Research Summary:
We are leading a study into the experiences of social workers who practiced during both the Canterbury earthquakes and March 15 mosque attacks. Individual interviews for this research were conducted in 2021, we are now looking for focus group participants. These focus groups would last around 90 minutes and would cover the findings of the individual interviews, and adding new knowledge around your experiences.
Participation Criteria:
A registered social worker who practiced in Christchurch after both the Canterbury earthquakes and the March 15 mosque attacks.
Research Request:
My name is Daniel Youssif-Hay. I am a doctoral student working at the University of Canterbury. This research will be looking at the experiences of social workers who practiced in Christchurch after both the Canterbury earthquakes and the Christchurch mosque attacks. Through this research you will have the opportunity to have your stories heard, reflect on your own practice, discuss memories and issues with your peers, and provide a guide for future social workers.
You have been invited to take part in this research because you are a social worker based in Christchurch or have worked in Christchurch following both these disasters. It would be greatly appreciated if you could forward this information to other social workers you know of who fit this criteria.
If you choose to take part in this phase of the study, your involvement will be a focus group reviewing the findings of the initial individual interviews which were conducted in 2021, and further discussing details of your work after both the earthquakes and the mosque attacks. These focus groups will take approximately an hour and a half of your time and will be held over Zoom
Participation is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw at any stage without penalty. However, as focus groups will be recorded over Zoom with multiple participants, your audio and video will not be able to be removed. If you do not wish for your information to be recorded, then please indicate before the commencement of the group interview.
Given the sensitive nature of this study, there is the potential for emotional distress. All participants will be given contact details for counselling and support services at the conclusion of the interview and encouraged to bring any enduring matters to their professional supervision.
The findings will be published in a thesis publicly available through the University of Canterbury library and academic publications. However, be assured of the complete confidentiality of data gathered in this investigation: your identity will not be made public. To ensure confidentiality, your name and other identifying information will not be attached to your transcript and in any publication of results your responses will be assigned a pseudonym instead of your name. No one else will have access to the data other
than the main researcher. Please indicate to the researcher on the consent form if you would like to receive a copy of the summary of results of the project.
The project is being carried out as a requirement of a PhD in Social Work by myself, Daniel Youssif-Hay, under the supervision of Professor Jane Maidment and Doctor Raewyn Tudor, who can be contacted at jane.maidment@canterbury.ac.nz and raewyn.tudor@canterbury.ac.nz. They will be pleased to discuss any concerns you may have about participation in the project.
This project has been reviewed and approved by the University of Canterbury Human Ethics Committee, and participants should address any complaints to The Chair, Human Ethics Committee, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch (human-ethics@canterbury.ac.nz).
If you agree to participate in the study, please contact Daniel.hay@pg.canterbury.ac.nz for a consent form.