Chapter 7: Discussion and conclusions
7.4 Trustworthiness, validity and limitations of the study
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The analysis method used in this study was able to inductively produce results that were described according to themes and categories that emerged from the content analysis. In addition, the researcher explained the coding strategy and provided an example of coded data (see Figure 7). Data were organised in tables and figures for the reader to easily understand and make a connection with what is written in the text. For the most part, discussion and conclusion chapter address the agreement and the disagreement in relation with the other research. Possible recommendations and suggestions for future actions are written in this study as this explain the meaning of the study in the context it is carried out. After the rest of the report was written and read, an abstract of the study was drafted to give an overview of the whole report. The researcher acknowledged the work of other researchers’ work in the entire report by paraphrasing and quoting where necessary, and then do both in-text referencing and list of references correctly, as this increases the ethical aspect of the study. Taking everything into account, ethical consideration in this study caused this whole report to be successful.
Participants were informed about the purpose, nature and the collection methods of the study.
There was no any risk or harm to the participants, thus honesty and trust were preserved. The researcher assured privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity in the informed consent form given to the participants.
The results of this study should be considered in light of substantial strengths and limitations.
For instance, the researcher managed to find materials to build the background and theoretical framework of the study. These sources were used to validate and back up the collected data.
Although the researcher used an interview as the only method for gathering data, the results from using this tool were enough to be analysed. The results of this study were manageable although some participants had long explanations that led to a repetition of ideas. In other words, it was time-consuming to re-read the same paper. There were no major problems during data collection and the whole process of this research, because of the ethical aspects that have been considered. Problems arose at the minimal level when there some misapprehensions of the two guiding questions by the three participants. In this case, the researcher rephrased the questions to sound simpler. The study looked at the teachers that teach in the medium of Oshindonga. Nevertheless, these findings may not translate to the teachers that use different languages as the medium of instruction. In this case, the results cannot be generalised due to the small area covered as well as the group of teachers selected, but the results may be particularly important in educational fields.
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Appendices
Appendix A: Pre- and junior primary teachers’ interview questions
1. May you please tell me:
a. your age
b. tertiary educational background c. your teaching experiences?
2. Pre and junior primary student teachers have to do English as a second language and other language as a first language as courses at the teacher training program. Which first language were you doing? Is this home language/regional language or?
3. Based on the National language policy for schools, mother tongue or English can be used as a medium of instruction at the pre and junior primary level, which language do you use when teaching? Why this language is chosen?
4. How is your native language related to the medium of instruction? Is it the same language of instruction or a dialect?
5. Now that you are a class teacher for grade……. teaching all the subjects through mother tongue, how do you go about it, or how do you experience it? Do you experience the same or different when teaching math comparing to Oshindonga for example? Why
6. There are many educational institutions in our country, and I know you received your teaching training from one of them. How do you transfer your skills to the school if language is not same?
7. How are you supported in your teaching practice especially when it comes to teaching through mother tongue?
8. What kind material/resources you have in your use?
9. In your opinion, do teacher education programs currently offered in Namibia prepare teachers with expertise and experience for the demand of teaching through the mother tongue? Why do you think like so?
10. Why using English is significant?
11. Why using Mother tongue is significant?
12. Have you faced any challenges?
13. Do you have any suggestions for future developments?
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Appendix B: Approval letter from University of Eastern Finland to conduct a
research study
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Appendix C: Permission letter to the school principals to interview teachers Enquiries: Anna Krista Ankonga
Contact number: +264816420969/ +358414788178 Email: annakra@uef.fi
5 December 2017
To: The principal
__________________
___________________
Dear Sir/ Madam
RE: PERMISSION TO INTERVIEW TEACHERS AT YOUR SCHOOL
I Anna Krista Ankonga, a student at the University of Eastern Finland in the program for Masters’ Degree in Primary Education would like to conduct research at your school.
I am currently working on qualitative research titled: Perceptions of teachers toward training through the medium of English while going to teach through mother tongue: A case study for Pre-& Lower primary teachers with one to five years of teaching experience in Oshikoto and Oshana context. The attached approval letter from the University of Eastern Finland allows me to conduct empirical data collection in Namibia.
I am writing to you to grant me a permission to come and interview teachers that meet the criteria of the study. As stated in the thesis topic, I would like to interview pre and lower primary teachers graduated from former colleges of education and also from University of Namibia, specifically that have taught for 1-5 years.
It will be good to conduct research at your school as the results of the study might benefit the current and future teachers in their everyday teaching practice. Moreover, the results might inform what needs to be strengthen and what needs to be changes in the teacher education training curriculum or the schools’ curriculum where it is possible as this will benefit the schools, teacher education institution and the entire ministry of education.
I am requesting your good office to confirm me with the number of teachers at your school that meet the criteria of the study and available for the interview. Further arrangements will be when
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the researcher comes to Namibia. The collection of data is scheduling to place from 10 January 2018- 25 January 2018.
This letter is accompanied by the approval letter and also teachers’ permission form.
Kind regards,
__________________
Anna Krista Ankonga
The researcher (Namibian student at the University of Eastern Finland)
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Appendix D: Permission letter to Oshana director of education to interview teachers from the region
Permission letter to Oshana director of Education to interview teachers from the region Enq: Anna Krista Ankonga
Email: annakra@uef.fi
Contact No: 0816420969/ 0818244298
10 January 2018 To: The Director of Education
Mrs. H. Amukana Oshana Region Dear Mrs. Amukana
RE: APPLICATION FOR TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH IN OSHAN REGION SCHOOLS
Anna Krista Ankonga and Wisillyzeonlika Mlunga are students, doing Masters’ Degree Program in Primary education at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and currently carrying a qualitative research studies which are titled: 1. ‘Teachers’perceptions on their training that is in English while teaching through the medium of Mother tongue: A case study for pre and junior primary teachers in Oshana and Oshikoto’, 2. ‘In search of quality I Namibian pre-primary schools’.
We would like to ask permission from your good office to interview teachers, learners and parents that suit our studies in Oshana region. Data collection process is scheduled to take place from the 15th to 26th January 2018 at the following respective schools: Olukolo Primary school, Oluno Primary school and Shinime Primary School.
We wish to assure you that the information that will be collected will remain confidential and will be treated in a professional manner. There are no foreseeable risks to the participants.
Attached is the approval letter from the University of Eastern Finland.
Your approval to conduct this study will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance for your assistance in this research.
Yours Faithfully
--- ---
Anna Krista Ankonga Wisillyzeonlika Mlunga
(Student at UEF) (Student at UEF)
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