Assessment-2: Research Methodology And Ethics Proposal

Part A

How inclusive are the universities in Australia in terms of employing Educators from the LGBTQIA+ communities?

 Research Methodology  

There are different views on social theories that present different paradigms to conduct the research, along with the knowledge of how ontology, epistemology and methodology can be interpreted in the research work. The research question is based on finding about the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community educators in Australian universities. The positivism paradigm suggests that knowledge is gained through scientific methods, and the ontology of the positivism paradigm suggests that knowledge needs to validate through the five senses as it is to be tangible, whereas the epistemology refers that the knowledge is gained with the help of scientific methods(Park et al., 2020). An interpretive paradigm must focus on individual ways to collectively interpret and construct social and psychological ways(Alharahsheh& Pius, 2020). Bullying, harassment, and exclusion of people belonging to the LGBT community in the educational field is widely the most significant problem being faced by students. It derives a stigma and prejudice and brings deep cultural beliefs about the role of gender along with masculinity and femininity to well known. LGBT students in their university face teasing, social isolation, cyberbullying, sexual assault, and even death threats several times. An efficient, inclusive step university needs to take in terms of employment educators needs to unwelcome an environment that affects LGBT people’s overall education. Universities need to take an efficient, sustainable development environment for them and need to keep ensuring inclusive along with equitable learning opportunities. Universities need to follow international human rights law objective is to provide education free from violence. Discrimination needs to be strictly avoided, along with the need to promote respect for human rights and get them fundamental freedom (ohchr.org, 2022). Therefore, universities need to follow international law that is effective and based on its need to do inclusive steps for educators.

Since the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals in university is related to social change, the critical paradigm is used for this research. Critical theory is a paradigm that asserts that social science knowledge is gathered through analysis of discourse in society(Tyson, 2014). In the workplace, sexual discrimination is far-reaching, and along with this, educators need to face discrimination in it. (Ezzy & Beaman, 2022).

The philosophical approach that will be studied in this study is critical theory, as it also influences practical approaches. In accordance with our research question, the underlying problem can be considered as the preferences of educators in the universities in Australia(Kulik, 2022). There might be preferences in the universities where the educators are chosen based on their gender and prioritised accordingly. One of the rules in Australia is EEO which stands for equal employment opportunities, which helps build diversity in the workplace and helps in the inclusion of marginalised groups in the workforce(Chidiac, 2018). This research on this topic might help shed light if EEO is followed when it comes to educators who belong to the LGBTQIA+ group. One of the important questions to find is if the LGBTQIA+ community is considered a marginalised group. To be classified as or to identify oneself aslesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, allies and asexualgenerally attached meanings to it. The subjective idea of it is underlined by the relationship between power and knowledge(Gray et al., 2016). The dominant social structure forms classify this community as others when intending to know about their sexual identity, and the case in educational institutions(Robinson & Schmitz, 2021). This demonstrates the hierarchy of societal structure and power relations. The research work done by Gray et al. (2016)q also mentions that LGBTQIA+ people are tolerant when they are not treated equally, which represents their social status in society is low and causes discrimination in society. This research study which will use critical theory will try to understand if the pre-existing social structure needs any change and set a frame to evaluate and find solutions. Therefore, the philosophical approach is chosen as the critical theory approach.

The epistemological basis for this critical theory approach is a subjectivist one. Understandings are a unique, material, and historical reality that focuses on the relation between power and knowledge(Kincheloe & McLaren, 2011). Epistemological here clearly defines knowledge that needs to be gained and that needs to be used for differentiating truth and falsehood. A modern type of epistemology can be used to know the differences between rationalism and empiricism. Thinking ability using it can easily be known of individual and concept of mind are to be well developed. In terms of the LGBTQIA+ community, the development of sound-thinking individuals needs to be well-accessed (Catalano & Tillapaugh, 2020). Epistemologically, the knowledge is political and labelled with values moral obligation of the researcher needs to be kept under consideration. This result of epistemology among the LGBTQIA+ community will set a piece of efficient information that help in providing social justice to them. Critical theory’s ontological aspect looks at reality’s nature as power relations, where the focus is on social phenomena(Strydom, 2019). Considering ontological within this community are able to keep focusing on the nature of social entities that can provide its relationship towards the real world. Using this help in effectively understanding the world, and this needs to be considered by gaining by discovering a valid point of understanding. Research based on ontological order help in defining the thinking ability of individual and better understanding of the mentioned community (Grzanka & Blazer, 2015). This may be positive or negative. All thing needs to be best understood, hence playing a great significance.

The theory of empiricism states that knowledge comes from experiences that are collected through the five senses, and it can be classified as classical empiricism, radical, and moderate(O’Neill & Uebel, 2008). In this research paper theory of empiricism is used in conjunction with the critical method. The research approach used for this study is data collection through primary and secondary sources. The methodological approaches in critical theory can include action research, participatory action, critical research and feminist research(Wang, 2014). Among these approaches, critical research has been used as the methodological approach. The method of finding out the inclusion is by conducting semi-structured interviews with the educators who identify themselves from the LGBTQIA+ community. Semi-structured interviews are used as it is a good method to explore the participant’s feelings and a good tool for open-ended qualitative research (Fylan, 2005). The interview is an efficient way to collect data and services extensively and intensively, hence the possibility of understanding the minds of others clearly. Compared with other data collection, interviews are more efficient because the exchange of ideas and experiences are to be efficiently shared along with this containing elicit pieces of information (Fritz & Vandermause, 2018). The sampling size decided is at least five educators teaching among three Australian universities. A safe space for this research means a place where LGBTQIA+ people can express themselves without any inherent prejudices and are treated equally as educators who do not identify themselves as LGBTQIA+. The teachers/educators will be invited to participate in the semi-structured interview so their responses can be studied. The questions will begin simply by asking about their years of experience teaching and whether they are still engaged in this field of work. The answer obtained from the mentioned data collection contains both demographic and non-demographic natures.

The exact questions being asked in this section include the following:

• What is your nature of work?
• How long have you been working as an educator?
• Can you please tell me if you are open about your gender identity? If yes, when did your workplace know about this?
• Have you ever faced discrimination as an LGBTQIA+ individual?
• Do you know others who have faced discrimination due to being LGBTQIA+?
• What did you feel about when you got hired as an educator? Was it tough finding a job as an educator due to your belonging to the LGBTQIA+ group?
• Do you think LGBTQIA+ educators are inclusive in the Australian university workforce as an educator?
• Do you feel safe at your workplace?
• Have you had an experience where you felt discrimination from your students or colleagues?
• Would you like to add anything that you feel about this subject?

 The source of data collection will be primary as well as secondary. The snowball sampling method will be used for the primary data collection method, which is based on referrals to create a sample(Parker et al., 2019). Once a few members from the community are known, it can lead to different other members for the research purpose. To analyse the qualitative data, various kinds of analytical frameworks can be used. In this case, a narrative analysis will be used to analyse the qualitative data. This analysis is used since this framework allows the researcher to comprehend relations between various social factors(Ekklesia, 2022).

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