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Data-collecting instruments

20 April, 2016 - 16:59

The data collection process involved several documents provided by the organizations and interviews. This use of multiple data sources and the subsequent ability to examine several documents provided good triangulation 1. Initially, therefore, data collection was carried out through documentary analysis and subsequently through interviews with some of the stakeholders/partners. Parents and business-people were not interviewed in this study. Data is triangulated  2 where possible in order to determine replicable information and denounce inconsistent information in an attempt to minimize the subjectivity of the data presented. The names of individuals/partners have been anonymized.

The first phase of data-collection began by identifying the documents that in each partner would be most likely to contain useful information for understanding the partnerships formed in the scope of promoting education in entrepreneurship. Document selection was based on criteria of their availability and their relevance for analysis of the partnerships formed by AEVH. Table 5.1 shows the documents analyzed from the three partners involved in this study.

Table 5.1 Documents analysed and their institutions of origin

CMM

AEVH

Tagusvalley

Article on the CMM Activity

Educational Project 2009-2011

EMPRE project’s online platform (www.empre.org)

Educational Charter of Mação Local Authority

Curricular Project 2010-2013

Regulations of the Vale do Tejo Technological Centre

 

Proposal for EMPRE Pedagogical Intervention

 
 

Then, during May and June 2013, semi-structured interviews were held with the Head of the Verde Horizonte Group of Schools, and in each of the partner organizations the person responsible for forming relations with the school group was identified, regarding the EMPRE project: in Mação Local Authority (CMM), the mayor was interviewed, and in Tagusvalley, the coordinator of the EMPRE project.

All interviews were based on the same protocol/guide. They were arranged previously by telephone, according to the interviewees’ availability, and took place on the premises of the respective organizations. Each interview lasted approximately thirty minutes and was recorded, allowing data to be stored and facilitating the organization and analysis of the information (Table 5.2).

Table 5.2 Interviews and key informants

Interviewees post

Institution

Age of interviewee

Date of interview

Place of interview

Duration of interview

Head

AEVH

48 years

21/May/2013

At AEVH, Mação

35 minutes

Coordinator of the EMPRE project

Tagusvalley

36 years

27/May/2013

At Tagus Valley, Abrantes

30 minutes

Mayor

CMM

53 years

6/June/2013

At CMM,

Mação

25 minutes