Refugee Experiences
Theoretical Frames
Before you start exploring the actual refugee experiences you'll need some kind of parameters to use as a frame for your analysis. There are many different theoretical frameworks which I'll add here as they become useful to specific students: theories based on culture, agency and wellbeing.
For a top mark, go further than just using the theories to examine your primary data - actually use the data to critique the theories: Does your data fit the theory neatly or are there discrepancies? what doesn't fit? What's missing from the theory? What assumptions or biases might be inherent in the theories that could have led to these discrepancies? Are there ways you could adapt the theory to account for these discrepencies?
For a top mark, go further than just using the theories to examine your primary data - actually use the data to critique the theories: Does your data fit the theory neatly or are there discrepancies? what doesn't fit? What's missing from the theory? What assumptions or biases might be inherent in the theories that could have led to these discrepancies? Are there ways you could adapt the theory to account for these discrepencies?
Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most common ways of categorising different aspects of well being. It is a visual representation of the various parts of our lives and their (assumed) relative importance to an individual's well being. The pyramid structure suggests that our well being needs are built one upon another, beginning with very physical needs like air and water and ending with very abstract needs like self-fulfillment. One way to become familiar with this model as to find words from your Society and Culture vocabulary list (eg acculturation, belief or inclusion/exclusion) and identify which part of the pyramid they would fit into. Do some words fall into multiple categories? If so, why? Another way is to use self reflection and identify what people or situations provide each level needs for you - perhaps you could even colour code them to identify the micro, meso and macro levels.
Maslow's model has been adapted in various ways to fit new contexts such as business [https://sites.google.com/site/cnsmrbhvr/consumer-needs/maslow-s-hierarchy-of-needs\ or child development [https://binikou.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/hierarchyofneeds7-2010.gif]. Other researchers have critiqued Maslow's model: Beyond Maslow’s Pyramid: Introducing a Typology of Thirteen Fundamental Needs for Human-Centered Design finds several alternative ways to frame human needs in a way that makes sense to engineers and designers, while Maslow’s hierarchy connected to Indigenous US researcher redefines the entire premise of physical and emotional needs from an indigenous perspective.eds.
Maslow's model has been adapted in various ways to fit new contexts such as business [https://sites.google.com/site/cnsmrbhvr/consumer-needs/maslow-s-hierarchy-of-needs\ or child development [https://binikou.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/hierarchyofneeds7-2010.gif]. Other researchers have critiqued Maslow's model: Beyond Maslow’s Pyramid: Introducing a Typology of Thirteen Fundamental Needs for Human-Centered Design finds several alternative ways to frame human needs in a way that makes sense to engineers and designers, while Maslow’s hierarchy connected to Indigenous US researcher redefines the entire premise of physical and emotional needs from an indigenous perspective.eds.
Psychological Wellbeing
Hedonic and Eudaimonic Wellbeing
These models are usually used to create a theoretical understanding of 'happiness' realted to Positive Psychology. They differ from Maslow's hierarchy because they suggest that there are two different elements of well being needed for happiness and that both are equally important. Hedonic well being refers to physical needs such as food, health and sex, while Eudamonic well being refers to the abstract elements such as relationships, morality and self-esteem. these theories are more useful if you are looking at the psychological impact of refugee experiences, including trauma and resilience. More often than not they are linked with two other types of happiness - Prudential happiness (happiness derived from practical means such as and Chaironic happiness (eg living a moral life). You can read more about this from leading positive psychologist, Dr Paul Wang(scroll down to just past the intro)
There are many different expressions of Hedonic and Eudaimonic well being, so I've included a couple of different models below. I don't think any of these could be used alone as a lens for your research, but they may give you some ideas if you are trying to develop a model of your own...
There are many different expressions of Hedonic and Eudaimonic well being, so I've included a couple of different models below. I don't think any of these could be used alone as a lens for your research, but they may give you some ideas if you are trying to develop a model of your own...
Multi-dimensional contextual Model of Wellbeing
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-vietnamese-refugees-who-changed-white-australia
The Vietnamese refugees who changed white Australia | SBS News
A surge in Vietnamese immigration to Australia after the Vietnam War was the first test for multiculturalism after the White Australia Policy ended.
www.sbs.com.au
https://www.abc.net.au/austory/saving-mg99/13504454#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20story%20of,Navy's%20HMAS%20Melbourne%20arrived%20unexpectedly.
Saving MG99 | A refugee story with heart - AUSTRALIAN STORY
This is the story of the "luckiest refugees" — a boatload of people fleeing Vietnam in hopes of a better life. With their boat damaged irreparably in a storm, the group was preparing to die when ...
www.abc.net.au