Factors that Shape the Adolescent’s Future Orientation: Analysing Qualitative Data

Abstract

Growing number of studies in social sciences and education domain discuss the value of analysing qualitative data or describe the methodology and data collection processes, but few detail how analysis was carried out. Trustworthiness and credibility of findings from qualitative research depend on the quality of data management, retrieval, and interpretation or identification of meaning. The robustness of data analysis is therefore an important factor in the rigor of qualitative research. This article uses a study of the factors that shape the adolescent’s future orientation to illustrate strategies that ensure rigor in qualitative data analysis. The findings in this study indicate adolescent goes through a host of challenges, ranging from the developmental changes to developmental tasks. While negotiating the meaning of his existence and affirming who he really is, the adolescent finds himself at times having to take refuge in substances. Once the adolescent becomes trapped in substance abuse he becomes pre-occupied with how to acquire these substances and everything else takes a back seat, including his school work and his plans about his future.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p237