Investigations on the life quality of a child from a foster family: the research method

Abstract

The paper presents some investigations on the life quality of orphaned children placed in foster families in Poland. The author’s own method with the elements of original survey investigations was presented. Consecutive steps on constructing the investigation method were presented. Firstly the investigation goals were set, the subject of investigations was selected and then the form of a questionnaire was suggested. It was essential to choose factual issue to construct the research tool. Two groups of respondents were appointed: children and foster parents. Two research questionnaire forms were presented and their application conditions were highlighted. The method was verified in practice upon the selected representative families. The effectiveness of the method was assessed considering some external factors which appeared during the investigations. The role of the researcher and his influence upon the obtained results was emphasized. It was stressed that the cooperation with the social worker who runs the foster family program during the investigations was of crucial importance. In conclusions the suggested research method was assessed and its weak points were featured. Some suggestions aiming at improving both the method and the research tool in the form of a questionnaire were recommended.