Perceptions of Social Inequality among Foreign Residents of the United Arab Emirates - Research Proposal Example

Perceptions of Social Inequality among Foreign Residents of the United Arab Emirates Contents Project Details 1 1. Background 1 2. Literature Review 1 3. Research Questions and Hypothesis 2 Research Methodology 3 1. Justification for a Qualitative Methodology 3 2. The Semi-Structured Interview Research Technique 5 Research Participants 5 Ethical Considerations 7 References 9 Appendix 1. Sample Consent Form 11 2. Participant Information Sheet 12 PROPOSED TITLE: “Perceptions of Social Inequality among Foreign Residents of the United Arab Emirates” Project Details: 1. Background The United Arab Emirates, which include Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain, are unique in that about 80% of their population is made up of foreign nationals, nearly all of whom are guest workers. About 45% of the non-Emiratis living and working in the UAE are from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; Iranians and Arabs from other parts of the Middle East account for about 30% of the foreign population, while North Americans, Europeans, and Australian nationals represent about 5% of the population (Foley, 1999, p. 26; UAE Bureau of Statistics, 2010). 2. Literature Review Social inequality can be defined as differences in social or economic circumstances between groups of people as a result of differences in ethnicity, gender, or other social or cultural characteristics (Zadja, Biraimah & Gaudelli, 2008). As Harris (2006, p. 224) points out, however, social inequality can have a wide variety of meanings depending on its social context, and that there is not one universal definition for it. In the UAE context, the economic success of the nation would not have been possible without the influx of a large number of foreign workers; the UAE population is simply not large enough to accomplish all the work that needs to be done. Conditions for social inequality are created because it is an absolute monarchy – or rather, an alliance of seven small individual monarchies – in which the rights of citizens are limited in scope, and limited only to a small, comparatively privileged native population (Walters, Kadragic & Walters, 2006). Social inequality throughout the Arab world has become a critical area for debate, particularly in the wake of the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings in which demands for political self-determination and correcting economic and social imbalances toppled governments in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, and led to protests and civil war in other countries (Haque, 2011, p. 98). While similar unrest has not affected the UAE, there is evidence that social inequality exists, and that the largest part of the population – foreign resident workers – are clearly aware of it. In-depth interviews of Western expatriates in the UAE describe their perceptions of a clear social order. Native Emiratis are considered a separate social group, and from the perspective of European, American, or Australian residents, Westerners occupy the top level of a social ladder defining the larger foreign population of the UAE, followed by other Arabs, Iranians, Filipinos, Indians and others from South Asia, and non-Arab Africans (Davis, 2007, pp. 63-66; Hari, 2009). Not surprisingly, these sources describe the Westerners’ attitude towards social and political conditions in the UAE as generally positive; expressions among Westerners of ‘unfairness’ in the social order are usually personal, such as anecdotes about difficulties with the authorities over legal infractions, such as traffic violations (Hari, 2009). 3. Research Questions and Hypothesis The proposed research project has two main research questions: First, How is social inequality defined in the context of the foreign population of the UAE? The development of this definition is critical, because as Harris (2006, pp. 224-225) points out, researching social inequality is unlikely to have productive results if the research proceeds from an attempt to arbitrarily define it; different definitions of social inequality can help to inform the study, but the context is important. The second research question is: What are the differences in perceptions of social inequality amongst different social groups within the UAE’s foreign population? As explained above, Western residents of the UAE seem to have a perception of differences in social influence of different groups of people (Davis, 2007; Hari, 2009), but what do those differences mean in terms of social and economic conditions, and how do the perceptions of non-Western residents of the UAE differ? The latter research question suggests a hypothesis, which the proposed study will aim to test: Perceptions of social inequality correlate to foreign residents’ perceptions of a ‘social hierarchy’ amongst non-Emiratis in the UAE. If the Western view of the social hierarchy – in which they perceive that they are subject to the least social inequality – is correct, perceptions should be increasingly negative the farther down the “social ladder” foreign residents perceive themselves to be. Methodology: 1. Justification for a Qualitative Methodology The methodology