An important concept, which binds with my investigation, is cultural drift- this is when society changes over a period of time because of influence of other cultures. It is believed that this will lead society towards a new direction an example being westernized. This change will affect the ethnic minority as Asian women born into the second generation are greatly influenced of those around them. This in turn would lead Asian women into a new cult and therefore change they attitude in their role.
Another concept is the idea of cultural accumulation- this is the process whereby new cultural traits are added to society and hence becoming an accepted part of their culture. For example, the Asian women in this country i.e. the UK are living with the majority that is mainly white. The younger generation is going to school where they are taught about things around them and also the children socialize with each other this would result to them learning new things and adapting it themselves, not knowing its part of another culture, thus changing their attitudes in other areas and finding it normal.
395 words
MAIN RESEARCH METHOD AND REASONS
My main research method would be self completion questionnaires which would include a number of closed questions to allow substantial amount of data to be collected. The questionnaire would also feature a mixture of open and closed questions to enable the respondent to be more personal and thus give an advantage of qualitative data to be obtained.
The sample would be of 150 Asian women, aged between 16- 45, which are going to be picked at random from a particular area where the Asian minority have settled example Rochdale. 50 women from each age range would be picked, the range being 16-25, 26-35 and 36-45, therefore 150 questionnaires to be collected. Younger and older Asian women would both be question as this would allow me to make comparisons regarding their attitudes of their role as a woman in life. The questionnaire would ask questions regarding what they have been taught from a young age about their duty as a woman. On the front page of the questionnaire there would be a brief explanation outlining the content to follow, explaining that the questions have been structured in such a manner to ask delicately in sensitive situations and that the information received would be kept confidential. It would also thank the respondents, thanking them for taking out there time and willing to give some important information. The questions would be about attitudes to their role as a woman i.e. what they do daily? If the mans role is equal to a woman’s, if living in an environment different to culture has affected their attitude. The responses they give could be compared to the answers given from the younger age, which would allow me to investigate whether living in a certain generation has influenced how they think.
A questionnaire is the chosen research method. As I’m conducting a pilot study, it would allow me to collect reliable representative data. A large sample can be obtained, therefore make the data be more informative for each age range. There should be a large response rate as this particular method allows the respondent to read the questions carefully and think about what they are asking in result they would not feel any pressure from the interviewer and give a well thought out answer making it more reliable, the questions asked will not be biased as the interviewer is not there to interrogate, as the respondent will be alone and asked for there own opinion.
405 words
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
The main problem I would encounter would be categorizing the qualitative data as the answers will be a mixture of different viewpoints and attitudes from the women which are also going to be diverse amongst the age ranges. But these answers are going to be vital, as this is the mode in how I’m going to make my comparisons between the facts that there is a great difference in thinking amongst different generations amongst the women and how it has developed and changed.
I would also encounter the problem of low validity. The connotation of the questions may root to a problem, as the questions asked are based upon the researches thoughts and the respondent may not interpret the question properly. In result the answers given may be different and so the researcher will have to interpret the answer therefore could make incorrect judgments. The respondents not answering the questions truthfully, due to the reason that they do not accept the answers being kept confidential which make their answer to be a lie could cause the low validity. They may have the influence of another individual, which would make their answer not their own. The respondent may not even realize the change in attitudes i.e. there may think its normal for women to do housework and not work, even though it’s about personal choice.
The misunderstanding of the questions could cause problems as they may not really know what the question is asking, unlike the research method like interviews where the interviewer is present to clarify any queries, so they may put down anything or nothing at all leaving he place blank. Another problem would be he questionnaires are not open to people who are illiterate or disabled for example blind, whereas other methods such as interviews could suit this.
300 words
Huddersfield New College
Centre Number : 37514
SC3C Sociology
Coursework
Khadija Patel
5649
Total word count : 1,205
