Research Framework

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3. Research Framework

Methodology

In order to provide a solid argument that NGOs working with migrant workers in Taiwan should engage society, we must first find out if and how much society is involved with perpetuating the abuse of migrant workers. Individual’s perceptions, preferences, and understanding of these workers need further analysis to determine the level of internalization of the “us vs them” mentality. Secondly, this research needs to understand how much society supports using social norms (which often is unfavorable for the migrant worker) over using secular rule of law. If people discriminate against migrant workers and do not rely upon governmental

regulation/intervention to solve their disputes but instead on themselves or brokers, this shows that individual actors play a major role in suppressing the workers.

Therefore, it can be validated that NGOs need not only engage the government, but also the society.

The research for this study will then focus on four variables discussed in the literature review: the weakness of rule of law, the level of discrimination or feeling of separateness (us vs them mentality), the influence of social norms, and the

marginalization of migrant workers through quantitative data collection and analysis.

Discrimination for this study will be defined as follows: “treating a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc”

(Cambridge Dictionaries Online 2015). The definition of social norms is highly contested amongst the social sciences, but for this research the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s definition will be used which states that social norms are “customary rules that govern behavior in groups and societies….and are mainly seen as

constraining behavior.” In short, social norms are the intangible rules that dictate what is acceptable and unacceptable in society which makes them constraining by nature.

Thus the research framework for this study is as follows:

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As observed in the diagram, it is researcher’s belief that the combination of three underlying factors contribute to the marginalization of migrant workers: us vs.

them mentality, influence of social norms, and the weakness of rule of law. As discussed in the literature review, it is evident that rule of law as a concept and enforcement of law in Taiwan is relatively weak, but what is missing is the

understanding of people’s own perceptions towards migrant workers and the power that their social norms hold over rule of law. Therefore, as seen in the diagram it is through the combination of society, social norms, and weakness or rule of law that allows the mistreatment of migrant workers to perpetuate.

Hypotheses

This research purports four hypotheses in regards to the perceptions of migrant workers:

1) There is a positive relationship between high discrimination against migrant workers and the acceptance of social norms.

Us vs. Them Mentality

Weakness of Rule of Law

Influence of Social Norms

Marginalization of Migrant Workers

H1

H2 H3

H4

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2) There is a positive relationship between high discrimination against migrant workers and the perceived weakness of rule of law.

3) There is a positive relationship between acceptance of social norms and weakness of rule of law.

4) Discrimination, acceptance of social norms, and weakness of rule of law all contribute to the marginalization of migrant workers.

Sampling

In order to gauge Taiwanese society’s response and feelings towards migrant workers, the researcher has chosen a purposeful sampling technique of Taiwanese people based off of three main criteria: gender, age and occupation. Ages will be separated into six groups: 16-24, 25-32, 33-40, 41-49, 50-57, 58 years of age and older. This research also hopes to explore the differences or similarities in perceptions of migrant workers and rule of law between the different age groups and genders. The second criteria will be based off of occupation with the hopes to get a wider

representation of people from different facets of society. This research will poll students from local high schools and universities, Taiwanese people working blue collar jobs, and Taiwanese people working white collar or higher paid jobs. These ranges in ages and occupations will hopefully provide a more complete analysis of major feelings perpetuated in Taiwanese society.

Instruments

For this study, the researcher will use a survey technique popular in the social sciences referred to as the Likert Scale, which is a questionnaire that is framed in statements using a five values of strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree. The survey is divided into two main parts: background of the person (age, gender, occupation), and 28 statements divided up between the four variables.

The survey is balanced with roughly the same amount of negative and positive statements to guard against acquiescence bias. The statements have also been translated into Mandarin Chinese in order to avoid any issues that arise from a language barrier. A pilot study will be conducted on 25 participants to gauge the validity of this instrument and data analysis.

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In this survey, there will be two categories of discrimination: a high level of discrimination where the participant feels they are above the migrant worker and a lower level of discrimination in which there is a sense of separation or insider/outside mentality. For the lower level of discrimination, the sense of separation is not

necessarily where the participant feels negatively about the worker, but instead there is the notion that the worker is outside of the participants’ community. Examples from the four variables in the research framework can be found below:

High level discrimination (suspicion/lower class):

Migrant workers in Taiwan should not receive the same labor rights as Taiwanese workers.

Low level discrimination: (a feeling of separateness)

The government should allow migrant workers in Taiwan a chance to become citizens.

Influence of social norms:

It is reasonable for an employer to hold onto a migrant worker's passport because this is the employer's responsibility.

Weakness of rule of law:

The government should not interfere with a dispute between an employer and employee.

Marginalization

I think migrant workers should have the right to unionize.

Data Analysis

The SPSS program will be used to analyze the data from this survey including descriptive statistics, correlational data, linear regression models, and Paired T Tests.

However, for the pilot study, only descriptive statistics have been computed to provide an overall picture of the data trends.