Anchored on the research objective of determining differences, if there are any, in human trafficking rates between male and female adults, the researcher will develop a tool (in-depth interview guide) that will cull out important insights into the issue of human trafficking, from the perspective of both the victims and representatives from organizations/agencies on preventing it.
An in-depth interview is the appropriate qualitative data collection method, as the issue of human trafficking is a very sensitive issue for its victims, and one that requires deeper discovery, thus the inclusion of interviews of experts on the issue. Two in-depth interview guides will therefore be developed for the study: a guide for interviewing human trafficking victims (both male and female) and another for the issue experts.
From these tools, the researcher is expecting that themes relevant to the focus of the two informant groups will emerge. From the victims, a deeper understanding and discovery of the human trafficking "experience": from their abduction/recruitment to eventual freedom/rescue. In addition, an in-depth look on their daily activities at present, now that the victims are making sense of their experiences and re-establishing themselves their own places in their communities/societies. Another dimension of the qualitative data that the researcher expects to emerge from the in-depth interviews is a thorough discussion of current statistics, trends, and studies on human trafficking, domestically and internationally. It is expected that from the discussion with the expert, the researcher will learn how to go 'beyond the numbers' and determine the relevance and implication of these statistics in helping prevent human trafficking and prosecute human traffickers.
Interview Guide -- Human Trafficking Victims:
1. Can you provide me with a background or some information about yourself? (If non-responsive, interviewer can mention points for conversation such as where the interviewee came from, what are his/her daily activities, likes and dislikes, etc.)
2. If it's ok with you, can you recall for me what happened when you were abducted / recruited/forced to do (human trafficking practice)?
3. What is a "typical day" for you when you were living or in the hands of (human traffickers)?
4. What were your thoughts and feelings during those days that you were abducted/controlled by other people?
5. Please tell me how you were finally freed from (human traffickers).
6. After your experience, today, what is a "typical day" for you like?
Interview Guide -- Issue Experts:
1. I would like to discuss with you some interesting statistics and numbers from studies on human trafficking in the U.S. And other countries. Please give me your candid assessment of each, given your knowledge about the issue.
2. From the statistics I just presented, do you think there are issues of reliability and/or validity in data on human trafficking, either domestically or internationally? Why? Why not? Probe fully.
Another important group that will be considered in the study is to get the thoughts, opinion and feelings of members of the civil society or general population to have an understanding of the issue of human trafficking from a 'lay person's point-of-view.' The following are the recommended questions for the interview that will also be incorporated in the overall analysis and report of the study:
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