Data Analysis
Having collected the data from different sources, views from children and other adolescent people on the streets at different places and acquiring some first-hand information about the reasons of their present state of affairs, we need to analyze the data to come out with some decisive statements, which could prove to be specific pointers towards the reasons of the continuation of people on streets despite a number of steps being taken by the federal as well as the state governments. The data has been collected through the questionnaire which contains questions requiring the respondent to come out with their version i.e. the open ended questions. There are some questions requiring objective answers as well. But the open ended questions in all probability will come out with a variety of reasons and responses. In order to bring some sort of uniformity in the final analysis, we need to categorize the responses in some broad categories, which can further be subdivided into sub-categories.
Having done the categorization and compiling of responses, we can take the help of MS-office tools like MS-Excel and prepare bar charts, pie charts etc. to highlight the reasons behind the prevailing of the people on street phenomenon. To facilitate the outcome of the survey and ensure the usefulness of the study for a variety of purposes in future, the study must aim at producing valid and reliable data. The analysis begins enlisting all answers, including those which are subsequently found to be duplicated by multiple respondents. These responses are then tabulated to ensure easy readability and accurate interpretation. Efforts must also be made to clarify the vague answers, if any, so that the study remains truthful in essence and to avoid any chance of misinterpretation.
Ethical Considerations
This study requires participation of human subjects in general and some of the underprivileged sections of the society in particular. Therefore, consent and confidentiality form significant issues of the study. Though, it may not be of any relevance for the person on the street, but as a researcher we are duty bound to communicate the aims and objectives fo the study to the respondents before collecting the responses and data. In general a covering letter accompanies the questionnaire, which enlists the details and purpose of the study, but such an arrangement works fine if we are to leave the questionnaire at the table or premises of the respondents, to be collected later. But in this case the circumstances are such that the researcher will have to do the task of filling up the questionnaire as well, after enquiring in detail about the circumstances of the present state of the respondents. Therefore, the researcher will have to be fair enough in recording the information and in protecting the identity of the respondent. Some people might be there owing to difficult family circumstances and they might not like themselves to be identified or there might be people in the habit of taking drugs and alcohol but not willing to divulge these habits in public; as a researcher we are duty-bound to protect their identity.
In addition if some people would like to be sure about the identity of the researcher before they can start responding to the questionnaire, the researcher is supposed to provide them such details, contact numbers, address etc. to earn the faith of the researcher. The respondents must be informed that the purpose of the study is in general academic in nature and won’t be shared for any profit motive or in a manner which can harm the privacy of the respondents, as a citizen. While recording the consent of the respondents, the assurances of privacy protection help in protecting the researcher from false accusations etc.