for the proposed study will proceed in two stages. The first will consist of a “methodological review” as described by Neuman (2011, pp. 124-125). Neuman states that the work of previous studies should be used as the foundation for new work, both to accumulate knowledge, and to discover how differences in methodology produce different results. This directed study of prior research involves five steps (Neuman, 2011, p. 125): Locating all potentially useful studies on a specific topic; developing a set of criteria to assess the studies for relevance to the current research; recording relevant points from each study; develop a set of broad findings from the prior research; and finally, draw conclusions from those broad findings. For the proposed study, literature that will be relevant covers topics of social inequality, issues pertaining to migrant and guest workers, social and political conditions in Middle Eastern cultures and the UAE in particular, as well as other subjects the literature may reveal. An initial review of the literature for the purposes of developing this research proposal indicates that a qualitative methodological approach is the most appropriate for the research. Sarantakos (1998, p. 123) suggests that the methodology should be that which “is closest” to the investigation; as the qualitative approach appears to be used most often in the relevant literature, it is the approach that should be considered and adopted (or rejected) first before investigating other approaches. There are a number of other reasons why a qualitative methodology is most appropriate for the proposed study as well. As indicated by Harris (2006), the meaning of ‘social inequality’ is highly contextual, which requires that the researcher take an interpretive or constructivist perspective towards it, using ethnographic, case study, or narrative research techniques (Crotty, 1998, p. 9; Galt, 2009); the researcher is evaluating a phenomenon – social inequality – from terms that are meaningful to the research participants, and must to some extent view the subject from their perspective (Miller & Dingwall, 1997, p. 6). Additionally, the outcomes of the proposed study – in terms of providing a contextual definition of social inequality and identifying differences in perceptions amongst definable social groups – have the characteristics of an evaluative, qualitative methodology (Sarantakos, 1998, p. 125; Clark, 2005): The outcomes are meaningful constructs or definitions used by the studied group of people to make sense of their social environment, and These constructs are shaped by the values of the group, or of individuals in the group (Murray & Ozanne, 1991, pp. 132-135); The ideas cannot be separated from the social, physical, or psychological environments in which they are formed (Bryman, 2012), and The interpretation of the constructs depends on the understanding and viewpoint of the researcher to present some practical application or action from them. 2. The Semi-Structured Interview Research Technique Marshall and Rossman (1999, pp. 60-62) assert that for qualitative studies involving social or cultural groups, a case study methodology should be used. For the proposed study, however, circumstances suggest a semi-structured interview technique would be more practical. Semi-structured interviews permit the research participants to speak freely and provide a great amount of detail, but maintain a productive topic structure (Cohen & Crabtree, 2006). Several conditions of the social environment in the UAE also suggest that a one-on-one semi-structured interview format rather than a method that would require people to participate in groups is likely to produce better results. Davis (2007) and Hari (2009) both note that dissent or criticism of the government or the social conditions in the UAE is largely prohibited as a matter of public policy, and that many interviewees are hesitant to speak freely. A carefully-designed interview format, however, with careful attention to ethical considerations and conducted on a one-on-one basis can put research participants more at ease to share information, particularly under conditions where they are assured their confidentiality is closely guarded, which might not be the case in a focus-group setting that would be used for a case study methodology (Marshall & Rossman, 1999). Research Participants The sampling technique proposed for this study is judgment sampling, a technique which screens potential participants for the likelihood that they will provide ‘useful’ information about the research subject, rather than selecting research participants in a more random way (Marshall, 1996). This selection method is necessary because the research sample will necessarily be small in relation to the population; of the estimated 8.26 million residents of the UAE, approximately 7.31 million of them are non-Emiratis (UAE Bureau of Statistics, 2010); since a statistically-significant sample would number in the thousands – another consideration that favours a qualitative rather than a quantitative or mixed-method study – credibility of the results from a small sample must be built from the detail and quality of the data obtained from the research participants (Marshall, 1996, p. 523). That