups and
interviews. The use of such software “most of the clerical tasks associated with the manual coding and
retrieving of data” (Bryman 2004: 417). A CAQDAS software called NVivo 7, just released in 2006
(QSR International: www.qsrinternational.com/aboutus/company/company_history.htm), will be used.
Nvivo is an upgrade of an earlier version called NUD*IST which was popular in the 1990s (Bryman
2004: 419).

The main features used on Nvivo will be nodes, codes, memos, generating summary reports, word
counts, and models. A node is a place to store ideas and/or coding (Richards 1999: 53). Coding
passages of the focus group and interview transcripts with nodes will allow easy retrieval of all the data
coded at a category as well as generate summary reports at a click. Furthermore NVivo 7 allows codes
to overlap, which is often difficult when coding texts manually on paper or indeed even on simple
applications such as Microsoft Word.

Extensive memos will be made to over come one of the criticisms of qualitative researches: lack of
transparency (Bryman 2004: 285). Qualitative researches are very often criticized for its ambiguity with
regards to what the researcher actually did during the course of the study. Transparency of research
process such as data collection, coding, data analysis, as well as making data available to other will
enable readers to assess the work (Mays & Pope 2000: 51). Considering these issues in mind, memos
will be made throughout the process using one of useful Nvivo’’s features. Ideas and research issues
will be noted down and attached to documents, nodes, or to other memos (Richards 1999: 48-9). Not
only will this support others to assess the quality of the research, it will also help clarify, sort & extend
ideas and record crucial questions as memos can be a written “record of analysis” (Strauss and Corbin:
1998: 110). Memos can be notes to yourself to assist in the formation of ideas and hypothesis.
Data Analysis

Data collected from the survey will be analysed using a statistical package called SPSS. The use of
such software will allow quantification of a large dataset at ease. Each question of the survey will
deserve a variable on SPSS. Each variable will be allocated codes, which reflect the answers. Data
entry will then be done, to put together a data file of the whole survey on SPSS. Series of univariate,
bivariate and multivariate analyses will be conducted. Univariate analysis will help obtain simple
descriptions of variables, as well as to identify trends and variations (De Vaus 2002: 212). Bivariate
analyses will identify correlations between given two variables. Finally, multivariate analyses will then
be conducted to identify specifications of correlations. Where appropriate, graphs and tables will be
generated. A syntax file will be created for all analyses to allow transparency of the analysis process for
the same reasons stated earlier.

Ethical Issues

The ‘Statement of Ethical Practice’ guidelines of the British Sociological Association has been reviewed.
The research complies with these guidelines. Purpose, methods, intended possible uses of the
research, what to expect as a participant will be made clear to all respondents. Confidentiality of
information supplied by research participants and the anonymity of respondents will be respected.
Research participants will in no way be forced to participate but to voluntarily opt to be involved in the
research. Further, the research does not involve participants who are particularly vulnerable. All
respondents will be asked to give consent at the stage of recruitment. Covert observation will not be
conducted therefore ethical issues with this regard will not arise. The study may involve discussion of
sensitive topics. However these will be kept to a minimum during focus groups and shall be discussed
in one-to-one interviews. Ethics guidelines will be kept in mind at all times to ensure that respondents
are happy with the conduct of research. It is expected that no pain or discomfort will be experienced by
participants. Negative consequences beyond the risks encountered in ordinary life shall not occur.

Dissemination Strategy

Hypertext article
The research result will be disseminated to the public using hypertext software, possibly uploaded as
an application available on the internet on Galway City Partnership’s website. Hypertext, as suggested
by Coffey, Holbrook and Atkinson, “is based on the idea of the 'button', which marks a point in the text
(or other data) at which various functions can be performed” (1996). Buttons can be in the form of a
“link button” which allows readers to jump to another point in the data for cross-referencing that may be
linked to nodes, or in the form of “expansion button” which allows the reader to explore additional texts
or media (i.e. video clips) that would give further information on a particular theme. While conventional
reports have just one rigid way of reading it (i.e. linear – reading the text from the beginning to the end),
hypertext allows readers to formulate their own course of reading.

There are several advantages to using such a medium as hypertext to publish the results. Hypertext
presents several different options to follow, and so the individual readers determine which of them to
follow at the time of reading the text (Coffey, Holbrook and Atkinson 1996). This means that the readers
are given the freedom to explore different streams of information, rather than just one single one set by
the author. “Hypertext applications support a much more interactive relationship between the text and
its readers. Readers can, in a sense, become authors of their own reading; they are not simply the
passive recipients of a determinate textual form” Hypertext is therefore non-linear and interactive.

The use of hypertext somewhat reflects the triangulation method used in this research. Hypertext
incorporates media technology into result dissemination strategy in a non-linear manner. It allows
flexibility on part of the reader as s/he can choose what to read/see as well as the author because s/he
can add more information and create links indefinitely. It reflects the complexity of social inter-
relatedness so as to overcome the all too common over-determination of culture.

On the other hand, there are limitations to this form of research dissemination which must be noted.
The final hypertext product can get too complicated as it will contain information in a highly complex
structure. Therefore it is possible that one cannot go back to where one started or find where one wants
The final product which disseminates the results from this research will contain various medium
including sound & video clips for example of lone parents talking about their experiences and perhaps
also of employers & social workers who work closely with lone parents, text definitions of unfamiliar
words, links to other literatures or websites for example those articles that provide similar or contrasting
results, photographs, interview transcripts, graphs, diaries, and finally a comments’ section on each
major item of hypertext so that readers can leave comments. The hypertext can be set up so that it is
accessed via supporting organisations such as Gingerbread, One Parent Families, Parents Plus and
any other local support groups so as to promote awareness of the employment issues experienced by
lone parents.

The final hypertext product can be uploaded on the web, attached to an online forum where lone
parents and others could leave comments, discuss the issues on the agenda, and provide support.
Considering the access to materials, such as computers and the Internet, experienced by some lone
parent families, computers can be installed at public spaces for example at support organisations
mentioned above, which can possibly be also funded by Galway City Partnership. The use of
computers can be considered to be one of the ways to empower lone parents.

The online forum can entail off-line meet ups set up by the forum administrator(s). This creates a place
to discuss issues and generally relate to other lone parents. This is a way to eliminate the concerns and
anxious feelings often held by lone parents about being there without help. Lone parents are marginal
in a given community and this will provide an opportunity to create a sense of community among them
and perhaps also to raise awareness and eliminate stigma of lone parent families.

Time Scale

Below is a breakdown of the research project processes and its estimated time. A total of approximately
8 months (35 weeks, 246 days) is required to complete the research.

Process Days
Recruitment of researchers 28
Literature review 28
Identification of respondents 7
Recruitment of respondents (focus group) 14
Conducting two focus groups 7
Trascribe 7
Analysis of data and summary write-up 14
Recruitment of respondents (interview) 3
Conducting a series of in-depth interviews 21
Trascribe 10
Analysis of data and summary write-up 21
Survey design 14
Survey pilot + survey design review 3
Present preliminary research findings 3
Conducting the survey (150 respondents) 7
Data entry 3
Analysis of data and summary write-up 14
Comparison of data 14
Report write up + video/sound editing 21
Proofread + publicising 7
Total 246
Bibliography

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