Introduction
Homelessness statistics in Victoria provided by the ABS Census of Housing and Population in 2011 has indicated a rise of 20.7% since 2006 statistics (Homelessness Australia, 2012). In Melbourne City, a survey conducted in 2014 found a population of 142 rough sleepers, which is an increase of 40% since 2012 (Dow, 2014). Despite the increasing number of homelessness, our government and community have shown minimal efforts in combating this issue. Furthermore, Melbourne community workers have noticed hasher attitudes by the general public towards the homeless (Iaria, 2015). My research proposal therefore asks: What are young people’s preconceived views of homelessness? Young people in this research project will consist of individuals …show more content…
Semi-structured Interviews
Semi-structured interviews will be conducted after focus groups as a development tool for my research. During focus groups, personal views may be restrained, as individuals are uncomfortable in expressing their own perspectives in front of a group (Finch & Lewis 2003, p185). Therefore, interviews will be a suitable method for my explanatory work by exploring young people’s personal views further. I will be interviewing 10 participants in total, which include of 5 students and 5 employed individuals. The interview will go for 45 to 60 minutes and take place on the Melbourne University campus or nearby location.
Semi-structured interviews have been chosen instead of structured and unstructured, because semi-structured format will enable me to prepare a set of questions such as; “What are your preconceived views of the homeless?” “How has the media influence your views?” “Did the participants in focus groups supports your personal understanding of homelessness?” and investigate beyond my arranged questions (Berg 2001, p70). I am also equally interested in exploring the possibility that participant’s family and friends may influence their preconceived …show more content…
One of the possible reasons for the lack of compassion could be the misjudgement of homeless populations. Contemporarily, most individuals have blamed substance abuse as the cause homelessness due to the media’s portrayal and society’s majority view. However, evidences have found depression as the probable cause for elderlies’ homelessness (Rota-Bartelink & Lipmann 2007, p255) and highlighted that 66 per cent of the homeless population in Melbourne became substance abusers after experiencing homelessness (Chamberlain et al. 2007, p20). Moreover, a study in youth homelessness has indicated family conflict, domestic violence, personal anxiety and depression as the most common causes for leaving home (Rota‐Bartelink & Lipmann 2007, p256). These other reasons for homelessness are often overlooked due to the prejudiced views on them as substance users and/or abusers. Therefore, my research is crucial in order to end the stigmatisation of the
Homelessness statistics in Victoria provided by the ABS Census of Housing and Population in 2011 has indicated a rise of 20.7% since 2006 statistics (Homelessness Australia, 2012). In Melbourne City, a survey conducted in 2014 found a population of 142 rough sleepers, which is an increase of 40% since 2012 (Dow, 2014). Despite the increasing number of homelessness, our government and community have shown minimal efforts in combating this issue. Furthermore, Melbourne community workers have noticed hasher attitudes by the general public towards the homeless (Iaria, 2015). My research proposal therefore asks: What are young people’s preconceived views of homelessness? Young people in this research project will consist of individuals …show more content…
Semi-structured Interviews
Semi-structured interviews will be conducted after focus groups as a development tool for my research. During focus groups, personal views may be restrained, as individuals are uncomfortable in expressing their own perspectives in front of a group (Finch & Lewis 2003, p185). Therefore, interviews will be a suitable method for my explanatory work by exploring young people’s personal views further. I will be interviewing 10 participants in total, which include of 5 students and 5 employed individuals. The interview will go for 45 to 60 minutes and take place on the Melbourne University campus or nearby location.
Semi-structured interviews have been chosen instead of structured and unstructured, because semi-structured format will enable me to prepare a set of questions such as; “What are your preconceived views of the homeless?” “How has the media influence your views?” “Did the participants in focus groups supports your personal understanding of homelessness?” and investigate beyond my arranged questions (Berg 2001, p70). I am also equally interested in exploring the possibility that participant’s family and friends may influence their preconceived …show more content…
One of the possible reasons for the lack of compassion could be the misjudgement of homeless populations. Contemporarily, most individuals have blamed substance abuse as the cause homelessness due to the media’s portrayal and society’s majority view. However, evidences have found depression as the probable cause for elderlies’ homelessness (Rota-Bartelink & Lipmann 2007, p255) and highlighted that 66 per cent of the homeless population in Melbourne became substance abusers after experiencing homelessness (Chamberlain et al. 2007, p20). Moreover, a study in youth homelessness has indicated family conflict, domestic violence, personal anxiety and depression as the most common causes for leaving home (Rota‐Bartelink & Lipmann 2007, p256). These other reasons for homelessness are often overlooked due to the prejudiced views on them as substance users and/or abusers. Therefore, my research is crucial in order to end the stigmatisation of the