Ethnographic Research Essay
This study will employ ethnographic research methods for data collection. It will involve close observation of the learning environment available to these students. In addition, the data collection will also entail interviews with three parents, four teachers of the refugee children, a religious leader, and a humanitarian aid worker who work closely with this community. These methods are described in more detail below:
Recruiters:
From 2011 to 2014, I have studied and worked in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During that period of time, I worked with the Pakistani Christian community and established relationship with churches, institutions, and faith based organizations. Recently, I requested for the research support from Asia Biblical Theological …show more content…
Seminary (ABTS) of Cornerstone University (see support and invitation letters). Moreover, I seek support from Indo-Pak Church, a faith based organization, which has cultural knowledge and has started community learning centres for the refugee children.
Participant Observation:
I will utilize an observation method to record behaviors, activities, teaching methods, language of instruction in the community centers, teachers’ awareness of refugee students’ needs, parents’ educational support, the refugee students’ previous educational experiences, language barrier, and educational resources. I will also observe and record participants’ physical environment, socioeconomic, and cultural milieu. The observations will be conducted in two community centers. Additionally, the community centers’ classrooms will be observed for two to three hours a day for one and a half weeks in each community center.
Interviews:
I will conduct semi structured interviews with three parents, four teachers, a religious leader, and a humanitarian aid worker. All the participants will be interviewed three times during the research period. In the first interview, I will explain the purpose of the interviews in order to help the interviewees feel comfortable with the interview process. The interviews will ask about participants’ perspectives on education in the lives of refugee children. I will also ask about the refugee children’s previous and current educational experiences and how the refugee community is providing for the educational needs of their children in Thailand.
The second interview will be a follow up interview to clarify points and probe further. I will verbally summarize the collected interview data with participants so as to verify their responses. All the interviews will be audio recorded and then it will be transcribed by the researcher, who is fluent in Punjabi, the mother tongue of Pakistani Christians, and in Urdu, the Pakistani national language.
Entry and Exit Meetings:
At the beginning of the data collection, a church leadership team will introduce the researcher to the potential participants.
The researcher will explain the research aims and voluntary nature of participation. At the end of the data collection, the researcher will also have a meeting with the participants to express his gratitude to the participants and provide small gifts of appreciation. The exit meeting will also give an opportunity for the researcher to share some initial findings with the participants.
Reflective Field Notes:
Throughout my data collection, I will keep reflective notes of my thoughts, along with future observational ideas, and questions which may arise during the observations. The notes will help me clarify some aspects about the refugees’ educational experiences.
Policy Document Analysis:
I will also analyze the key policy documents by major organizations about refugees’ educational rights and their access to quality education in host countries. The documents will range from practical guidelines, United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) reports, educational approaches, and standards. The document analysis will be helpful to draw the meaning and gain the understanding about refugee’s education and how these policies or benchmarks are being implemented in the community learning centers in
Thailand.
Recruiters:
From 2011 to 2014, I have studied and worked in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During that period of time, I worked with the Pakistani Christian community and established relationship with churches, institutions, and faith based organizations. Recently, I requested for the research support from Asia Biblical Theological …show more content…
Seminary (ABTS) of Cornerstone University (see support and invitation letters). Moreover, I seek support from Indo-Pak Church, a faith based organization, which has cultural knowledge and has started community learning centres for the refugee children.
Participant Observation:
I will utilize an observation method to record behaviors, activities, teaching methods, language of instruction in the community centers, teachers’ awareness of refugee students’ needs, parents’ educational support, the refugee students’ previous educational experiences, language barrier, and educational resources. I will also observe and record participants’ physical environment, socioeconomic, and cultural milieu. The observations will be conducted in two community centers. Additionally, the community centers’ classrooms will be observed for two to three hours a day for one and a half weeks in each community center.
Interviews:
I will conduct semi structured interviews with three parents, four teachers, a religious leader, and a humanitarian aid worker. All the participants will be interviewed three times during the research period. In the first interview, I will explain the purpose of the interviews in order to help the interviewees feel comfortable with the interview process. The interviews will ask about participants’ perspectives on education in the lives of refugee children. I will also ask about the refugee children’s previous and current educational experiences and how the refugee community is providing for the educational needs of their children in Thailand.
The second interview will be a follow up interview to clarify points and probe further. I will verbally summarize the collected interview data with participants so as to verify their responses. All the interviews will be audio recorded and then it will be transcribed by the researcher, who is fluent in Punjabi, the mother tongue of Pakistani Christians, and in Urdu, the Pakistani national language.
Entry and Exit Meetings:
At the beginning of the data collection, a church leadership team will introduce the researcher to the potential participants.
The researcher will explain the research aims and voluntary nature of participation. At the end of the data collection, the researcher will also have a meeting with the participants to express his gratitude to the participants and provide small gifts of appreciation. The exit meeting will also give an opportunity for the researcher to share some initial findings with the participants.
Reflective Field Notes:
Throughout my data collection, I will keep reflective notes of my thoughts, along with future observational ideas, and questions which may arise during the observations. The notes will help me clarify some aspects about the refugees’ educational experiences.
Policy Document Analysis:
I will also analyze the key policy documents by major organizations about refugees’ educational rights and their access to quality education in host countries. The documents will range from practical guidelines, United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) reports, educational approaches, and standards. The document analysis will be helpful to draw the meaning and gain the understanding about refugee’s education and how these policies or benchmarks are being implemented in the community learning centers in
Thailand.