Abstract
M.A.
The aim of this research is to gain insight into the unemployed father’s experience of disciplining his
children. The motivation for this research is multifaceted. Research trends, nationally and
internationally, have shown an increased focus on the fathers’ role in the lives of their children
(Burbach, Fox & Nicholson, 2004; Goldberg, Tan & Thorsen, 2009; Smit, 2004). Research examining
the father is on the up rise as the value of understanding the father, his role and his impact on his
children has come to the forefront. Paternal discipline appears to influence the child and the child’s
behaviour, while contextual factors such as poverty or unemployment appear to have an impact on the
father. It is therefore useful to develop insight and understanding into the unemployed father’s
experience of disciplining his child.
The researcher asks a single research question “how does the unemployed father experience
disciplining his children?” The researcher chose a single broad question with the hope that
the interviews would guide the process and several smaller questions would arise during the
research process.
Knowledge of the father’s own sense of his role, perception, knowledge and understanding will aid
policy makers and service providers. To the researcher’s knowledge there is currently no South
African study that examines the unemployed father’s perceptions and experience of disciplining his
children. For this reason a phenomenological method, in particular, Merleau-Ponty’s method, is used.
This method allows an exploration of the father’s perceptions and experience, eliciting understanding
and developing insight. Additionally, this research aims to generate questions and issues for further
research.
The research is introduced with a brief look at the philosophical aspects of phenomenology, outlining
the main characteristics of Merleau-Ponty’s approach. Following this, the approach and its application
to the research are discussed.
Scientific rigour is important in any research project. This research study attempts to demonstrate
rigour through credibility, dependability and transferability. Bracketing is also an essential component
of phenomenological research which has been included to ensure scientific rigour and reduce
researcher bias. Nevertheless, the existential phenomenological approach follows the proposition that
the researcher can never be truly removed from the research. It is therefore important for the
researcher’s process to be explicated throughout the research process. The researcher kept a research
journal in order to bracket and rigorously reflect on the entire research process, and promote rigour.