The article in question focuses on gender stereotypes and the distribution of roles within Western European families living on farms. This research is the case study as Shortall (2014) focuses on one group. The study concentrates on a particular group, Western European farmers’ families. The case study involves the analysis of a trend existing in a particular group of people.
The major phenomenon considered in the article is the development of gender identities within the farm family living in Northern Ireland. It is stressed that women are entering the farming labor market. At the same time, their gender identities change very slowly. Shortall (2014) assumes that gender stereotypes and societal beliefs affect the way female’s identities are constructed.
The data were collected through the conduction of interviews and focus group discussions. The researcher conducted 36 interviews while 25 interviews were tape-recorded. The researchers carried out seven focus group discussions. The researcher also attended an invent where female entrepreneurs shared their ideas. These data were used to elicit opinion on some issues discussed during interviews and focus group discussions. The article does not explicitly reveal the role the researcher played, but it is clear that the researcher designed the questions and carried out the data collection and analysis. No particular strategies were used to analyze the data.
The scientific merit of the study is evident as the researcher managed to back up the theories available with particular accounts of people. The researcher identified the factors that affected participants’ opinion as seen by the samples, which is also important.
It is possible to use the same data collection method but improve the analysis approach. It is possible to use the grounded theory approach. It could be beneficial to identify recurrent themes that occurred during interviews and focus group discussions.
The study in question is characterized by the use of the phenomenological approach. Rehman and Roomi (2012) focus on a small group of samples to evaluate a particular phenomenon existing in the society. Twenty female entrepreneurs take part in the research. The researchers focus on their opinions concerning trends existing in the society. Rehman and Roomi (2012) stress that Pakistani female entrepreneurs face many challenges associated with the work-family balance as well as stereotypes existing in the society.
The researchers carried out face-to-face semi-structured interviews. As for the data analysis method, they used the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. The phenomenological approach concentrates on eliciting participant’s ideas on some phenomenon existing in the society. It is vital to make sure that the people are not guided in any way during the discussion. The questions should be very broad, and the researcher should encourage the participants to provide as detailed accounts as possible.
The scientific merit of this research is significant as the researchers identify particular concerns, hopes and evaluations of females concerning their entrepreneurial endeavor. The researchers reveal most common factors that affect the participants’ beliefs as seen by the participants.
At the same time, it is possible to improve the study through the use of focus groups discussions. It is possible to conduct focus group discussions that will help the participants share their ideas. Interviews still provide certain limits even if the questions are very broad. The participants may consider different issues and approaches when discussing various phenomena. The interaction often unveils some issues that are ignored, concealed or disregarded.
Reference List
Rehman, S., & Roomi, M.A. (2012). Gender and work-life balance: A phenomenological study of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19(2), 209-228.
Shortal, S. (2014). Farming, identity and well-being: managing changing gender roles within Western European farm families. Anthropological Notebooks, 20(3), 67-81.