ARU Final Report

Full Report – March 2021 15 Figure 1: Priorities word cloud Despitetheparticipatoryapproachtotheresearch, the parameters of online research and a tight timeframe meant that Essex County Council leads and ARU researchers had predetermined the methods of data collection via an online questionnaire open to all care leavers in each LA along with focus groups with the research team. However, the research team were responsible for developing and designing the questions based on the priority areas they had identified. Therefore, the second research session involved a presentation and short interactive quiz on different types of data – qualitative and quantitative – different methods of collecting data, and different types of questions: open, closed, probing, biased, leading, and checking. In LA breakout rooms, care leavers developed the questions they would like to ask of other care leavers about their experiences of support during the pandemic. These were shared with the whole group and subsequently collated by the ARU researchers to form a draft questionnaire. The third session was initially planned to be run as focus groups for each LA, however much of the time was used to reflect on and further develop the draft questionnaire to ensure it was accessible, engaging, and relevant for care leavers. Based on feedback from the research team, ARU researchers cut the questionnaire down from 40 to 25 questions, refined the phrasing and format, and input the questions into Online Surveys (formerly Bristol Online Surveys). A test run was then shared with care leavers and support workers for any remaining feedback before the questionnaire was finalised. There was a break in sessions after phase one over the Christmas holidays. 3.3 Data collection using a questionnaire and focus groups During this phase, the questionnaire was launched and remained open from 6th-18th January 2021 and was promoted to all care leavers across the six participating LAs. The research team, and particularly the support workers, promoted the questionnaire via local networks, groups, and organisations working with care leavers. Care leaver respondents were sent a questionnaire participant