Assignment 1 Part B: Research Proposal

Nixon Tan Yee Pherng

N9881654

DEH701 Research Methods

Group:
T2: Mini & Ana (6-8pm J201) 6

Yiqun Chen

Hendrik Boshoff

Word Count:
1094
Topic and Setting

Figure 1. Kelvin Grove Urban Village

As of December 2018, there are 876,399 international enrolments to study in Australia and 46% of
those are to higher education institutions. (Department of Education and Training, 2019)
International enrolments to Australian universities have had an annual growth rate of 10.8% over
the last five years, which plays a crucial role in Australia’s economy and society. (Robinson, 2019)
The research topic we are going to conduct is the living experiences of international students
studying in Brisbane. The setting of the research will be conducted in Kelvin Grove Urban Village
(Figure 1) as it holds the QUT International College which as of 2017 has 696 students enrolled in
and the majority of residents living within the urban village are QUT students. (Queensland
University of Technology, 2019)
Research Problem

Figure 2. International Students in Australia

International students make up for 24.3% of the student population in Australian universities, which
makes them outnumbered to local students three to one and may find it hard to adjust to new living
situations in Brisbane. (Department of Education and Training, 2019) The physical environment and
social relationships developed in student housings play a crucial role in students’ lives and
education. (Obeng-Odoom, 2012) Overall, there are many significant issues faced by international
students regarding student housing, social and cultural integration and financial issues. Currently,
there is not enough research being carried out investigating how student housing can be tailored to
international students, who make up a minority of the student population. Through this research we
can find out issues link with student housings and how they might have an impact on the quality of
an international student’s life. It is important on how they rebuild their cultural map in Australia on
their own terms, it serves as a starting point which increases the quality of their living experiences.
(Sawir, Marginson, Deumert, Nyland & Ramia, 2007)

Like most migrants coming to Australia, their knowledge on the local housing market are sparse and
most of the time international students are limited in time and financial capabilities to prolong their
search for accommodation as compared to domestic students. (Obeng-Odoom, 2012) Policies of
student housing are also a plight on international students and must be improved, which seems
questionable as international student housing alone contributes US$17 billion a year to Australia’s
economy. (Obeng-Odoom, 2012) International student housings are treated as an asset for private
home owners but it has a severe impact on international students’ quality of living.

Though it may seem that a plausible solution is accommodating for local and international students
within or near campus, but these recommendations may not be sensitive towards the different
needs of students from different cultures.
Figure 3. Kelvin Grove Urban Village Iglu Student Accommodation

Research Question
What can be done about student housing situations to alleviate international student living
experiences? As recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown the value of
international education jumped 22 per cent from 2016 to $32.2 billion in 2018 which makes them
vital to Australia’s economy. (Robinson, 2019) More considerations should be taken in improving the
quality of their living experiences here in Australia. As student housing may be crucial for improving
the quality of life in Australia as an international student, social relationships are equally as
important. It is also understandable that migrant and overseas students have to deal with the
problems of loss of their social ties, separation from family from their home country, homesickness,
adjustment to social and cultural norms, social isolation as a result from difficulties in making friends
(Leung, 2001) All these factors come into play when international students find it hard to integrate
themselves with the local culture.

Sub Question- What methods could help improve the social and cultural integration of
international students in Brisbane? It is important to help these students connect with the locals as
it improves their living experiences in terms of social relationships and cultural connections. Healthy
relationships between international and domestic students can be achieved when both parties have
mutual respect and interest in each other’s culture. (Sawir, Marginson, Deumert, Nyland & Ramia,
2007)
Research Methods
A mixed method approach will be taken to assemble the data required to answer the question
proposed. The research will be conducted within a time period of two weeks allowing us ample time
to transcribe and code all the collected data.

First method is through interview, we will gather 15 QUT international students currently living
within the vicinity of Kelvin Grove Urban Village who are international students. The location of the
interview will be a study room in QUT Kelvin Grove’s Library. Each student will be interviewed for 10-
20 minutes regarding their experience living in the urban village and how have they integrated
themselves in Brisbane socially and culturally. All the interviews will be recorded via a recording
device placed in the same room with the interviewee’s consent and acknowledgement. Data
collected from interviews will be of qualitative quality, this is to ensure we have a deeper
understanding on this specific subject.

Table 1

Data Documentation • Record all interview via recording device

(smartphone, recorder etc)
• Transcribe all recorded interviews for data collection.
• Categorize all answers given by each participant to
Fact, Emotion and Belief.
• Compare findings from each interview.

Interview Example Questions 1. Have you ever felt lonely or socially isolated since
coming to Brisbane?

2. If the answer is YES for Question 1, how do you

normally cope with your loneliness?

3. Do you find it hard to make friends with the local

students within Kelvin Grove?

4. Do you find it hard for you to find people that share

the similar culture as you within Kelvin Grove?

5. Do you think the Kelvin Grove Urban Village has some

similarities with the place that you grew up?
Second method will be through survey. The survey will contain 30 questions in relation with social/
cultural integration, financial condition and student housing conditions. Each question will be given a
scale from 1-5 of satisfaction from students. This survey will be answered by 50 international
students living in Kelvin Grove. This method will allow us to collect enough quantitative data for
statistical analysis of our research, we will be able to compare findings:

Table 2

Example Survey Questions 1. Are you satisfied with your current

(Answered with a scale from 1 to 5) student housing?
2. How active are you in participating in
social activities?
3. How active are you in participating in
cultural events?
4. How often do you feel socially and
culturally alone?
Reference
Department of Education and Training. (2019). International Student Data (p. 1). Australian
Government.

Leung, C. (2001). The psychological adaptation of overseas and migrant students in Australia.
International Journal Of Psychology, 36(4), 251-259. doi: 10.1080/00207590143000018

Obeng-Odoom, F. (2012). Far away from home: the housing question and international students in
Australia. Journal Of Higher Education Policy And Management, 34(2), 201-216. doi:
10.1080/1360080x.2012.662744

Queensland University of Technology. (2019). Annual Report 2018 (pp. pg 15-16). Brisbane: QUT
Marketing and Communication. Retrieved from
https://cms.qut.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/851920/annual-report-2018.pdf

Robinson, N. (2019). Australia hosting unprecedented numbers of international students. Retrieved

from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-18/australia-hosting-unprecedented-numbers-
international-students/9669030

Sawir, E., Marginson, S., Deumert, A., Nyland, C., & Ramia, G. (2007). Loneliness and International
Students: An Australian Study. Journal Of Studies In International Education, 12(2), 148-180. doi:
10.1177/1028315307299699

Image Reference

Realestate.com.au. (2019). Kelvin Grove Urban Village [Image]. Retrieved from

https://www.realestate.com.au/neighbourhoods/kelvin%20grove-4059-qld

Studies in Australia. (2019). International students in Australia [Image]. Retrieved from

https://www.studiesinaustralia.com/studying-in-australia/why-study-in-australia/international-
students-in-australia

Queensland University of Technology. (2019). Iglu Kelvin Grove [Image]. Retrieved from
https://qut.studystays.com.au/Listings/Detail/251722