The document outlines a research study on censorship experienced by Chinese immigrants in Ireland compared to censorship in China. It will use mixed methods including surveys and interviews of Chinese students in Ireland to understand their internet usage in Ireland versus China, what topics they access that are blocked in China, and whether their experience in Ireland influences their views on censorship at home. Key limitations include a small sample size, sensitive nature of the topic, and potential bias.
3. Introduction
• A gap in the study of Chinese immigrants in
Ireland: censorship
• Few countries as thorough in its censorship as
China.
• ‘The Great Firewall’
• Wide range of topics taboo
• Censorship leading to self-censorship
5. Google incident
• Google versus Chinese government earlier this
year over refusal to censor further.
• Principled or trouble-making? Opinions of
Chinese servers differ.
6. Research Question
• Do Chinese in Ireland take advantage of non-
censored internet to access information denied
to them at home?
(a) What kind of sites do they access in Ireland?
(b) Which Internet sources do they find to be more
reliable - Irish or Chinese?
(c) Does their use of Internet in Ireland influence
their attitude towards censorship at home?
7. Target Group
• Chinese students in Ireland, as they would
have experiences with both China and Ireland.
• Chinese community in Ireland since 1950s but
many would have limited contact with China.
10. • OpenNet Initiative. (2009, June 15). Internet
Filtering in China. Retrieved November
14, 2010, from OpenNet:
http://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/O
NI_China_2009.pdf
11. Internet use in China
• 420 million internet users
• 162 million blogs
• 30 million daily Kaixin users
• 583.5 million mobile phone subscribers
16. Chinese Community in Ireland
Wang, Y. Y., & King-O'Riain, R. C. (2006). Chinese
Students in Ireland. National University of
Ireland, Maynooth, Dept. of Sociology. National
Consultative Committee on Racism and
Interculturalism.
18. Co-Ethnic Researcher – Why?
• Relates to target population
• Body Language/Cultural differences
• Communication
• Comprehension
• Participants’ rights
• Recruitment
19. • “Most of the interviewees do not use the Irish
media often. They find the programmes are
quite different from those in China …In the
Chinese community they have their own
media”
(Wang and King-O’Riain, p.49)
21. Mixed Methods Approach
• ‘an approach to inquiry that combines or
associates both qualitative and quantitative
forms. It involves philosophical
assumptions, the use of qualitative and
quantitative approaches and the mixing of
both approaches in a study’
Cresswell, P. 4
22. ‘Mixed Method Approaches involves the use of
both quantitative and qualitative approaches
in tandem so that the overall strength of a
study is greater than either qualitative or
quantitative Research’
Creswell&Plano Clark, 2007
25. • ‘Researchers realize that their own
background shapes their interpretation, and
they position themselves in the research to
acknowledge how their interpretation flows
from their personal, cultural and historical
experiences’
Cresswell, p. 8.
27. 2 Approaches
First Approach
make initial contact with key informants
information rich cases
Pickard, A.J. Research Methods in information, Facet
Publishing, 2007, p. 65
28. Second Approach
an initial participant
interview and observation
characteristics and issues that need further
inquiry
Pickard, A.J. Research Methods in information, Facet
Publishing, 2007, p. 65
29. According to Erlandson et al, 1993,82
“Purposive and directed sampling through
human instrumentation increases the range
of data exposed and maximises the
Researcher’s ability to identify emerging
themes”
35. Interview Questions Examples
• Their opinions on broad issues, e.g. Taiwan,
Tibet, etc
• Opinions on recent incidents, e.g. Google v.s.
Chinese government, 2008 food poisoning
scandal, etc
• Opinions on internet access in Ireland, as
opposed to China?
• Which would they trust more? Why?
37. Limitations
Small sample
Students only (3,000 out of total population of
30,000)
Dr. O’Leary,R., Dr. Li, L.,
“Mainland Chinese Students and Immigrants in Ireland
and their Engagement with Christianity, Churches&
Society”, p. 3.
