In line with the aim of the research to capture the lived experiences of BAME communities residing in North Lanarkshire, the research adopted a qualitative approach using focus groups and interviews to collect rich data and insights based on real life experiences of participants.

Focus groups and interviews are widely used in qualitative research of this nature (Quinlan et al., 2019; Saunders et al., 2018).

Although the original plan was to undertake only focus groups, the difficulties in getting sufficient participation from the Chinese community and the reluctance of this community to partake in a focus group setting led the researchers to revert to the use of one-to-one interviews with members of the Chinese community.

This was viewed as a viable contingency plan that was better than opting to forgo the involvement of the Chinese community. The reasons for the unwillingness of the Chinese community to take part in a focus group in a physical setting appeared to be for a combination of reasons such as fear of Covid and concerns of a backlash because of the media spotlight on China having been the possible origin for the virus.

Furthermore, initially the research programme had aimed to undertake a separate male and female focus group with each community. However, this was not possible due to insufficient numbers in relation to some BAME groups. In such instances, a mixed focus group was undertaken.

A series of focus groups and interviews were undertaken with each of the 6 main ethnic minority groups residing in the North Lanarkshire area. The fieldwork was conducted between May and August 2022 using a combination of face to face and online platforms. Participants were recruited through a blend of the researchers’ contacts and those provided by NLC. In total, 8 focus groups were carried out as illustrated in Table 1.

In addition, 5 one to one interviews were conducted with the Chinese community comprising 3 females and 2 males. Further information on the demographic profile of research participants can be found in section three of this report.

No interpreter was required for the focus groups undertaken with the Polish, Congolese and Black African and Caribbean communities as participants’ proficiency in the English language was adequate in responding to questions and prompts.

Interpreters were recruited for the Syrian focus groups and for interviews with the Chinese community. For the Indian sub-continent focus groups, the researchers assumed responsibility for interpreting as they were proficient in the languages spoken by participants.

Proposed focus group and interview themes were piloted with gatekeepers and the project team. Following the pilot, an agreed focus group and interview schedule was constructed that was used as a basis for the fieldwork.

Data Analysis

The qualitative data that emerged from the research was exposed to thematic analysis. This process involves the use of categories and codes for common themes that emerge from the findings. The analysis of the data was further supported by the rich insights captured directly from focus group participants and interviewees which shed further light on the findings and increased the reliability and validity of the research. The approach adopted in the analysis of the data will allow the outcomes of the research to be interpreted by a broad audience of stakeholders thereby increasing the value and impact of the research. 

Research Ethics

To ensure that the research adhered to ethical practices, the lead researcher submitted plans for the proposed research to the University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) Ethics Committee for formal approval.

This process assessed all stages of the planned research to ensure that it complied with the principles of anonymity, confidentiality, data protection and consent in relation to both participants and the data collected. UWS is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, which implements the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Formal notification that ethical approval was granted was received in March 2022.

All data collection instruments used involved the dissemination of a participant information sheet which provided would-be participants an overview of the research and laid out the purpose of the research. The information sheet also communicated the voluntary nature of the research and the right of would-be further light on the findings and increased the reliability and validity of the research.

The approach adopted in the analysis of the data will allow the outcomes of the research to be interpreted by a broad audience of stakeholders thereby increasing the value and impact of the research participants to withdraw their involvement at any point.

The information provided set out the level and nature of involvement required on the part of participants and how the data collected would be managed, including, how it would be stored, protected, used and disposed of. For the focus group and interviews, participants were required to sign a consent form confirming their willingness to take part and their consent to being audio and video recorded.

Data captured was stored securely on a password protected device to ensure that it could not be accessed by any unauthorised party. Further security of the data was ensured through all files being password protected. Focus group and interviews conducted in-person were recorded using a digital camera while online focus groups and interviews were recorded via Microsoft teams and zoom. Transcription of the files was undertaken by a professional transcription service who signed a data processing agreement to ensure the safeguarding and confidentiality of the data.

Challenges and limitations

Phase 1 of the research that involved a questionnaire of North Lanarkshire’s BAME communities had identified a number of shortcomings such as a low response rate and gaps in the following areas:

• Responses from the Indian sub-continent and Chinese communities
• Responses from the Northern Corridor and Kilsyth areas
• Responses from the Congolese refugee community
• Response from males

While phase 2 of the research also has limitations, it has however plugged most of the gaps that emerged from phase 1 by managing to engage with the Indian sub-continent, Chinese and Congolese communities as well as with male participants from all targeted BAME groups. As with phase 1, participation from BAME individuals living in the Northern Corridor and Kilsyth was low. On reflection, phase 2 presented the researchers with a number of challenges:

• Initial reluctance and lack of engagement from BAME communities to take part in the research due to lack of trust and confidence in the purpose of the research.
• Lack of engagement and apathy from ‘gatekeepers’ representing various BAME communities in supporting the recruitment of participants and slow response time.
• Complexity in finding a convenient time and date suitable for all would-be focus group participants.
• Unwillingness of the Chinese community to participate in a focus group.

These challenges impacted on the initial timeline for the research. However, the researchers used their experience and perseverance to navigate the challenges and managed to recruit a sufficient number of participants and carry out the fieldwork despite the initial delay.

As noted above, in relation to the Chinese community, the researchers resorted to undertaking one to one interviews in an online setting. It is also worth pointing out that uncertainty over Covid restrictions and the general reticence created by the pandemic impacted on getting the research underway.

During the process of recruiting participants for the focus groups and interviews, the aim was to ensure that the cohort of participants were as representative as possible of different age- groups, gender, and employment status among the targeted BAME communities.

While this task proved quite challenging given the initial lack of engagement and interest from would-be participants, the researchers managed to compile a reasonably diverse cohort of participants. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the characteristics of the overall sample of participants who were recruited for the research.

Geographic areas represented in the research:

• Airdrie
• Bellshill
• Coatbridge
• Cumbernauld
• Motherwell
• Shotts
• Stepps
• Wishaw