does, however, raise the issue of potential bias in the selection of the research participants, and so the selection process must be carried out to prevent the pre-selection of particular attitudes or viewpoints among the participants (Neuman, 2011; Bryman, 2012). The following criteria will be applied in screening potential interview participants: Interview participants will be non-Emirati, legal adults who describe themselves as “residents” of the UAE (as opposed to “visitors” or “temporary stay”). The complete research sample will represent the non-Emirati population in the approximate proportions described by Foley (1999): 5% European, North American, or Australian residents; 30% from other Middle Eastern nations; 45% from the South Asian (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) nations; and the remaining 20% from other parts of the world. Interview participants will be asked to agree to the terms described by the Participant Information Sheet, which is attached to this report as an Appendix. This will ensure that they understand the research topic, and have relevant information to share. Ethical Considerations The proposed study presents a number of significant ethical concerns. The research participants are non-citizens in an absolute monarchy, and may have reason to be concerned that sharing negative perceptions could pose risks to their livelihood and continued residence in the UAE. There is also a vital need to avoid encouraging or compelling participants to offer criticism of the UAE government or leaders, as this may be a violation of the nation’s laws (Foley, 1999). With respect to these factors, the proposed study will satisfy two requirements: Maintaining strict participant confidentiality, and ensuring that information shared by the participants does not lead to negative consequences for them. Satisfying these requirements also eliminates risks to the researcher by clearly demonstrating the strictly academic nature of the work, and that it is being pursued with careful respect to applicable laws and customs. Along those lines, no personally-identifying information will be collected from the participants; only basic demographic details such as age, gender, nationality, length of residence in the UAE, and nature of work will be collected for the purpose of describing the participants in the results analysis. A Participant Consent Form which the participants will be asked to sign will be an exception, but these will be managed under the guidelines of the University Ethics Committee, and not be made part of the research results or the dissertation in any form. In addition, interview questions will be carefully constructed to avoid potentially dangerous topics; for example, questions that would require the participants to refer to policies or agencies of the UAE government will be avoided. And finally, as part of the Participant Information and Consent Forms, it will be made clear to the participants that they may, at their discretion, choose not to participate, choose to end their participation once begun, or choose not to answer any question that may be asked, if they are uncomfortable about their personal safety or confidentiality. References Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods, 4th Ed. Oxford University Press, New York. Clarke, RJ 2005, ‘Research Models and Methodologies’, University of Wollongong (Australia) Faculty of Commerce [online], Spring 2005. http://www.uow.edu.au/content/groups/ public/@web/@commerce/documents/doc/uow012042.pdf. Cohen, D, and Crabtree, B 2006, ‘Semi-structured Interviews’, Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Qualitative Research Guidelines Project [online], July 2006. http://www.qualres.org/HomeSemi-3629.html. Crotty, M 1998, The foundations of social research: meaning and perspective in the research process, St. Leonards NSW: Allen & Unwin. Davis, M 2007, ‘Sand, Fear and Money in Dubai’, In: Davis, M and Monk, DB (Eds.), Evil Paradises: Dreamworlds of Neoliberalism, pp. 48-68. New York: The New Press. Foley, S 1999, ‘The UAE: Political Issues and Security Dilemmas’, Middle East Review of International Affairs, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 25-45. Galt, K.A 2009, Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches to Research and Inquiry, Creighton University, 29 March 2009. http://spahp2.creighton.edu/OfficeOfResearch/ share/sharedfiles/UserFiles/file/Galt_SPAHP_Methods_Presentation_082609.pdf. Haque, A 2011, ‘Charity and the Trust Deficit’, Takaful 2011: The First Annual Conference on Arab Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, 16-17 April 2011, pp. 97-110. Hari, J 2009, ‘The dark side of Dubai’, The Independent, [online] 7 April 2009, http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-ofdubai 1664368.html. Harris, S R 2006, ‘Social Constructionism and Social Inequality’, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 223-235. Marshall, MN 1996, ‘Sampling for Qualitative Research’, Family Practice, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 522-525. Marshall, C, and Rossman, GB 1999, Designing Qualitative Research, 3rd Ed., Sherman Oaks, CA: Sage. Miller, G, and Dingwall, R 1997, Context and Method in Qualitative Research, London: Sage. Murray, JB, and Ozanne, JL 1991, ‘The Critical Imagination: Emancipatory Interests in Consumer Research’, The Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 129-144. Neuman, WL 2011, Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 7th Ed., Boston: Pearson. Sarantakos, S 1998, Initiating Social Research, Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia. UAE Bureau of Statistics 2010. http://www.uaestatistics.gov.ae/ReportPDF/Population Estimates 2006 - 2010.pdf. Walters, DN, Kadragic, A, and Walters, LM 2006, ‘Miracle or Mirage: Is Development Sustainable in the United Arab Emirates?’ The Middle East Review of International Affairs, vol. 10, no. 3, article 6/10. http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/issue3/jv10no3a6.html. Zadja, J, Biraimah, K, and Gaudelli, W 2008, Education and Social Inequality in the Global Culture, New York: Springer. Appendix 1: Sample Consent Form Project Title: “Perceptions of Social Inequality among Foreign Residents of the United Arab Emirates” Researcher: Contact Information: Please provide your initials in the space provided if you agree with each of the following: 1. I have been provided a copy of the Participant Information Sheet, and any questions I have asked have been fully answered to my satisfaction. ___________ 2. I understand that my participation is completely voluntary, and that I may stop at any time without giving reason if I choose to do so. ______________ 3. I agree to take part in this study, and understand that will involve a personal interview of approximately 1 hour’s duration. ________________ 4. I agree that the interview may be recorded by audio. _______________ 5. I agree that my responses may be quoted, but will be anonymous. _____________ Participant’s Signature _____________________ Researcher’s Signature _____________________ Appendix 2: Participant Information Sheet University of South Australia Department of ______________ PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET PROJECT TITLE: “Perceptions of Social Inequality among Foreign Residents of the United Arab Emirates” RESEARCHER: RESEARCHER’S CONTACT INFORMATION: Project Description: You are being asked to participate in a research study investigating the perceptions of social inequality among foreign residents of the United Arab Emirates, such as perceptions of differences in job or educational opportunities, access to public services, or relations with people from different cultures living and working in the UAE. The purpose of this study, apart from the knowledge it will add to the study of the social sciences, is for the partial fulfilment of my requirements for a __________ degree in ____________. What You Are Being Asked To Do: Should you agree to participate, you will take part in a one-on-one interview with the researcher in which you will be asked about your personal experiences and impressions of social inequality in the UAE. This interview will take approximately one hour, and be conducted in a comfortable public place at a convenient time. Possible Risks of Participating: In the course of the interview, there is a strong possibility that you may be asked to share information which would be uncomplimentary to the government or people of the UAE, which if known to others might have negative personal consequences. To ensure that this risk is eliminated, the following steps will be taken: 1. You will not be asked any question for which your response would be a violation of the laws of the UAE. 2. You will not be asked to identify any other person through your responses to the interview questions. 3. Your responses will be completely anonymous; no personally identifying information will be collected about you or used in publication, and anonymous quotes of your responses in the research paper will be used only with your written permission. 4. All records containing personal information will remain confidential and no information which could lead to identification of any individual will be released. All written notes and audio recordings will be stored for five years in accordance with the Ethics Guidelines of the University of South Australia in a secure location at the University. 5. You may decline to participate in the research, or stop your participation at any time once the interview has begun. Your participation is entirely voluntary and while it is hoped you will agree to participate because your help will be very valuable to the completion of this project, you may do so or not at your sole discretion and need not give a reason for declining. 6. You may receive a copy of the final research paper after _______________; simply contact me by e-mail or phone, and I will be happy to provide a copy to you. Ethics Committee Approval: “This project has been approved by the University of South Australia's Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any ethical concerns about the project or questions about your rights as a participant please contact the Executive Officer of this Committee, Tel: +61 8 8302 3118; Email: vicki.allen@unisa.edu.au”. In addition, if you have any other questions or concerns I would be happy to answer them for you and provide you with additional details; I can be reached at the contact information provided above. Read More