38. Costs
Phone credit
iPod as questionnaire incentive
Transcription costs
Funding
National Immigration Council of Ireland
Atlantic Philanthropies
Confucius Institute
45. Introduction
• A gap in the study of Chinese immigrants in
Ireland: censorship
• Few countries as thorough in its censorship as
China.
• ‘The Great Firewall’
• Wide range of topics taboo
• Censorship leading to self-censorship
47. Google incident
• Google versus Chinese government earlier this
year over refusal to censor further.
• Principled or trouble-making? Opinions of
Chinese servers differ.
48. Research Question
• Do Chinese in Ireland take advantage of non-
censored internet to access information
denied to them at home?
49. Focus Group
• Chinese students in Ireland, as they would
have experiences with both China and Ireland.
• Chinese community in Ireland since 1950s but
many would have limited contact with China.
50. Research Approach
• Mixed Methods: Qualitative and quantitative
studies, with use of online questionnaires and
interviews with volunteers
51. Interview Questions Examples
• Their opinions on broad issues, e.g.
Taiwan, Tibet, etc
• Opinions on recent incidents, e.g. Google v.s.
Chinese government, 2008 food poisoning
scandal, etc
• Opinions on internet access in Ireland, as
opposed to China?
• Which would they trust more? Why?
55. • OpenNet Initiative. (2009, June 15). Internet
Filtering in China. Retrieved November
14, 2010, from OpenNet:
http://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/O
NI_China_2009.pdf
56. Internet use in China
• 420 million internet users
• 162 million blogs
• 30 million daily Kaixin users
• 583.5 million mobile phone subscribers
61. Chinese Community in Ireland
Wang, Y. Y., & King-O'Riain, R. C. (2006). Chinese
Students in Ireland. National University of
Ireland, Maynooth, Dept. of Sociology. National
Consultative Committee on Racism and
Interculturalism.
63. Co-Ethnic Researcher – Why?
• Relates to target population
• Body Language/Cultural differences
• Communication
• Comprehension
• Participants’ rights
• Recruitment
64. • “Most of the interviewees do not use the Irish
media often. They find the programmes are
quite different from those in China …In the
Chinese community they have their own
media”
(Wang and King-O’Riain, p.49)
66. Mixed Methods Approach
• ‘an approach to inquiry that combines or
associates both qualitative and quantitative
forms. It involves philosophical
assumptions, the use of qualitative and
quantitative approaches and the mixing of
both approaches in a study’
Cresswell, P. 4
67. ‘Mixed Method Approaches involves the use of
both quantitative and qualitative approaches
in tandem so that the overall strength of a
study is greater than either qualitative or
quantitative Research’
Creswell&Plano Clark, 2007
70. • ‘Researchers realize that their own
background shapes their interpretation, and
they position themselves in the research to
acknowledge how their interpretation flows
from their personal, cultural and historical
experiences’
Cresswell, p. 8.
72. 2 Approaches
First Approach
make initial contact with key informants
information rich cases
Pickard, A.J. Research Methods in information, Facet
Publishing, 2007, p. 65
73. Second Approach
an initial participant
interview and observation
characteristics and issues that need further
inquiry
Pickard, A.J. Research Methods in information, Facet
Publishing, 2007, p. 65
74. According to Erlandson et al, 1993,82
“Purposive and directed sampling through
human instrumentation increases the range
of data exposed and maximises the
Researcher’s ability to identify emerging
themes”
80. Limitations
Small sample
Students only (3,000 out of total population of
30,000)
Dr. O’Leary,R., Dr. Li, L.,
“Mainland Chinese Students and Immigrants in Ireland
and their Engagement with Christianity, Churches&
Society”, p. 3.
81. Costs
Phone credit
iPod as questionnaire incentive
Transcription costs
Funding
National Immigration Council of Ireland
Atlantic Philanthropies
Confucius Institute