| Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 10 | Reference code | 16N.Paper 3.HL.TZ0.3 |
| Level | HL only | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The stimulus material below is based on a research article that describes some of the positive experiences of teenage motherhood that can occur in spite of challenges to the mothers’ future plans.
In the United Kingdom, there is a general concern about teenage pregnancy because it is often associated with negative outcomes such as poverty, interrupted education and early entrance into the welfare system.
The aim of this study was to investigate how teenage mothers experienced motherhood and how this had influenced their expectations of the future. The two female researchers already worked with teenage mothers in a city in the United Kingdom before the study. According to them, previous research has primarily focused on the disadvantages of early motherhood, and not on how young mothers can overcome obstacles, even gaining psychological benefit from having a child.
Young mothers were identified based on specific criteria (for example, the child was born before the mother was twenty and was living with her). The mothers were found through a patient database of family doctors. Seventeen mothers were selected initially and nine agreed to be part of this purposive sample. The local research ethics committee gave ethical approval for the study. The participants were all informed about the study and their rights. They all gave consent to participate. The names of the participants were changed in the final report.
The researchers carried out semi-structured interviews in the participants’ homes. The interviews were audio-recorded and later transcribed verbatim to allow for inductive content analysis.
The results showed that at this point in their lives the young mothers were very positive about their experience of motherhood in spite of the challenges. Most of them had felt an immediate bond with the baby once it was born. Some said it was the right decision to keep the baby and that being a mother had made them “grow up”. Some said that having responsibility for the baby made them more ambitious and determined to have a career although the pregnancy had for a time forced them to stop their education or work.
The researchers concluded that early motherhood does not necessarily have only negative outcomes. It may also be the turning point to maturity and development of a career, especially if young mothers are supported by family, health professionals and society.
[Source: Adapted from Clare J. Seamark and Pamela Lings, “Positive experiences of teenage motherhood:
a qualitative study.” British Journal of General Practice, 2004, 54, 813–818.]
Explain two or more ethical considerations relevant to this study.
Markscheme
Refer to the paper 3 markbands when awarding marks.
The command term “explain” requires candidates to give a detailed account, including reasons or causes, of two or more ethical considerations that could be relevant to the research study in the stimulus material.
Responses that use the term “experiment” as a generic term for “study” should not be penalized.
Relevant ethical considerations in this study include, but are not limited to:
- The researchers informed the participants about the study and their rights before the participants gave their consent.
- Anonymity (and confidentiality) is particularly important in a qualitative study like this one exploring personal and sensitive issues around teenage pregnancy and motherhood. The researchers made sure that the names of the participants were anonymous by changing them in the final report (line 15). The stimulus material mentions that there are negative expectations surrounding teenage pregnancy so the young mothers could feel stigmatized so anonymity is very important – especially as the research is conducted in the city where the young mothers live.
- The researchers also presented their project to a local research ethics committee in order to be sure that they would not violate ethical rules.
- Protection of participants – the interviews were conducted in the participants’ homes. This could be in order to make them feel more at ease discussing this sensitive topic.
Candidates may refer to ethical considerations taken by the researchers in the study in the stimulus material and/or considerations that could have been taken. Both approaches are equally acceptable.
Candidates may explain a small number of ethical considerations in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may explain a larger number of ethical considerations in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.
If a candidate explains only one ethical consideration, apply the markbands up to a maximum of [5].
